Crafted in the vein of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Dolly is a grimy horror experience. Co-written and directed by Rod Blackhurst, this tribute to old-school slashers is a violent delight, despite its thin story and padded structure.

While on a hike in the woods, a couple finds themselves chased by a monstrous figure determined to raise them as its children. The movie is led by Fabianne Therese. The supporting cast includes Seann William Scott, Ethan Suplee, and Max Lindsey.

Shot on 16mm, Dolly is a low-budget celebration of dirty horror. Largely set in a run-down house, featuring a hulking villain with a child’s mind, the film delivers a barrage of sordid scenes. Thankfully, it stops short of being excessive, and while some viewers may have their stomachs turned, the movie does not dwell on its depravity. It smartly takes us on a carnival ride of terror.

While the 81-minute runtime is enjoyable from start to finish, the film’s middle has clearly been padded. This affects the story’s pacing as we become subject to the repeated torture of the protagonists. Rod Blackhurst’s stylish direction ensures this is never boring, but a few twists would have been welcome, given how plain the narrative is.

The central villain, played by Max Lindsey, is extremely foreboding and works well as a modern slasher antagonist. The doll iconography that accompanies them is suitably creepy too, adding extra flavour to the cursed location. Furthermore, the people who find themselves in this environment are portrayed decently. Fabianne Therese conveys believable fear, even if her role has little depth.

For what it is, Dolly is quite good. A horror film dripping in violence and grime, this indie approach to the slasher genre is incredibly gruesome and very entertaining.