This month's Annabelle (2014), a spin-off/sidequel of last year's horror mega-hit The Conjuring (2013), follows in a long line of demonic dolls and predatory puppets. So if you want to spend this Halloween season on a nostalgic look back at your dollhouse days, try a few of these films featuring stuffed terrorizing tykes to get you in the mood…and then burn every doll that you've ever owned.
Attack of the Puppet People (1958)
Rushed into production after the success of The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), this film features a lonely and deranged puppeteer/inventor who designs a machine capable of shrinking people into real-life dolls he then adds to his "special collection." A drive-in B-horror/sci-fi mesh, the film was trashed on release but was noted for having somewhat of a cliffhanger ending and has since gained a cult following.
Devil Doll (1964)
An evil hypnotist/ventriloquist, the "Great Vorelli," plots to gain and heiress' millions with the help of his very-much alive dummy, Hugo. Though not at all praised by critics, the film did feature William Sylvester, who went on to appear in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) as Heywood Floyd.
Magic (1978)
A favorite among many in the horror community, Magic revolves around a ventriloquist (played by Anthony Hopkins) trying to renew his romance with his high school sweetheart, played by Ann-Margaret, while being stuck under the thumb of his foul-mouthed and vicious dummy, Fats. A psychological horror at its heart, Magic is less evil-dummy-come-to-life and more about the dangerous mental decline of the protagonist (the doll is, in actuality, a manifestation of Hopkins' character's repressed psyche, the primal id). A classic among true horror fans.
The Pit (1981)
A young outcast befriends a dirty stuffed bear, who proceeds to lead him to a mysterious pit in the local woods where a ravenous monster resides. Hated and bullied by both the children and adults in his community, young Jamie is convinced by "Teddy" to do all sorts of unsavory things to please the creature, including feed it by luring unsuspecting victims to the spot.
Black Devil Doll from Hell (1984)
A blaxploitation horror film about woman who purchases a remarkable doll at a magic shop, not knowing that the doll is possessed by an evil spirit who is hellbent on residing in a new, more lifelike body--hers.
Dolls (1987)
A personal favorite at this time of year, Stuart Gordon's Italian-American classic Dolls focuses on a group of six people, among them little Judy Bower, stranded at a secluded manor during a thunderstorm. The mansion, owned by the toy-making Hardwickes, is inhabited by a haunted collection of dolls. At some times the film is stuck more as an idea than a moving engine, but the house is one of the most magnificent sets in horror, and the Hardwickes are one of the creepiest horror film duos you'll find.
Child's Play (1988)
Familiar now to even the most casual of horror film fans, Child's Play tells the story of a single mother who gives her son a beloved doll for his birthday, only to discover that the doll is possessed with the soul of a slain serial killer; the inaugural debut of one of horror's most iconic villains, Chucky.
PIN (1988)
A doctor acquires a lifelike, anatomically-correct medical dummy, with all the muscles and organs visible through its clear skin, nicknamed Pin (after Pinocchio). Via ventriloquism, Pin explains bodily functions in a way that children can relate to and learn about the body. After the over-strict doctor and his wife are killed in a car crash, his son Leon transfers his alter-ego into Pin, whom he always believed was alive. Leon starts using Pin as an excuse to over-protect and control his sister Ursula, shielding her from "unwanted" admirers, even to the point of committing murder.
Puppet Master (1989)
Shunned psychic Neil Gallagher finds the secret hiding place of legendary puppeteer Andre Toulon. When the puppets come to life, he commits suicide, leaving his former friends, all psychics as well, to investigate and unravel the mystery behind the murderous puppets, who have strange abilities ranging from dangerous drills to coughing up leeches. This first installment in the franchise spawned nine sequels, with rumors of more to come.
Dolly Dearest (1991)
An American family moves to Mexico when the father becomes the new owner of the Dolly Dearest toy factory. Unfortunately for them, the factory happens to be right next to an entrance to the tomb of Sanzia (meaning Satan on earth), so when an archaeologist breaks the entrance open, an old, malicious spirit is set free to take possession of the dolls and wreak havoc.
