DEVIL DOLL is a British horror film from 1964 and should not be confused with the exceptional film, THE DEVIL DOLL which starred Lionel Barrymore in 1936. Both films are worth seeing but their plots have nothing whatsoever to do with each other.
When I went to rate this film, I was shocked that it had a score of only 2.9--indicating it is a "stinker" of a film. However, having just watched the film I can assure you that despite a relatively low budget, it was exciting throughout and is one of the better horror films of the 1960s. Sure, the doll (a ventriloquist's dummy to be exact) did look a bit cheesy, but amazing special effects in horror films are only a recent invention--moviegoers could easily be expected to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the film like I did.
The film is about an evil hypnotist/ventriloquist named 'The Great Vorelli' and menacingly played by Bryant Haliday. Not only does he have an amazing act where his dummy appears to be able to walk and talk on its own, but he's also a great stage hypnotist. However, people do not realize that his doll is actually possessed AND his hypnotic powers are far stronger--such that he's able to control people. When he meets a rich and sexy lady, he's able to get her to fall in love with him and agree to marry him. Her fiancé is naturally NOT pleased with this and suspects Vorelli's powers are far more diabolical in nature. He's right about this but no one suspects he actually plans on killing the beautiful woman after he marries her, so I assume Vorelli is either crazy or gay.
The film excels at creating a creepy and menacing atmosphere throughout and fortunately, the film also manages to end very well--with this evil jerk getting a taste of his own medicine. All in all, a very good film and I still have no idea why it's scored so low.
PS--Unfortunately, you cannot use hypnosis to do any of the evil things Vorelli does in the film. It's a pity, really, as I am trained in hypnosis and would love to use it for evil (or at least to make my boss come to work naked). If only it were possible....
When I went to rate this film, I was shocked that it had a score of only 2.9--indicating it is a "stinker" of a film. However, having just watched the film I can assure you that despite a relatively low budget, it was exciting throughout and is one of the better horror films of the 1960s. Sure, the doll (a ventriloquist's dummy to be exact) did look a bit cheesy, but amazing special effects in horror films are only a recent invention--moviegoers could easily be expected to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the film like I did.
The film is about an evil hypnotist/ventriloquist named 'The Great Vorelli' and menacingly played by Bryant Haliday. Not only does he have an amazing act where his dummy appears to be able to walk and talk on its own, but he's also a great stage hypnotist. However, people do not realize that his doll is actually possessed AND his hypnotic powers are far stronger--such that he's able to control people. When he meets a rich and sexy lady, he's able to get her to fall in love with him and agree to marry him. Her fiancé is naturally NOT pleased with this and suspects Vorelli's powers are far more diabolical in nature. He's right about this but no one suspects he actually plans on killing the beautiful woman after he marries her, so I assume Vorelli is either crazy or gay.
The film excels at creating a creepy and menacing atmosphere throughout and fortunately, the film also manages to end very well--with this evil jerk getting a taste of his own medicine. All in all, a very good film and I still have no idea why it's scored so low.
PS--Unfortunately, you cannot use hypnosis to do any of the evil things Vorelli does in the film. It's a pity, really, as I am trained in hypnosis and would love to use it for evil (or at least to make my boss come to work naked). If only it were possible....