Horror Movie Review: Dolly (2026)

A couple coming across a psychotic killer wearing a doll’s head while hiking in the woods isn’t the most exciting of premises, but thankfully Dolly rises above this to be a thoroughly entertaining watch. One with a grindhouse/70s slasher feel, and one that delivers plenty of violence, gore, and harrowing moments. Alas, a third act shift that attempts to balance surrealism and black comedy, while attempting to add emotional weight, doesn’t quite work. Even if a game cast and a talented director throw their all into it.

Directed by Rod Blackhurst, who co-wrote the story with Brandon Weavil, Dolly is based on Blackhurst’s 2022 short, Babygirl. The film stars Fabianne Therese, Max the Impaler, Russ Tiller, Eve Blackhurst, Michalina Scorzelli, Kate Cobb, Ethan Suplee, and Seann William Scott.

From the start, Dolly makes it clear that this is not a film for the faint-hearted as we’re immediately introduced to the villain of the film, Dolly (Max the Impaler). A ‘Leatherface-esqe’ character cradling a headless corpse as flies buzz noisily around it. It’s one hell of an introduction.

Macy (Fabianne Therese) and Chase (Seann William Scott) are a couple going for a hike in the woods where the latter plans to ask the former to marry him. They’re sweet, but unfortunately, they come across Dolly and Chase is maimed and left for dead, whereas Macy is taken to Dolly’s isolated home. There, it becomes clear that Dolly wants to raise Macy as her own child and if she wants to survive, she’s going to have to play along.

It’s a simple story with very little in the way of twists and turns, but it’s all the better for it. For Dolly to be more than just another throwback slasher horror it needed to focus on a core group of characters and make them feel important, and that is what we get. Fabianne Therese is fabulous as Macy, so much more than just a woman in peril, and someone I found quite easy to get behind. Likewise, but on a much different scale, Max the Impaler really brings Dolly to life and all without saying a word.

Together they deliver some really memorable horror scenes, such as the ‘feeding’ scene. A scene that will turn a stomach or two thanks to great effects. It, alongside an effect that transforms Seann William Scott stand out. Although his ‘injury’ is less convincing in the latter part of the film.

This brings me to the part of the film that didn’t quite work for me. Namely a moment of surrealism that felt at odds with everything else, a reunion that is hard to take seriously thanks to the aforementioned injury effect, and a late-point minor character who is played a little for laughs. There’s nothing bad here, and I was still thoroughly enjoying Macy’s plight, but it’s a dip in quality nonetheless.

Come the end though, I was pleased. Dolly doesn’t promise a lot and ends up well and truly overdelivering. I’d love to see Rod Blackhurst expand on the story and give us more from the character in the future.

The film is now in UK Cinemas courtesy of Vertigo Releasing, in association with IFC and Shudder.