The Dolls (1987)

A group of people stop by a mansion during a storm and discover two magical toy makers and their haunted collection of dolls.

Director:

Stuart Gordon

Writer:

Ed Naha

Stars:

Ian Patrick Williams, Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Carrie Lorraine

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ian Patrick Williams	...	David Bower
Carolyn Purdy-Gordon	...	Rosemary Bower
Carrie Lorraine	...	Judy Bower
Guy Rolfe	...	Gabriel Hartwicke
Hilary Mason	...	Hilary Hartwicke
Bunty Bailey	...	Isabel Prange
Cassie Stuart	...	Enid
Stephen Lee	...	Ralph Morris

Storyline

A group of travelers spend the night in the mansion of an elderly couple who are dollmakers. However, one of the travelers' children discovers that the dolls the couple makes are actually humans that the couple has miniaturized and turned into tools for their evil plans.

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Plot Keywords:

inanimate object comes to life | inanimate object motion | talking inanimate object | talking to inanimate object | stabbed in the back | 

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Taglines:

You're never too old to play with dolls until you're dead.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 May 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Doll

Filming Locations:

Empire Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Empire Pictures, Taryn Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actress Carrie Lorraine (Judy Bower) only had one previous film credit before this film, Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), despite being "introduced" in the film's opening credits. She retired from acting after this film, having no interest in pursuing it as a career, and instead pursued a career as a criminal defense lawyer.

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Goofs

First time we see Mr. Punch speak there's a close-up shot of the doll's face, staring directly into Ralph. But on the wide-shot we can clearly see Judy holding the doll and the doll is slightly tilting on to the side actually looking straight at the floor/wall.

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Quotes

Ralph: Ya know, I can remember every toy I had as a kid.
Gabriel: And they remember you, Ralph. Toys are very loyal, and that is a fact.

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Crazy Credits

and introducing Carrie Lorraine as Judy Bower

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Connections

Featured in The Return of the Living Dead: The Decade of Darkness (2007)

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Soundtracks

Original Dolls Theme
Composed by Victor Spiegel

User Reviews

Terror movie with awful murders by a malevolent creatures attacking unsuspecting people

A motley group formed by six people (Patrick Williams,, Cassie Stuart, Carolyn Purdy, Lorraine among others) are stranded during a fierce storm and drawn to mysterious place located in an old mansion. In the shelter meet a kindly old doll-maker (Guy Rolfe) and his spouse (Hilary Mason), owners of the creepy ancient house. One by one they are attacked by hundred of stalking living dolls. The obnoxious and antique little dolls in elegant outfits have killing instincts.

The picture packs suspenseful horror, thrills, chills, graphic violence tongue-in cheek and grisly killings. The real stars are the dolls that are magnificently made by John Carl Buechler as supervisor on Mechanical and Make up Imageries and the master Dave Allen as expert on Stop-motion. Frightening and moving musical score by Richard Band. Produced by Charles Band and Brian Yuzna for their production company called ¨Empire¨ that was posteriorly locked and creating a new called ¨Full Moon¨. Later on, Full moon produced a same type of film, though a little tamer, the ¨Puppetmaster¨ series a ¨ Dolls¨-lookalike . The motion picture is professionally directed by Stuart Gordon who also made the successful ¨Reanimator¨and ¨From Beyond¨. Recommended for gore buffs and terror lovers, though isn't for the squeamish.