Dolly (2026) – Review

Quick Thoughts:

• Between Dolly, Final Destination, Bloodline, and The Wrath of Becky, I like horror Seann William Scott.
• Excellent usage of a shovel.
• The special effects makeup team should be applauded
• Director Rod Blackhurst has given the world a straightforward slasher that tells a fun story in 83 minutes. 
• Never leave the trail
• Dolly is a top-notch feature that intelligently distributed its low budget to the dedicated crew. Look through the film’s “Cast and Crew” page; it’s stacked with talented people who have worked on cool films. 

At a brisk 83 minutes, Dolly is a briskly paced slasher/survival horror film that delivers gory goods. Based on Blackhurst’s 2022 proof of concept/short film Babygirl, the economical movie leans into grindhouse aesthetics (grainy 16mm film, practical effects, lots of gore) and is refreshingly straightforward. If Dolly has a theme, it’s that hikers should never leave a walking trail, because exploring unmapped (and slightly mystical) areas can lead to ripped jaws, shovel shots, shattered legs (thanks to a shovel), and bloody ears. 

The lean-and-mean fable revolves around what happens when a couple’s morning hike in the Tennessee wilderness is interrupted by a shovel-loving maniac (Max the Impaler – AKA Max Lindsey). Macy (Fabianne Therese) and Chase (Seann William Scott), are a soon-to-be engaged couple, who after coming across Dolly (Max the Impaler), are separated during a skirmish featuring copious ultra-violence. Macy is whisked away to a solitary (and slightly magical) home in the woods, where she’s imprisoned and forced to be a “doll” for Dolly. While in the house, she comes across a fellow prisoner named Toby (Ethan Suplee – his character is named after Tobe Hooper), who talks to Macy through a locked door in the home. From there, the cat-and-mouse shenanigans kick into gear as Macy attempts to get out of the house with her jaw attached (the jaw stuff will stay with you). 

In an interview with Eye for Film, Blackhurst said he made the film because it was simple and manageable to make. Simple isn’t always easy, so it’s a testament to Blackhurst and his team for taking a simple idea and not stretching it too thin. The smart thing about keeping things simple is that Blackhurst, cinematographer Justin Derry, production designer Kyra Boselli, and the makeup department (Gabriella Bordo, Alex Solorzano and Ashley K. Thomas) could focus on their respective tasks with efficiency and clear goals. The end result is a wonderful blend of New French Extremity films and 1970s American horror, and you’d never guess that the interior of the hell house was built in an old perfume factory in Tennessee. 

The main draw of Dolly, aside from the excellent cast made up of Scott, Therese, and Suplee, is Dolly, the hulking doll mask-wearing antagonist, who is lethal with a shovel. Blackhurst and producer Ross O’Connor discovered Max the Impaler when they came across a flyer promoting a National Wrestling Association event in Tennessee. Blackhurst and O’Conner were impressed by their look and size, so they doggedly worked to get in touch with the elusive wrestler. When they finally met, Max told them they had always wanted to be a horror movie villain, so Blackhurst found his lead in the psychically imposing wrestler (here’s an NWA match showcasing their skills). Max’s history as a professional wrestler aided greatly when performing the physically demanding (and wordless) role. Hidden behind a mask created by Dan Martin (Possessor, Stopmotion, Infinity Pool, Dashcam, Censor, Color Out of Space, In Fabric, Free Fire, 47 Meters Down – the guy is legit), Max does a fine job of creating a tortured, damaged and brutal antagonist (whose story will be told in an upcoming prequel). 

With Dolly, Blackhurst succeeded in crafting an effective film with very little money and time. It isn’t original, brutal, or edgelord (think Terrifier) enough to become a new classic, but it will be respected by the horror community because of how it excels on every technical level. If you’re looking for a brisk and brutal horror movie, you will appreciate Dolly.