Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- surreal
- macabre
- late night horror marathon
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found Dolls to be a lovingly crafted, atmospheric horror fairy tale with appealing cinematography, performances, and effects, though its concept and uneven execution limited its impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The dollmakers' mansion, enchanted toys, and child Judy's perspective give the horror a storybook quality.
The dolls are revealed as transformed wicked humans, making supernatural retribution central to the plot.
The possessed dolls and their violent transformations rely on physical toy effects and makeup-driven imagery.
Travelers are trapped overnight in an elderly couple's mansion during a storm, making the house the film's primary arena.
Films like Dolls, and why
Ghoulies
shared whimsical supernatural horror, miniature creatures, and practical-effects fantasy
Phantasm
shared eerie haunted-house atmosphere, surreal menace, and darkly comic horror
The Gate
shared fairy-tale horror, child-centered wonder, and grotesque practical effects
Puppet Master
shared toy-centered supernatural horror and macabre fantasy imagery
Movie Details
- Director
- Stuart Gordon
- Release Date
- 1987-03-12
- Runtime
- 77 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (380)
Cast
- Ian Patrick Williams
- Carolyn Purdy-Gordon
- Carrie Lorraine
- Guy Rolfe
- Hilary Mason
- Bunty Bailey
- Cassie Stuart
- Stephen Lee
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dolls about?
- Stranded travelers discover that a storm-bound toymaker’s mansion shelters dolls made from wicked humans, turning childhood wonder into grotesque supernatural justice.
- What is Dolls like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dolls as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Dolls violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Dolls as graphic.
- What did critics think of Dolls?
- Critics broadly found Dolls to be a lovingly crafted, atmospheric horror fairy tale with appealing cinematography, performances, and effects, though its concept and uneven execution limited its impact.
- Which films are like Dolls?
- Films with a similar feel include Ghoulies, Phantasm, The Gate, and Puppet Master.
- How long is Dolls?
- Dolls runs 77 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dolls?
- In United States, Dolls streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
