Worry Dolls

I watched this after reading a synopsis and was expecting something much darker than this offering.

Contrary to other reviewers I thought the acting was OK. It was the production that took the edge off the film. There was no atmosphere to speak of and the lighting set up and colourisation could have been applied to any genre of film.

It is not the kind of movie that can draw you into the story and make you believe anything in it - which is the whole point of a horror movie.

It is not a terrible film, just one that I wouldn't bother watching again.

Pretty good movie over all. Different from most of the horror movies out there. Only one thing really irritated me was that the sorry cop let's two women get killed right in front of him! Otherwise not bad. Great Mississippi scenery if you like the south.

A by the numbers horror where a bunch of cursed worry dolls get into the wrong hands making them become possessed and violently kill whoever is around them.

I seen this under the title Worry Dolls and I thought Charles Band would be behind this somehow. Luckily he wasn't but then the film wasn't much better then something he would do. The first few minutes rock in this film with a psycho jamming a four foot drill bit through someone's head with tons of blood flying everywhere. Then the rest of the film lacks in comparison. It was cheese that the dolls were put on strings and then all someone had to do was put it on making them insta rage zombie. Skip this one unless you have a friend in the cast.

I was initially lured in by the poster/movie cover for "The Devils Dolls" (aka "Worry Dolls"), and I had no idea what the movie was about prior to sitting down to watch it.

But let's just say that I wasn't impressed with what I witnessed here at the hands of director Padraig Reynolds.

The storyline was lacking contents that would make for an interesting story and it just started to gradually become more and more boring, and my interest and focus gradually started to slip away.

The acting in the movie wasn't particularly memorable, and I can honestly say that I can't remember a single character or performing actor in the movie. Yeah, they were just that bland. And the fact that none of the people in the movie weren't famous had nothing to do with this. But the acting talents just didn't put on a memorable performance.

So who is to blame here? The director? The acting talents? The writers? I can only speculate. I do know, however, that this movie was a wide swing and an equally wide miss. There was just nothing worthwhile to be had here in my opinion.

And for a 2016 release, then it was anything but outstanding, and it will quickly fade into oblivion. There are far better horror / thrillers available, both of 2016 release but also of course by older release dates.

"The Devils Dolls" just didn't make any noticeably dent on the screen.

'Worry Dolls' drew me into seeing it, with a cool and creepy poster, an intriguing idea and as someone with a general appreciation for horror. That it was low-budget, which from frequent personal experience is rarely a good sign due to that there are so many poor ones out there, made me though apprehensive.

Actually found 'Worry Dolls' fairly watchable, if not an easy film to rate or review. Had to think long and hard about what my thoughts were and how to articulate them. 'Worry Dolls' is not great, or good, has a fair share of problems (fairly big ones too) and doesn't do enough with its potential, which was hardly small. There are however some decent, even good, qualities in 'Worry Dolls', at least it wasn't intelligence insulting or inept (unlike some films seen recently) and the potential is not completely squandered.

Lets start with the positives. The scenery is very atmospheric, likewise with the very nice way it's shot. The music is suitably spooky and quirky and doesn't distract at all from the atmosphere, while not exactly enhancing it.

'Worry Dolls' is another example of a film that started off very promisingly. There are some genuinely scary and suspenseful moments and the atmosphere has creepiness.

However, the story does feel over-stretched and some of it feels vague, under-explained. The more 'Worry Dolls' progressed, the duller, more predictable, more senseless and less scary, and too many characters are too sketchy. Making the film feel bland and forgettable with not enough heart put into it.

Acting is never amateurish, there has been far worse acting before and since, but nobody is good let alone note-worthy.

Dialogue can be stilted while the pace is uneven, dragging in some of the second half. Found the supposedly shocking moments not so surprising or scary, due to the excessive obviousness and the lack of tension and suspense, and the end felt not much of a climax.

In summary, not unwatchable but unremarkable. 4/10 Bethany Cox