PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Dolly Deadly is one of the first films I ever reviewed, way back when I was writing on Medium. Since then, I have had the chance to interview Dolly Deadly director Heidi Moore as well as break the news on the musical sequel, Kill Dolly Kill, which is currently in post. Recently, Heidi Moore announced Dolly Deadly 1.5, a short meant to bridge the gap between the two features. I was given the chance to check out Dolly Deadly 1.5 and here are my thoughts.
Dolly Deadly 1.5 was directed by Heidi Moore (Dolly Deadly 2016) from a script co-written by Moore and Donny Gonzalez. The film stars Justin Moore, who is returning as Benji from Dolly Deadly. He is joined by Jonas Woolverton (Kill Dolly Kill 2020), Jonathan Ruggiero (Weedjies: Halloweed Night 2019), Devhorra Dark (Neon 2020), and Chris Cortez (Kill Dolly Kill 2020).
Simon is a lonely guy just looking for some friends. When he discovers the story of a little boy named Benji, he is inspired to create his own happiness. His methods may be unconventional, but at least he went after what he wanted… right? Dolly Deadly 1.5: Whatever Happened to Benji is a mini sequel to Dolly Deadly (Released in 2016), and at the same time, a mini prequel to Kill Dolly Kill (Released in 2020).
I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into Dolly Deadly 1.5 by its meant to bring the gap between the original film and its upcoming sequel. After watching it, I’m still really not sure how everything ties together, as Benji is a teenager in this short and an adult in the sequel. What I will say is it was nice to see Justin Moore return as Benji. I loved him in the original film, and, while he doesn’t get to do much, the short does hint at how he becomes the character he will be in the sequel.
Jonas Woolverton puts in a twisted performance as Simon, the villain of the short. He works well as a foil to Benji, representing what Benji could be if he didn’t have imaginary friends and tried to make his own. Ultimately, Simon is a rather pathetic character who would be fairly sympathetic if it wasn’t for his actions. Given how most of the characters from Dolly Deadly 1.5 return in Kill Dolly Kill, I’m very intrigued to see how this all plays out. The film, much like its predecessor, features quite a bit of surreal imagery and even features a death that feels like a throwback to one of the kills in the original film.
Final Thoughts
While not as overtly violent as its predecessor, Dolly Deadly 1.5 is full of surrealism and features a couple of gooey moments that will be sure to please Troma fans. I’m looking forward to seeing how everything connects when Kill Dolly Kill is finally released. If you are interested in checking out Dolly Deadly 1.5, its available on Troma Now here as is the original Dolly Deadly.
