I love horror films and have seen tons and although this movie starts out great I must say, it was one of the hokiest horror movies I've ever seen. This statement sadly made considering the entertaining writing duo of the 'Saw' series. I can't wait for number four! I guess creativity is difficult to come by and originality even more so because there are other doll-comes-to-life horror genres. There was just too many instances that reminded me of 'Saw'. The final dummy near the end, looked more like a clown and very close to the talking doll in the 'Saw' franchise. Using Wahlberg again only hindered in tying the two films together comparatively. Can't he find work elsewhere? The frozen horror, facial masks were very reminiscent of 'The Ring.' The acting was not all that superb either. Wahlberg portrayed pretty much the same character as before and the lead character of Jamie hit a couple of rough spots when he didn't seem to know what he was suppose to be doing. When Jamie first heard Mary Shaw's name from Marion, Henry's wife at the cemetery - it didn't occur to him to question what Marion knew then. He waited until much later but even in her state of dementia, she knew what to do and what not to do.
It was so ridiculous how the old man Henry, kept saying that the town doesn't dare speak Mary Shaw's name and he did it over and over. It took a lot of the sting out of any believability that all the residents were afraid. The scenes where Henry describes Mary Shaw's dying wish to be made into a doll herself was/is completely unethical for a mortician to do. I understand the 'suspension of disbelief' but shouldn't even fantasy appear to be as close to reality as possible - so that it is scarier? Having the final dummy say to Jamie that it wants to whisper something in his ear was just plain bogus. They are supposedly so afraid of the thing and then all of a sudden, he becomes brave enough to get close in order to get a good face licking? Please.... And since the wife was murdered, there would have been an inquest and the autopsy would have revealed she was pregnant, way before we find out near the end.
I agree with an earlier post that the story could have been flushed out more. In addition, there should have been more scenes of Mary Shaw because she was creepy enough all by lonesome. That doll Billy had nothing on her. There should have been flashback scenes of Mary Shaw doing gruesome things so the audience could appreciate a good scare, or at the very least give the appearance that she had something to do with the little boy's disappearance. Jamie couldn't even remember the fairy tale, let alone who Shaw was, so how could viewers be frightened unless we were privy to how sick Mary could really get? The best part of the entire film for me was when all sound completely stopped; while waiting to see what happens next.
I didn't understand the ending and why the step mother became the perfect doll or what she had to do with the families' history. And since she lived, she apparently was never really a part of the Ashen clan. I mean if she was actually a doll that Shaw created and she was obviously helping Shaw, then this could have been clearer and not so confusing in the film's finale.
It was so ridiculous how the old man Henry, kept saying that the town doesn't dare speak Mary Shaw's name and he did it over and over. It took a lot of the sting out of any believability that all the residents were afraid. The scenes where Henry describes Mary Shaw's dying wish to be made into a doll herself was/is completely unethical for a mortician to do. I understand the 'suspension of disbelief' but shouldn't even fantasy appear to be as close to reality as possible - so that it is scarier? Having the final dummy say to Jamie that it wants to whisper something in his ear was just plain bogus. They are supposedly so afraid of the thing and then all of a sudden, he becomes brave enough to get close in order to get a good face licking? Please.... And since the wife was murdered, there would have been an inquest and the autopsy would have revealed she was pregnant, way before we find out near the end.
I agree with an earlier post that the story could have been flushed out more. In addition, there should have been more scenes of Mary Shaw because she was creepy enough all by lonesome. That doll Billy had nothing on her. There should have been flashback scenes of Mary Shaw doing gruesome things so the audience could appreciate a good scare, or at the very least give the appearance that she had something to do with the little boy's disappearance. Jamie couldn't even remember the fairy tale, let alone who Shaw was, so how could viewers be frightened unless we were privy to how sick Mary could really get? The best part of the entire film for me was when all sound completely stopped; while waiting to see what happens next.
I didn't understand the ending and why the step mother became the perfect doll or what she had to do with the families' history. And since she lived, she apparently was never really a part of the Ashen clan. I mean if she was actually a doll that Shaw created and she was obviously helping Shaw, then this could have been clearer and not so confusing in the film's finale.