‘Do not spend longer than one turn of the hourglass with him. Ever.’
The Dollmaker is a 2017 American horror short film directed by Al Lougher (So Dark; So Pretty) from a script written by Matias Caruso (Mayhem). The movie stars Perri Lauren, Sean Meehan and Daniel Martin Berkey.
Plot:
A grieving mother latches on to a magical surrogate for her lost child. But small miracles come with big consequences…
Reviews:
” …it’s ultimately a depressing scenario, but Lougher gives it that creepy feel, almost like visiting a relative’s home and seeing their dearly departed pet stuffed and staring at you over the fireplace… Dread Central
“This chilling work, with shades of The Monkey’s Paw, Pet Sematary, and other scare fare about unintended consequences, features a fantastic performance by Daniel Martin Berkey as the titular creepy craftsman, who creates a doll in the likeness of a couple’s deceased little boy.” Ghastly Grinning
The score is slightly over-sentimental, but the writing and acting are so well done – precise and careful – that I really only noticed after the film was done. Overall, The Dollmaker is a well-constructed piece, both in terms of the script and the production…” Ready Steady Cut!
“This is a million miles away from Mayhem’s hyperactive violence. Inhabiting a place somewhere between ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ and Pet Sematary, The Dollmaker packs more unease into its few minutes than most Annabelle clones do into a feature-length film.” Voices from the Balcony
Cast and characters:
Perri Lauren … Jenna Deyton
Sean Meehan … Rick Deyton
Daniel Martin Berkey … Dollmaker – The Luring; The Shriven
Technical details:
10 minutes