Young Macy is abducted by a deranged, monstrous figure who wants to raise her as its child.
Ratings
Curator score: 0.6/10
IMDb: 5.1/10
Letterboxd: 2.32/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
Metacritic: 44
TMDB: 6.2/10
Director
Rod Blackhurst
Production
Witchcraft Motion Picture Company, Gentile Entertainment Group, Mama Bear Studios, Monarque Entertainment, Set Point Entertainment
Cast
Max Lindsey, Fabianne Therese, Seann William Scott, Ethan Suplee, Russ Tiller, Michalina Scorzelli, Kate Cobb
Where to watch
Philo, Shudder
Curator Review
Verdict
A grimy, 16mm-shot horror throwback with practical gore and a strong sense of nasty, backwoods exploitation style. It seems to deliver atmosphere and shock value well, but the reviews point to thin plotting, uneven tone, and some cheap-looking effects that may undercut the intended brutality.
Best for
horror fans who like grindhouse aesthetics
viewers seeking practical-effects gore
fans of retro 70s-style sleaze and rural menace
audiences who enjoy simple, mean-spirited slashers
Skip if
you want a smart or emotionally grounded horror story
you are sensitive to abduction or child-endangerment horror
you dislike misogynistic or body-shaming monster imagery
you are turned off by flimsy plotting or obvious genre imitation
Overview
Dolly looks built for horror viewers who want texture first and logic second. The 16mm grit, greasy backwoods atmosphere, and practical gore give it a lived-in nastiness that many modern slashers lack, and the reactions suggest it lands as a visceral experience even when the story is familiar.
Worth noting
At the same time, the film seems to lean hard on shock, brutality, and retro posture without fully earning the dread it is reaching for. Several viewers respond to the style, but just as many note tonal clumsiness, implausible character behavior, and a sense that it is borrowing heavily from better films.
Bottom line
If you like exploitation-flavored horror and can forgive a thin narrative, there is enough craft and mean energy here to make it worth a look. If you need psychological depth, emotional nuance, or a fresh premise, this one is probably more exhausting than satisfying.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Jack 🦇 (3.5★) · 939 likes
As far as music biopics go, Dolly is perhaps the most visceral I've ever seen. I had no idea Dolly Parton's upbringing was so brutal.
cob (4★) · 550 likes
now that’s what we call a jaw dropper
joe (4★) · 386 likes
gnarly, gruesome and just straight up nasty (positive)
impressive practical effects & gore. such a gorgeous grimy looking film shot on 16mm. has that 70s grainy look which made the watching experience feel immersive and the film itself felt lived in. the story is basic in concept but fabianne therese delivers a great performance & we got a fun slasher villain so im pleased!
K · 334 likes
I feel like a real buzzkill even saying this, but the only time I ever see fat women in horror movies is as inhuman monsters and that shit sucks!!
Digital Press (3★) · 253 likes
“Because it’s a movie”. This is what I have to repeatedly tell myself sometimes when characters do things so inexplicably stupid that my limited brain can’t wrap itself around it. It happens in Dolly right away.
It’s all very Grindhouse. You know… gritty and brutal but you definitely have to turn your brain off to appreciate it. Once I accepted (rationalized) this, I was able to somewhat get into its vibe. I love the aesthetic, going for a retro look… more
1974 · Horror · 1h 23m · R · Curator 7.2/10 (937.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Philo, Shudder, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
The key touchstone for its rural dread, feral brutality, and documentary-like grime.