Rod Blackhurst’s Dolly is an unsettling genre-blend of backwoods terror and psychological dread.
Directed and co-written by Blackhurst (whose work includes Amanda Knox, Night Swim, and Blood for Dust), the film stars Fabianne Therese as Macy, Seann William Scott as Chase, Ethan Suplee as Tobe, and Max the Impaler in the chilling title role.
Dolly thrusts viewers into a nightmare scenario where a young woman’s romantic hike turns into a harrowing fight for survival when a monstrous, doll-masked figure abducts her and seeks to raise her as their own child in a grim woodland setting.
Dolly made its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, then went on to screen at other genre events, including Screamfest LA 2025, and is set for a U.S. theatrical release on March 6, 2026, followed by streaming on Shudder and other platforms.
Here is the official synopsis of Dolly: A young woman, Macy, fights for survival after being abducted by a deranged, monster-like figure who wants to raise Macy as their child. A daring blend of New French Extremity and 1970s American horror. The film emphasizes practical effects, tactile atmosphere, and a visceral backwoods setting that evokes grindhouse classics and extreme horror while forging its own unsettling identity.
Director Rod Blackhurst has spoken about his approach to Dolly and his love for the horror genre’s traditions and innovations. In an interview, Blackhurst explained that “I love the genre of horror movies and grindhouse,” and that he intentionally embedded homages to films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre while striving to make Dolly its own unique creation with emotional and thematic depth.
He said, “We’ve put a couple details in Dolly that are a tip of the hat to a film that wrecked us all as filmmakers and as film lovers, which is, you know, Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Ethan Suplee’s character is called Tobe, spelled like Tobe Hooper.”
Watch the official trailer for Dolly above.
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