Doll Cemetery is a 2019 British horror film directed by Steven M Smith. The film stars Jon-Paul Gates, Rad Brown and Matthew Fitzthomas Rogers.
Doll Cemetery tells the story of Brendan Cobbs (Jon-Paul Gates), a famous novelist who has hit the wall when it comes to new ideas. His agent sends him to a remote cottage in the middle of nowhere to spark some inspiration for his latest project.
Whilst being stuck in a village of unwelcoming locals, Brendan encounters Alfred. A child size doll who mysteriously comes to life to seek murderous revenge on those who surround him.
Doll Cemetery is low budget indie horror at its finest. Everything within this movie is expertly utilised and it makes for a genuinely creepy and eerie film.
The opening scene has an eerie Chucky inspired feel to it and sets the film up with a gory and compelling introduction.
What Doll Cemetery also utilises is using colour grade to depict mood.
When we are surrounded by the doll the colours on screen are more dark and ominous. This atmospheric really adds to the sinister motive of the doll and paints the mood perfectly.
Whilst the acting in parts is a lot to be desired the film certainly has a nice fluid motion to it. Doll Cemetery never gets dull or boring it flows with a British horror class and elegance.
The doll scenes are quite unnerving to say the least. Moments of tense build-up pay off with dramatic effect and it’s nicely done indeed.
Overall
Steven M Smith is improving with each and every feature film and horror certainly seems to be his comfort zone.
Indie horrors can never be compared to their big studio budget counterparts but Doll Cemetery is certainly a very cool addition to anyones UK indie cult horror collection.
Doll Cemetery will be released in the UK by 101 Films on October 21, 2019.
Review by Sean Evans
Photo Credit – Gaz De Vere
Our Rating
Summary
Tense and genuinely creepy. Doll Cemetery is certainly a step up in Steven M Smith’s film slate. The movie has a quirky British charm to it with deadly and murderous results. Quite a nice little indie horror addition to anyones collection.
