Dolls (1987)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Stuart Gordon

Writer:

Ed Naha (writer)

Release Date:

March 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

They want to play with you.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Doll | Toy Maker | Toy | Storm | Evil Doll

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

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

Directed by
Stuart Gordon

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ed Naha		writer

Produced by
Charles Band	....	executive producer
Bruce Cohn Curtis	....	associate producer
Debra Dion	....	associate producer
Brian Yuzna	....	producer

Original Music by
Fuzzbee Morse

Cinematography by
Mac Ahlberg

Film Editing by
Lee Percy

Casting by
Anthony Barnao

Production Design by
Giovanni Natalucci

Set Decoration by
Mariangela Capuano
Becky Block Cummings

Costume Design by
Angee Beckett

Makeup Department
John Carl Buechler	....	special makeup effects
Giancarlo Del Brocco	....	makeup artist
Bill Forsche	....	special makeup effects artist
John Vulich	....	assistant special makeup effects

Production Management
Richard Band	....	production supervisor
Roberto Bessi	....	executive in charge of production
Dennis Murphy	....	executive in charge of production: USA
Stefano Spadoni	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mauro Sacripante	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
G.W. Brown	....	sound

Special Effects by
Gabriel Bartalos	....	chief makeup artist: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries
Gabriel Bartalos	....	location supervisor: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries
John Carl Buechler	....	special effects makeup designer and supervisor: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries
Mitch Devane	....	special effects makeup assistant: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries
Bill Forsche	....	special effects makeup assistant: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries
Helen Kinsey	....	fabricator: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries
Ralph Miller III	....	special effects makeup assistant: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries
Bryan Moore	....	special effects makeup assistant: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries
John Vulich	....	special effects makeup assistant: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries

Visual Effects by
Dave Allen	....	special visual effects

Stunts
Arnaldo Dell'Acqua	....	stunt coordinator (as Aldo Dell'Acqua)

Casting Department
Beth Charkham	....	casting: London

Editorial Department
Juliet Avola	....	post-production

Music Department
Richard Band	....	music supervisor
Andy Newell	....	music mixer: Earwax Productions Inc.

Other crew
Dave Allen	....	doll effects
Dave Allen	....	stop motion effects
Andrea Borella	....	production assistant
John K. Brunner	....	doll effects
John K. Brunner	....	puppet dolls creator
Vivian Brunner	....	doll effects
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Giancarlo Del Brocco	....	doll effects
Giancarlo J. Sini	....	assistant production accountant
Joe Zola	....	bag boy

Production Companies

• Empire Pictures
• Taryn Productions Inc.

Distributors

• Empire Pictures (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Vestron Video International (1987) (Belgium) (video)
• Vestron Video (1988) (France) (VHS)
• Vestron Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• David Allen Productions (stop motion doll effects)
• Mechanical and Makeup Imageries (special effects make-up design and fabrication)

Also Known As:

The Doll (USA)

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Empire Pictures

Trivia:

This film was actually shot before Stuart Gordon's next film, From Beyond (1986), and was shot on the same sets but was released almost a year afterwards due to all the doll effects in post-production.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Punch comes to life near the end the strings and puppeteer's hand are plainly visible.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kid Safe: The Video (1988) (V)

Soundtrack:

I'm in the Mood for Love

Not as good as "Re-Animator" or "From Beyond",but still pretty enjoyable.

"Dolls" is an enjoyable horror film made by Stuart Gordon("Castle Freak","Re-Animator").Gordon mixes the fairytale atmosphere with splatter effects.The child-like score by Richard Band is effectively creepy,especially during the opening credits.The acting is rather good and the atmosphere is pretty creepy and uncanny.The gore effects are well-done and the dolls look amazing.The film surely isn't as memorable as Gordon's cult hit "Re-Animator",but it's worth checking out for horror fans.My rating:8 out of 10.