Dolls (2019) Review
DOLLS concerns Robert Holbrook (Thomas Downey), a struggling children’s book author, and his rebellious teenage daughter Sammey (Trinity Simpson) who move into a house they’ve inherited and find mysterious dolls in the attic. They soon learn that the dolls have a sinister — and deadly — past.
I was hooked from the very beginning as a large, bearded man feels from assailants unseen, Holly Amber Church’s ominous, occasionally twinkly, score heightening the tension. And it never hurts a genre flick to have the marvellous Dee Wallace onboard. As Holbrook’s neighbour Margaret, Wallace brings her usual clout and elevates proceedings whenever she graces the screen. In fact, all of the main actors acquit themselves well in DOLLS and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for future movies starring Thomas Downey, a rather scrumptious hunk of a man (sorry, that’s rather superficial of me).
Cuyle Carvin previously co-directed and produced the ‘Dark Corners’ horror anthology series and he shows tremendous promise here with his feature film debut. DOLLS is well-paced, building the suspense and never overplaying its hand. From the occasional thump in the attic to the sounds of someone running around unseen, Carvin appreciates that less is more and that by not showing the dolls move about (which normally kills ‘doll’ orientated flicks for me) he can sustain our belief in the events unfolding.
For more information and updates, please visit the film’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dollsmovie
TRAILER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJdAcnv-iuM&feature=youtu.be