The power of childlike wonder is a potent remedy for the many ills of adulthood and reality. Stuart Gordon's third feature film focuses on this concept in the form of a modern Grimm fairytale about the importance of parenthood and the dangers of abandoning the wonders of childhood. Abandoning the deranged violence and sex of his first two films, Dolls is a less humorous, yet equally enthralling gothic horror experience that eschews Lovecraftian themes for dark magic and grotesque man-made abominations.
An obnoxious father, stepmother, and their inventive daughter take shelter from a storm in a lonely mansion in a forgotten forest. The owners, a pair of eccentric toymakers soon reveal a sinister agenda in which their animated creations play a horrific part. Ed Naha's script works in stereotypes and clichés, which upon first glance appears uninspired. However, when approached from the viewpoint of a child, the over-the-top camp of the characters makes perfect sense, as children perceive the world in terms of good and evil. There is no gray, only the epitome of each stereotype. Extreme representations are the entire point.
Guy Rolfe's turn as one of the toymakers is the centerpiece. Echoing Dan O'Herlihy's Cochrane in Halloween III: Season of the Witch, there is a revelatory speech that perfectly encapsulates not only the motives of the antagonists, but also references a larger conflict, perhaps something beyond the confines of reality. It's these hints of possibility that elevate the film above the troves of other killer doll films. While the methods of dispatchment are grim, the motivations behind them are somewhat noble, creating an interesting moral divide.
Giovanni Natalucci's production design couples with Mac Ahlberg's cinematography to create a haunted ambiance that clings to everything. The mansion and its interiors are a fantastic set piece that enhances the uncomfortable vibe that pervades each frame. Gabriel Bartalos's mechanical effects, particularly in a harrowing daymare sequence involving a stuffed bear are memorable, while David Allen's doll effects balance terrifying violence with an antiquated sense of frivolity.
Now streaming on Tubi and Pluto, Dolls is a solid entry into the killer toy genre. Mixing the structure of a fable with 80's historical aesthetics, the result is an interesting side journey down a darkened path. Fusing animatronics, practical gore effects, and a handful of awkward performances. The final product is a slimmed down shocker that will delight with its wonders and unsettle with its terrors.
--Kyle
Jonathan