The Devil-Doll
A wrongfully imprisoned banker turns a miraculous miniaturization serum into an uncanny instrument of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his life.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- macabre
- creepy
- heightened
- classic horror night
- retro science fiction marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film entertaining and notable for its creepy miniature effects, though some considered its revenge thriller formula disappointing and conventional.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Paul Lavond escapes imprisonment and exploits a miniaturization method to target the crooked associates who framed him.
The film’s central scientific invention turns living people into tiny versions of themselves, creating its signature unsettling imagery.
Lavond begins as a framed innocent but becomes consumed by hatred and pursues painful revenge rather than simple exoneration.
The laboratory invention, miniature humans, revenge plotting, and Lavond’s disguise as an old woman unite melodrama with grotesque horror.
Films like The Devil-Doll, and why
The Invisible Man
shared pre-code horror atmosphere, transgressive scientific experimentation, and striking special effects
King Kong
shared classic horror spectacle, revenge-driven monster premise, and pioneering visual effects
Freaks
shared Tod Browning sensibility, grotesque human transformation, and outsider-centered horror
The Island of Dr. Moreau
shared mad science, miniature-scale imagery, and dark fantasy thriller tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Tod Browning
- Release Date
- 1936-07-10
- Runtime
- 78 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (125)
Cast
- Lionel Barrymore
- Maureen O'Sullivan
- Frank Lawton
- Rafaela Ottiano
- Robert Greig
- Lucy Beaumont
- Henry B. Walthall
- Grace Ford
- Pedro de Cordoba
- Arthur Hohl
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Devil-Doll about?
- A wrongfully imprisoned banker turns a miraculous miniaturization serum into an uncanny instrument of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his life.
- What is The Devil-Doll like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Devil-Doll as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Devil-Doll violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Devil-Doll as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Devil-Doll?
- Critics generally found the film entertaining and notable for its creepy miniature effects, though some considered its revenge thriller formula disappointing and conventional.
- Which films are like The Devil-Doll?
- Films with a similar feel include The Invisible Man, King Kong, Freaks, and The Island of Dr. Moreau.
- How long is The Devil-Doll?
- The Devil-Doll runs 78 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Devil-Doll?
- In United States, The Devil-Doll is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
