FANTASTIC FEST 2025 HIT “DOLLY” Coming to Theaters
Courtesy of Blue Finch Films
Rod Blackhurst’s “Dolly” made its premier at last year’s Fantastic Fest and it was by far one of my favorite horror movies of the year. Which is why I couldn’t be more excited about the news that recently broke. Thanks to the horror loving heads of IFC FILMS and SHUDDER, “Dolly” will be hitting the big screen on March 6th.
September seems like yesterday to me, but for those it feels like it was forever ago, here is a brief recap of the movie. It is a gnarly, blood-soaked survival tale that manages to feel both reverential toward its horror lineage and shockingly fresh. This isn’t just another masked killer movie. This is a movie that will gleefully crawls under your skin, rips it open with ferocious strength, and dares you to keep your eyes on the screen even when every instinct is screaming to look away.
The movie’s story follows Macy, a young woman who is abducted by a deranged, monster-like figure intent on raising her as their child. The movie is billed as “a daring blend of New French Extremity and 1970s American horror,” and that description couldn’t be more accurate. The result is a nightmare stitched together from two of the genre’s most brutal traditions: the nihilistic cruelty of French shock cinema and the raw, dirty grit of American exploitation. It’s a premise that feels simple on paper, but under Blackhurst’s direction, it transforms into something ferocious, relentless, and unforgettable. The cast is stacked with amazing performances from Fabianne Therese, Sean William Scott, Ethan Suplee, and Max the Impaler as Dolly.
Another standout of this movie is of course the concept of Dolly herself. The design alone is a masterstroke of nightmare fuel. With the porcelain doll mask gleaming under dim light, the stiff and frilly outfit smeared in blood, the towering presence that turns domesticity into terror. If Leatherface made us terrified of chainsaws and Ed Gein-inspired flesh masks, Dolly does the same for porcelain toys and the aesthetics of a large collection of dolls. There’s a surreal quality to watching this hulking figure holding a headless corpse or mannerisms in a warped, childlike cadence while committing atrocities. It’s grotesque, unnerving, and most importantly, memorable. Horror thrives on its villains, and Dolly feels like the kind of character who could fuel sequels, prequels, and endless Halloween costumes.
Courtesy of Blue Finch Films
Get your tickets for March 6th and don’t miss out on seeing this gory, insane twist of a horror movie. I am still a huge fan of this movie (as I mentioned before) and very excited to see everyone involved in this great horror movie get even more praise. You can check out my full review of the movie here! Stay tuned for the TBA date for this to be streaming on Shudder.
Whether it’s slashers in the woods, ghosts in the attic, or killers in the cornfield, ILHM Reviews brings you the frightful horror flick recommendations worth watching. Follow us on Instagram, be sure to listen to the the "I Love Horror" podcast and remember that if you’re a true fan of horror, every night can be a FRIGHT NIGHT!
