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Review: Dolls (2019)

Let's face it, dolls are creepy. They don't need to be possessed by demons or the spirit of a serial killer to be scary. They just are. So it makes perfect sense to make horror movies about them, because you're already half way there in the scare factor.

The upcoming Uncork'd Entertainment release, Dolls, isn't the first killer-doll movie, and it certainly won't be the last. It's a low-budget effort that's more Stuart Gordon's Dolls than Full Entertainment's Puppet Master, and is a worthy entry in the killer-doll subgenre.

What'd I dig about it? Screenwriters Justin and Josh Hawkins take their time creating likeable characters. I believed the father/daughter duo, as played by Tom Downey and Trinity Simpson. I liked their banter and chemistry a lot. They looked like they were having fun, so I was too.

I also appreciated that the dolls are used sparingly. Partly due to budget, of course, but director Cuyle Calvin also uses the less-is-more approach so, when the dolls do appear, they elicit a jump or a jolt. And they look creepy, as only creepy dolls can.

What didn't work? The kill count is low, and the gore sparse. I get this isn't a straight up exploitation film, but I could have done with a higher body count and some more blood. And they blew a perfect boob-shot opportunity (beat yah to it, Shawn!).

This is still a decent time waster or Friday night watch. I don't think I'll see it again, so it's a Bad in my book, but it's certainly worthy of one watch.

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