The Doll

After reviewing Steve Hermann's first film In the Dark, I was surprised when The Doll came up on his IMDB page and knowing how much I enjoyed In the Dark I needed to check this out.

Lilly's sister would rather talk to her friends on the phone than play. Lilly decides to head off into the woods on her own and that's where we meet Carrie sitting on a picnic bench. The angle in which Hermann shoots Lilly walking up the lonely doll is unsettling. A doll by itself on the picnic bench in the woods in by itself would give me the creeps. To make matters worse, Carrie begins to have a normal conversation with Lilly. This is where I'll end it due to not spoiling the ending.

A good film is made better with good acting. Like In the Dark, the cast here is fantastic. Delilah Hefner plays Lilly so innocently and adorable that what happens to her only adds to the ending. She was a delight to watch.

A newcomer, though I see her listed in Hermann's Morium, is Miranda Kilpatrick who plays Lilly's sister Kimberley, though her name is never mentioned in the film. Straightforward sister who's friends come first before her sister. A good performance, especially at the end when the realization of what happened hits her.

I gave high praise to Taydem Shoesmith for her role in In the Dark and as the voice of Carrie, she doesn't disappoint. Her monotone, yet creepy voice was perfect for the blond haired doll.

Overall, it's really short. Like six minutes or so, but once again Hermann is able to pack a lot in in such a short amount of time. His writing and directing style gets to the point without wasting any time. Now I eagerly await to see his biggest project, Morium.

9/10.

The Doll starts off innocently, what could go wrong during a pleasant day at the park? Loved the way the music set the mood. Great acting throughout, including the voice of the doll. Great creepiness factor builds throughout this short film.

The Doll might not be as blatant as movies like Chucky or Annabelle, but it is no less creepy, no less compelling for its short length. To be honest, I found the fact that the movie took place in a park on a bright sunny day to ramp up the creepy factor significantly. Because you don't expect anything to happen on such a day. The voice of the doll was brilliant. With that hint of the mechanical to keep it from sounding too human, yet also so bubbly and happy. The sort of voice any child would love to hear from a new favorite doll. I just loved all the performances, and the whole movie from beginning to end.