Official synopsis
A young woman, Macy, fights for survival after being abducted by a deranged, monster-like figure who wants to raise Macy as their child. A daring blend of New French Extremity and 1970s American horror.
Review
You’ll get no argument from me regarding that description of director Rod Blackhurst’s Dolly being a “daring blend of New French Extremity and 1970s American horror.” It definitely has the gore and violence levels of the former and the aesthetic of the latter, along with the strong intensity of both. At certain points, torture scenes get a bit heavy and the film begins to feel like an endurance test, but events take a turn and what can feel like shock-for-shock’s-sake gives way to solid suspense.
Macy (Fabianne Therese) has a lot on her mind, as she suspects that her single-dad boyfriend Chase (Seann William Scott) plans to propose marriage to her on their imminent day hike. She’ll have far more worries once the couple crosses paths with the titular villain (played by transmasculine professional wrestler Max the Impaler), a hulking presence that has a savage way with shovels and a bizarre fixation on role playing as a mother. Therese is incredible in her final-girl role, nailing the highly demanding physical and emotional aspects of her role. Max the Impaler brings to cinematic life a brutish masked villain that could become a modern horror icon.
I rarely use the word macabre in my reviews, saving it for films such as Dolly, which certainly warrants that description. The dread and unease on display are palpable. Special Effects Makeup Department Head Ashley K. Thomas and Special Effects Makeup Alex Solorzano provide absolutely stunning, gut-churning practical effects work including some images that you won’t easily forget. Set Decorator Kaili Corcoran provides eerie atmosphere galore, and Cinematographer Justin Derry captures every riveting nuance on display.
Blackhurst, who cowrote the screenplay with Brandon Weavil, crafts one of the most intense, violent slices of fear fare that I have seen this year. Make sure to watch it all the way through as the lyrics to the end-credits song and post-credits stinger leave something for viewers to mull over.
