Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Extremely gritty, grisly, gory masked-killer movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dolly
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In DOLLY, Chase (Seann William Scott) drops off his daughter (Eve Blackhurst) with Aunt Sadie (Michalina Scorzelli) so that he can take his girlfriend, Macy (Fabianne Therese), on a romantic hike—and, hopefully, propose to her. In the woods, they find a series of creepy dolls displayed everywhere. Then they hear unsettling music. Chase investigates and finds a woman who seems to be in trouble. But she's actually a masked killer called Dolly (Max the Impaler), and she stabs Chase with a shovel. Worse, Macy is captured and taken back to Dolly's home, where she's forced to behave like the killer's baby. Can she escape?
Is It Any Good?
This grisly, small-scale horror movie is a little more gruesome and unsettling than the usual fare, thanks both to the grainy, textured use of 16 mm film and to the presence of a very creepy killer. Co-written and directed by Rod Blackhurst, Dolly is based on his own 2022 short film Babygirl. (Another Blackhurst short was adapted, without his involvement, into the far worse Night Swim.) The movie's cinematography is inspired, as it kicks things off right away with an eerie vibe; it's almost tactile.
The casting of wrestler Max the Impaler as Dolly is another inspired touch. Max wears a disturbing doll's-head mask (with one eye gouged out) throughout and does very interesting but disturbing things with their body language—especially their hands. If the movie vividly recalls The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, then Max's performance also recalls Gunnar Hansen's turn as Leatherface, with his similarly unnerving movements. Nevertheless, Dolly has its own sensibility. In a way, it takes a twisted look at the mothering instinct, finding connections between giving life and taking it away. It also has unexpected moments and moments of nail-biting tension. It may be too much for a second viewing, but Dolly is potent enough to make horror hounds call for their own mothers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Dolly's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Is the movie scary? What is the appeal of horror movies? Why do people sometimes enjoy being scared?
Do characters demonstrate perseverance? Does that make them role models in any way?
What do you think the movie is saying about motherhood, given Dolly's predilection for treating her captives like they are infants?
Why are many people fascinated by stories about psycho killers?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 6, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : April 24, 2026
- Cast : Fabianne Therese , Seann William Scott , Max the Impaler
- Director : Rod Blackhurst
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Non-Binary Movie Actor(s) , Transgender Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : IFC Films , Shudder
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 82 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence, gore, grisly images, language and some nudity
- Last updated : March 18, 2026
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