The Dollmaker

Horror is a lot of things- scary, addictive, thrilling, etc. But horror is nothing if it's not subtle, if it's not brilliant, if it's not 'holly shit I did not see that coming.'

And this awe inducing tale of grief and repair is the most significant representation of brilliance in horror.

Hats off!

A fine short horror. For the precise science to use a delicate subject in skin of fairy tale. You recognize all, from the grief of mother to the suffering husband. And the dollmaker, as the wizard from so many fairy tales. A film impecable crafted. Scene by scene. Moment by moment. And a splendid story about second chance.

There are films which are hailed as masterpieces despite being boring throughout, just because of their impressive Plot-twist at the end (I Don't want to name any). It just took 10 mins for filmmaker AI Lougher to literally blew my mind away with an impeccable script and chilling final reveal.

Brilliant Direction, Brilliant Acting, Brilliant Photography, Brilliant What Not.

PS: This is the first Short film I've ever watched and now, literally every other short film that I'm watching is falling short of expectations.

Here's a classic setup: Creepy doll, grieving parents, unhealthy obsession; fun stuff. It's well-crafted and acted, with some clever effects and sharp production value. The set pieces with the kitchen and the basement are also well-dressed with some great props and attention to detail.

My only problem is that it's a bit derivative. Maybe I'm just spoiled with how many 'creepy doll' movies are out there, but I feel like I had an idea of where it was going.

All told, I'm glad I saw it! Take a look, but if you have any Raggedy Anne dolls lying around, might wanna look up a goodwill in your area.

By the premise alone, we know before watching that 'The dollmaker' explores very familiar horror tropes. I kept scrolling any time I saw it come up because I couldn't imagine it would actually be worth my time. Color me surprised, though - once I decided to press play, I've been impressed.

Dead child, creepy doll, vague warnings of rules - these are notions that countless genre stories have dealt with. To my pleasant surprise, 'The dollmaker' takes these familiar ideas in a rather different direction. The sense of horror it presents isn't down to blood or gore, jump scares, or even a thoughtfully constructed atmosphere. The horror in this short is of a more esoteric and lasting variety - the feeling of witnessing or learning about a tragedy that we're helpless to intervene in or stop, let alone undo.

'The dollmaker' focuses not on staple tools of the horror genre, but on simply telling its story. In so doing, it far exceeds the capabilities of most tales that scamper on the same playground, and still comes off as being very creepy - and more than a little sorrowful. Al Lougher's direction and editing work wonders to bring Matias Caruso's smart little story to life, an entrancing vision that well exceeds expectations. The cast performs admirably, with Perri Lauren capably realizing Jenna's descent into fantasy, and Sean Meehan giving a forceful portrayal of put-upon husband Rick. Special commendations, though, to Daniel Martin Berkey, appearing as the unnamed dollmaker: even with limited screen time, he commands a presence that immediately reminds of similarly well-dressed, imposing figures from much more renowned films.

The nature of the narrative at hand means that horror fans who aren't receptive to less visceral entertainment may feel put out. Conversely, viewers who don't generally indulge in horror may find this very appealing. 'The dollmaker' walks a fine line, but does so with laudable skill of both filmmaking and storytelling - this is well worth 10 minutes of our time.