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker (1991)
The final installment in the Silent Night, Deadly Night franchise, Mickey Rooney plays an old toy maker who, with his son, fashion killer toys designed to murder their owners, children. Rooney publicly derided the first entry in the series, yet choose to accept a role in this installment, generally regarded as one of the worst horror films ever made.
Demonic Toys (1992)
A policewoman, her quarry, and an innocent delivery boy become trapped in a haunted toy warehouse. Produced by Charles Band, the creative mind behind Puppet Master, the film is loved by some, hated by others, though everyone is generally confused by the time-traveling spirits who function as a deus ex machina. Band decided to cross the toys over with the title character of the science fiction Dollman (1991) movie in Dollman vs Demonic Toys (1993) than later with Toulon's creations in Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys (2004) before finally making a direct sequel, Demonic Toys 2 (2010).
Pinocchio's Revenge (1996)
Defense attorney Jennifer Garrick acquires a Pinocchio puppet from a condemned serial killer, which is never a good idea. Her pre-teen daughter, Zoe, mistakes the puppet as a birthday present, as pre-teen daughters named Zoe are want to do, and subsequently grows rather attached to her new wooden friend. Then, accidents begin to happen to those who cross Zoe, with Zoe blaming the doll, and her therapist convinced otherwise. In time, Zoe and Pinocchio converse about his bad behavior, and the doll swears to stop if only Zoe will cut his strings. Zoe complies, and the body count begins…
Amityville Dollhouse (1996)
A children's dollhouse, modeled after the infamous haunted Long Island residence, is given to a young girl after she and her parents move into their newly constructed house. When the girl discovers a small chest in the dollhouse containing handmade dolls, a demonic evil is unleashed and begins a new reign of terror. The eighth installment of the Amityville Horror series, the film received poor reviews and was not a success on home video.
Blood Dolls (1999)
Another killer toy adventure from Charles Band, Blood Dolls focuses on Virgil, an eccentric and freakish billionaire who is now spending his days as a "biological inventor." His latest brainwave, the "blood dolls," aid him in getting revenge on those who have betrayed him.
The Dummy (2000)
A ventriloquist's dummy brought to life now has a mind of its own, and that mind is pure homicidal. He begins to cut a bloody swath through a peaceful suburb, essentially just for the hell of it.
Doll Graveyard (2005)
In the early 1900's, young Sophia plays all by herself in her large, creepy house with only four handmade dolls as friends. When her abusive father forces her to bury the dolls in the backyard, Sophia suffers an accident and is buried alongside them. In the present, a father moves in with his son and daughter, constantly at odds. When the girl and her friends torment her younger brother, Sophia's lost dolls return, ready to take revenge on behalf of the bullied boy.
Dead Silence (2007)
A widower returns to his sinister and near-forgotten hometown to search for answer's to his wife's violent and mysterious murder, which he discovers may be linked to the ghost of a vengeful ventriloquist, Mary Shaw. Starring Ryan Kwanten pre-True Blood (2008-2014) and Donnie Wahlberg, and directed by James Wan of Saw (2004), Insidious (2010), and The Conjuring fame, Dead Silence was a box office dud, but has become popular in a large section of the horror community.
Ooga Booga (2013)
A quasi-spin off of Doll Graveyard, this film follows an innocent African American boy who is brutally murdered by dirty cops and whose soul is then magically transferred into a traditional (stereotypical?) African warrior action figure named Ooga Booga. Revenge-laden antics ensue.
Honorable Mentions
While the following films do not feature dolls as the center of the plot, a creepy doll of some kind plays a minor role, whether it be as the focus of a segment in one of the anthology films, or otherwise frightening the characters in the film in some manner.
Dead of Night (1945)
The Twilight Zone, season 5, episode 6 "Living Doll" (1963)
Asylum (1972)
Trilogy of Terror (1975)
Poltergeist (1982)
Tales From the Hood (1995)
May (2002)
Wanna play?
