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1991movierewind

Episode #84: Dolly Dearest

Listen to Episode 84 of the Podcast here while you enjoy the show notes.


SUMMARY - In Dolly Dearest, the Wade family is moving to Mexico. Elliott (played by Sam Bottoms) is starting up a doll factory in the same building where one was previously abandoned. Right next door, an ancient tomb is being excavated and the evil spirit escapes to inhabit the dolls that were left behind.


Screenplay by Maria Lease; Directed by Maria Lease; and released on October 18, 1991.


FILM DISCUSSION

Look, nothing about this plot makes any real world sense.

Dude moves his entire family to Mexico in order to start a doll factory that he bought completely sight-unseen.

And for some reason, it's right next to this ancient burial ground where an old archeologist works alone at this place that could be a revelatory discovery site?

Anyway, the result is a "Child's Play" rip off. Here is her nice face.

Here is the mean, demon face.

Plenty of tropes abound. The man not listening to his wife, who is actually the one seeing things.

Ancient satanic rituals and demons and possessed children

You get the idea. The death scenes in this are pretty infrequent and also quite disappointing.

This dude literally dies from a heart attack after having his hand sewn.

What little special effects we have are pretty cheesy and laughable. Maybe that was supposed to be the point?

We spent a lot of time debating our perceptions of the son. Jon thought he was a stupid piss-ant. Nikki thought he was basically just a normal kid and didn't see a problem.

But we both agreed that the movie's resolution, and honestly the plot as a whole, left a lot to be desired.

Awards Talk: At the Saturn Awards, it was somehow nominated for Best Horror FIlm and more understandably nominated for Best Performance by Younger Actor for both Chris Demetral and Candace Hutson


TRUE CRIME & POP CULTURE

This week we don't have any true crime and we've covered the TV shows on two different episodes covering this same date.


But, here are your Billboard Bottom 5 Songs for the week of October 19, 1991

100. You Could Be Mine - Guns N' Roses (featured in T2)

99. Good Time - Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

98. Chorus - Erasure

97. The Sound of Your Voice - 38 Special

96. Every Heartbeat - Amy Grant


RANKINGS & RATINGS

Nikki 1-5 star scale - 1 out of 5

Jon 0-4 star scale - 1 out of 4

Would you watch it again? - Nope. Even ignoring that there are several other doll-based horror movies that are likely better, there are so many other horror movies that have more interesting death scenes and a coherent story. This was a non-sensical cash grab that didn't offer enough.


If you want to watch Dolly Dearest, as of this recording in September 2022, it’s available on YouTube, VHS, DVD. Check your local listings.


NEXT EPISODE & WHERE TO FIND US

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Join us next time for Afraid of the Dark available on Digital Rental, VHS, DVD

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