Jenna (Perri Lauren) and Rick Deyton (Sean Meehan) have recently lost their child, Tim (Tony Hutaj), and he’s been laid to rest. The couple meets a man called The Dollmaker (Dan Berkey) who has a unique talent. The Dollmaker has the ability to create magical dolls that resemble a loved one, but when Jenna becomes too attached to the surrogate for her son, things begin getting twisted. This unhealthy obsession will lead to more hardship. Is the struggle worth it?
What a twisted, f**ked up story of loss and grief. Who in their right mind thinks of creating a story about manipulating grieving parents? Matias Caruso, that’s who. Caruso and director Al Lougher felt the need to lead the film through production and bring this story to life. The Dollmaker is dark, harrowing, relentless, and disgustingly heartbreaking. It doesn’t lend itself to a wide-ranging audience, and it’s likely to turn viewers off very early in the narrative. With all of this being said, however, I loved every minute of The Dollmaker. Once in a while a really screwed up story about manipulation, death, or some other dark thing enters the world of cinema and takes the world by storm. Films like Saw, The Purge, and Hostel are examples of hard-hitting horror films that won the world over–and The Dollmaker is akin to films of this nature. Will the short film ever find the financial success of those aforementioned films? Most likely it won’t, but that doesn’t mean it’s not just as good (because let's be honest, The Dollmaker is low-budget and won’t receive the same amount of publicity as the others). Through the intense darkness of The Dollmaker exists a fun thriller that is likely to titillate a niche group of viewers. The film is incredibly well done, and the narrative develops smoothly over the course of its nine minutes
Science fiction and supernatural films (and other films of this nature) with a small budget are typically expected to possess mediocre special effects. The Dollmaker breaks the mold of what is possible in this realm of cinema, and creates something quite literally perfect. A major part of the narrative is the transition of the doll from human being to inanimate object–and it takes a certain level of expertise to be able to pull this off effectively. Director Lougher doubles as the film’s editor, and he’s tasked with bringing Caruso’s vision to life, and the editing is flawless. With Lougher is Director of Photography Federico Tamburini, and the two must work together in order to create a seamless story of paranormal activity. This duo creates something wonderfully realistic (I suppose realistic is the right word, even if I’m talking about a doll transforming into a human). Perfect is a strong word, but I believe it pertains to the editing and special effects present in The Dollmaker.
The cast of The Dollmaker is small, meaning that each character plays a pivotal role in the production of the film and whether or not viewers appreciate the finished product. Lauren and Meehan do a wonderful job of conveying emotion throughout the film, and they create a genuine emotional connection with viewers. Their chemistry is great, and their overall performances help to further the horror and emotion present in the film’s narrative. Berkey’s performance is a different kind of beast in The Dollmaker. In this film Berkey is tasked with being the Jigsaw-esque character that facilitates the narrative and drives the film forward–and he does just that. Berkey is creepy in the best possible way, provoking chills and discomfort throughout, and he ultimately becomes the most important part of The Dollmaker. Full of cynical, dilapidated light, Berkey is the best part of the film.
The Dollmaker reminds me so much of popular horror films that have made waves in the world of cinema over the past two decades, but it creates a unique space for itself as well. Merging horror, mystery, and other genres, The Dollmaker, regardless of its similarities to other films, is original and completely its own. Nearly every aspect of this film is done with great equanimity, and it’s a thrilling film about loss that is sure to resonate with its niche audience. The Dollmaker is available for free on Vimeo, but I can imagine, had anyone had to pay to view the film, the filmmakers would have the luxury of saying “Nobody ever asked for their money back.”
Directed by Al Lougher.
Written by Matias Caruso.
Starring Perri Lauren, Sean Meehan, Dan Berkey, & Tony Hutaj.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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