Stuart Gordon must have been bored with HP Lovecraft films by 1987, and so he directed this bizarre little film. Dolls is kind of like a modern fairytale, as we have a house full of wonders, a young kid at the centre and, of course, a wicked stepmother. Gordon manages to keep the tale firmly within the bounds of horror thanks to some nice gore and plenty of actually quite frightening scenes, but the film has the distinct backbone of a kids' film, and that is what gives Dolls its unique edge. My favourite aspect of the movie is the way that Gordon uses his location, as the house at the centre of tale is every bit as important as the maniacal dolls themselves and Gordon ensures that the atmosphere is always fitting to the action. The plot follows a young girl named Judy, her dad and her stepmother after they are forced to stop at a strange old house, inhabited by a couple of strange old people, during a storm. They are joined by an amiable man and two hitchhikers that he has picked up, and all the guests find that they are in for a night of mayhem as the dolls that the old man makes are alive!
The special effects are one of the standout elements of this movie, and the way that the dolls move gives the film it's most creepy edge. A film about killer dolls really shouldn't work; but it does, and that's mostly thanks to the special effects department. The film has a very short running time, and it's not surprising given the amount of time and effort it must have took to get those dolls to move! The fact that the central plot idea is never really explained loses the film credibility, as a really good idea could have been implanted there; making the whole piece better. The central theme of the movie - that of 'not losing your inner child' - is well used, but more than a little bit silly; and the ending especially piles the sentiment on too much for my liking. Furthermore, I don't think it's a particularly credible idea. There is some good humour, however, and Gordon does well in creating a sense of urgency; which almost offsets the sentiment at the end. Overall, I can't say that this film is entirely successful; but it's a unique movie and Stuart Gordon should be praised for having the balls to take it on. Besides, the transformation scene towards the end is worth the admission alone!
The special effects are one of the standout elements of this movie, and the way that the dolls move gives the film it's most creepy edge. A film about killer dolls really shouldn't work; but it does, and that's mostly thanks to the special effects department. The film has a very short running time, and it's not surprising given the amount of time and effort it must have took to get those dolls to move! The fact that the central plot idea is never really explained loses the film credibility, as a really good idea could have been implanted there; making the whole piece better. The central theme of the movie - that of 'not losing your inner child' - is well used, but more than a little bit silly; and the ending especially piles the sentiment on too much for my liking. Furthermore, I don't think it's a particularly credible idea. There is some good humour, however, and Gordon does well in creating a sense of urgency; which almost offsets the sentiment at the end. Overall, I can't say that this film is entirely successful; but it's a unique movie and Stuart Gordon should be praised for having the balls to take it on. Besides, the transformation scene towards the end is worth the admission alone!