I wasn't quite sure what to expect when entering the 8th film in a very disappointing Amityville series, but Dollhouse isn't nearly as weak as some of it predecessors. It follows the same theme of most Amityville sequels with cursed items attacking families outside of Long Island. This time, it's a dollhouse.
A dollhouse, which is an exact replica of the infamous Amityville house on Long Island, is found by our lead male character Bill . We meet him, his new wife Claire (along with her son from a previous marriage) and his two other children moving into a new house in the desert that he just built. Bill gives the dollhouse to his impressionable young daughter as a gift and that is when the terror begins. The dollhouse is clearly cursed by the evil of Amityville. It has the ability to turn on the fireplace, the stove, and various things around the house. Typical Amityville stuff.
Kinda like Amityville 4 with the lamp that was cursed, the dollhouse ends up trying to manipulate the young girl Jessica. It also plays with the other characters as well. It turns Jimmy's tiny mouse into a HUGE mouse, makes Claire sexually attracted to her teenage stepson Todd, and makes Jimmy think that his dead father is back from the grave to be there for him and Claire.
The acting was actually really good all around. Jarrett Lennon steals the show as cynical 12 year old Jimmy who has no time for most of his new family members. Robin Thomas and Starr Andreeff are perfect as the lead male and female parents of the movie. In addition to that, Amityville: Dollhouse gives us loads of character development. We get a good feeling that the children are having a difficult time adjusting to Bill and Claire's new relationship and having to live together as one new family. It helps us care for the characters which is sometimes hard to do in this series.
All in all, Amityville: Dollhouse is a very watchable 8th entry to the series. There are some decent scares from the zombie which is Jimmy's dead dad. He pops up a couple times in shocking fashion. The special effects and the makeup is very well done throughout the whole film, including some burn victim visuals. I would check it out if you can find it! This is the last of the original Amityville sequels involving cursed items. Up next - the remake.
6/10
A dollhouse, which is an exact replica of the infamous Amityville house on Long Island, is found by our lead male character Bill . We meet him, his new wife Claire (along with her son from a previous marriage) and his two other children moving into a new house in the desert that he just built. Bill gives the dollhouse to his impressionable young daughter as a gift and that is when the terror begins. The dollhouse is clearly cursed by the evil of Amityville. It has the ability to turn on the fireplace, the stove, and various things around the house. Typical Amityville stuff.
Kinda like Amityville 4 with the lamp that was cursed, the dollhouse ends up trying to manipulate the young girl Jessica. It also plays with the other characters as well. It turns Jimmy's tiny mouse into a HUGE mouse, makes Claire sexually attracted to her teenage stepson Todd, and makes Jimmy think that his dead father is back from the grave to be there for him and Claire.
The acting was actually really good all around. Jarrett Lennon steals the show as cynical 12 year old Jimmy who has no time for most of his new family members. Robin Thomas and Starr Andreeff are perfect as the lead male and female parents of the movie. In addition to that, Amityville: Dollhouse gives us loads of character development. We get a good feeling that the children are having a difficult time adjusting to Bill and Claire's new relationship and having to live together as one new family. It helps us care for the characters which is sometimes hard to do in this series.
All in all, Amityville: Dollhouse is a very watchable 8th entry to the series. There are some decent scares from the zombie which is Jimmy's dead dad. He pops up a couple times in shocking fashion. The special effects and the makeup is very well done throughout the whole film, including some burn victim visuals. I would check it out if you can find it! This is the last of the original Amityville sequels involving cursed items. Up next - the remake.
6/10