Dolly (2025) Review
DOLLY stars Fabianne Therese (John Dies At The End), Russ Tiller (Blood For Dust), Eve Blackhurst, Michalina Scorzelli, Kate Cobb (Okie) with Ethan Suplee (My Name Is Earl) and Seann William Scott (American Pie) and introducing Max The Impaler as the physically imposing eponymous antagonist.
The film’s first incarnation was the short film, Babygirl, and now the feature length DOLLY is the hulking and brooding realised vision of Rod Blackhurst, serving as a tribute to the classic 70s slashers, with nods to the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Tourist Trap, whilst adding its own spin on the genre.
The core story is basic – Macy, a young woman is abducted by a monstrous figure intent on raising her as their own child -which then allows room for the horror to breathe and take on a deliciously monstrous and gory form. Whilst not grubby enough to be 100% effectively – for someone who tends to get a bit bloodied on occasion, Dolly still manages keeps a tidier home than say, the murderous brothers do in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – the film keeps the tension building and throws in a couple of welcome and effective shocks along the way.
Seann William Scott is always a very welcome addition to any film’s cast, and refreshingly he plays against type in a quieter role to his more broad and manic comedic performances. Ethan Suplee, also better known for his comedic turns, enters the story around the halfway mark and comes close to stealing the movie. His hulking physical presence adds another level to the horror onscreen; his character Tobe is both intimating and unpredictable and I relished every moment he was onscreen.
For the most part Dolly is a two-hander between Fabianne Therese’s Macy, a spunky and resourceful lead, and the porcelain-masked, doll obsessed serial killer of the title and both rock! I was impressed by how Fabianne both matched and mirrored the manic laughter of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Sally Hardesty as she escapes from Leatherface in the film’s last. Like recent rabid chimpanzee horror flick Primate, Dolly pulls no punches with its wince-inducing gore and violence, making Rod Blackhurst ‘s brutal slasher is an absolute must-see for horror fans.
DOLLY will be in UK Cinemas from 6th March.