Director: Lawrence D’Souza
Year: 1996
Country: India
Alternate Titles: The Sinful Doll
Genre: Slasher
Plot:
Following the supposed death of a child kidnapper, a woman tries to cure her brother’s involvement with the case by buying him an ordinary doll, but after a series of deaths tying him to the crimes she starts to believe the claims that the possessed doll is responsible and tries to protect him before it’s too late.
Review:
While there are many problems here, there’s some enjoyable enjoyable features found in this one. One of the more engaging aspects here is the film’s enjoyable sense of familiarity while engaging the storyline. By taking the same storyline beats that are part of the other film and introducing a local flair here with how the concept of the killer works, the transfer into the doll and how the boy and doll’s relationship develops that threatens the ensuing investigation all manage to provide a really comforting and accessible feeling. Despite taking away some of the potential suspense here with this one playing into a familiar routine, this works the beats nicely enough that the localized touches included here from the career as a singer to the incidental changes made to localize this one in India provide some fun here.
As well, when this one goes for the horror, there’s not much to dislike. The idea of filming nearly every scene during a raging thunderstorm roaring away loudly throughout gives the scenes a nice ambiance as well as using the flashing blue light to fine effect here. Likewise, with the doll;s heavy breathing heard throughout and the camerawork being kept at a dolls appropriate height, the attack on the babysitter in her apartment and the later attack at the detectives’ house on the outskirts of town offer some genuinely creepy and suspenseful moments. As well, the revelation sequence that takes place here goes a step further with the doll getting far more active and physical in the scene which gives a far more chilling impression here for the film’s main positives.
There are several big flaws to be had with this one. The main factor to get over in the film is the absolutely awful and ridiculous effects work done on the doll here, which is perhaps the single silliest killer doll in the entire genre. Taking on a lifeless, inexpressive plastic doll picked off a bargain-basement store, the idea of trying to induce fear with this thing is completely opposite when there’s nothing special going on with it. There’s no animatronics to denote the thing is alive as it’s just being obviously manipulated off-screen with nothing else going on, meaning the scenes of it trying to be frightening come off as silly instead like the scenes of it trying to drive a car with the boy in the passenger’s seat out to rundown a potential victim.
Other big problems arise with the overwrought melodrama and questionable storyline issues. The fact that the kid is so willing to go through with everything the doll is setting up to do, including the murder of people he doesn’t know from the police investigator or the beggar woman which the authorities are well aware of but can’t do anything to tie him to the case because of the incessant crying of the sister due to their own backstory which feels absolutely ludicrous. It’s not entirely clear why she would hamper the known murder investigation by claiming their past romance is the cause rather than the logical evidence, and that aspect as well makes for an eyerolling set of melodrama involving their eventual meet-cute later on. Still, very little cause is given here as for why he would follow-up the dolls orders in the first place and makes up the films’ biggest issue.
Overview: **.5/5
Despite some enjoyable aspects here and there, the overwhelmingly distracting flaws that arise from the film's negatives are enough to make this one a wholly disappointing effort. Really only give this one a chance if you're a fan of the creative crew or curious about the film due to it's reputation, while those looking for more high-brow efforts or aren't interested in these aspects should avoid altogether.
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