Jeff Reviews CURSE OF THE WITCH'S DOLL (2018)

"Following a series of inexplicable events, a woman comes to believe that a doll possesses the soul of a vengeful witch."

CURSE OF THE WITCH'S DOLL is a 2017 British supernatural horror film written and directed by Lawrence Fowler. The Up A Notch Productions film stars Helen Crevel, Neil Hobbs, and Philip Ridout. Originally called "Conjuring the Witch's Doll" the filmmakers/distributors attempted to ride the popularity of Annabelle and The Conjuring. Dropping the obvious tease that it is somehow related to the successful franchises, CURSE OF THE WITCH'S DOLL advertising still promised an evil doll worse than Annabelle threatening "Back in your box, Annabelle."

Adeline Gray’s attempt to escape the Blitz bombing leads her to a derelict, creepy manor in the woods of the English countryside. When Adeline’s young daughter Chloe goes missing, a series of inexplicable events lead her to believe a haunted doll holds a vengeful soul; the soul of a murdered witch. As the plot thickens we learn these past events still haunt Adeline, now called Mary, as she struggles with reality and fantasy while in an asylum. The doll is still a central focus and may be controlling her doctor as well. Our goal as voyeurs is to figure out if the evil doll is a really a thing if Adeline/Mary is truly insane, and what time period we are truly in. It's an eclectic mystery well blended to keep us on our toes and hinged on the dolls next move.

CURSE OF THE WITCH'S DOLL is a proper British film with slow deliberate pacing, dark and dingy scenes, and morose atmosphere. It is very Hammer like while attempting to be on par with The Woman in Black 2, right down to the basic story elements of a woman seeking asylum from the war in 1942 in a creepy old country manor presumably run by an equally creepy gentleman with possible notorious intent. All actors are brilliant in proper British fashion and definitely helped create the atmosphere you'd expect from a 70's era Hammer film. Extra credit goes to Doris for being a very convincing mentally unstable witness to the evil doll, even the tension in this scene is palpable. As characteristic of the films the filmmakers are paying homage too, there's little to no blood and gore, just artful builds in tension, implying what will happen next, and then fade out to next scene. Though an enjoyable horror film, its boast that it is somehow better or more evil then Annabelle is hardly proven. There's nothing particularly scary as much as it is intriguing and less of a mind game than it is a hotbed for conjecture as to what is really going on. The doll is pretty cool though, the craftsmanship is excellent and the stop-motion isn't ridiculously overzealous.

CURSE OF THE WITCH'S DOLL is a worthwhile homage to Hammer style filmmaking. In the US, High Octane Pictures released CURSE OF THE WITCH'S DOLL on VOD February 2nd, DVD March 6th and SVOD on June 5th.