Dolly was clearly inspired by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Much like the 1974 classic, it is all about characters and scares. Macy (Fabianne Therese, John Dies at the End) and her boyfriend Chase (Seann William Scott, The Righteous Gemstones) go for a walk in the woods. After finding a number of dolls scattered around, the two are attacked by a mysterious assailant in a porcelain doll mask.
During the height of exploitation films, deep stories became secondary as terror was pushed to the extremes. There is not much of a plot in Dolly. It is one long battle for survival. Little is given in the way of backstory or motivations. It is all about gore and attrition.
This makes for a tense watch that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Dolly is a throwback to horror movies that would almost fetishize horror. Macy is dressed like a doll and spanked when she is being punished, for example. The difference here is that director Rod Blackhurst is not sexualizing Macy. The film is filled with uncomfortable moments that will have many asking out loud, “Now what?”
Therese is the glue that holds things together. Like every great Final Girl, she is easy to get behind. She keeps on fighting no matter what has happened to her. One of the best moments of Dolly is when the titular villain is attacking her. After the first hit, Macy screams, “What the fuck?!?” not out of fear, but out of confusion and anger. It is a subtle touch that tells you all that needs to be known about her.
The grainy cinematography is perfect for Dolly. It adds to the gritty atmosphere and pulls audiences in. The chaotic pacing and over the top gore are the final touches that will prevent anyone from turning away – no matter how much they want to.
Dolly comes to theaters March 6th.
