Dolly Movie Review 2026 | A True Homage to 70’s Slashers

Horror fans, are you looking for something new to get stuck into this week? DOLLY, from director Rod Blackhurst, is well worth a watch. The film stars Fabianne Therese (John Dies At The End), Russ Tiller (Blood For Dust), Eve Blackhurst, Michalina Scorzelli, Kate Cobb (Okie), with Ethan Suplee (My Name Is Earl) and Seann William Scott (American Pie), and introducing Max The Impaler as the physically imposing eponymous antagonist.

The film’s first incarnation was the short film Babygirl, and now the feature-length DOLLY, serving as a tribute to the classic 70s slashers, whilst adding its own spin on the genre. DOLLY follows Macy, a young woman who is abducted by a monstrous figure intent on raising her as their own child.

Dolly is a movie that pays clear homage to 70’s slashers, and is shot very much in the same vein as Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I had to wonder if the sign reading ‘Hooper Mine’ at the start was a nod to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre director Tobe Hooper, but maybe I’m reading too much into it as there was also a character named Tobe. This is also a movie that will appeal to those who also love (and I say this with genuine affection, as it’s one of my personal favourite genres) ‘B-Movie’ films from the 80s-90’s eras.

In typical B-movie horror, the main characters do some really dumb stuff throughout. Tripping over, not running away when they had the chance, taking unusually long pauses before reacting. You know if that was us, we’d be running for the hills without a second thought. But that’s what makes Dolly fun, it’s a throwback, and what horror fan doesn’t love a creepy doll?

Fabianne Therese Dolly movie

Fabianne Therese was a stand-out lead star and is a deserving ‘final girl’ that viewers will be rooting for. Seann William Scott is billed as a lead, but man, was he going through it in Dolly. This guy faced some really gnarly, brutal scenes and spends a lot of the movie in a rather unfortunate way, which renders him somewhat useless to both the plot and the character development. Still, having him in it did feel like a throwback to classic 90’s flicks.

Shaun william scott dolly

It’s not all fun and games, though, as Dolly does touch upon some darker themes like child abuse and neglect. The character of Dolly themselves is played by professional wrestler Max the Impaler, who does a great job of portraying how strong and brutal this character can be. Worth a watch this week!