Amityville Dollhouse Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Amityville Dollhouse Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 9, 2019

1996’s “Amityville Dollhouse” isn’t interested in coloring outside the lines when it comes to brand name horror. The eight installment of the “Amityville Horror” series, “Dollhouse” returns with a new cursed object and a fresh batch of family members to pick off. After the muted ways of the last picture, “Amityville: A New Generation,” the next adventure tries to be a more active nightmare for fans of franchise, serving up wicked possession, dangerous desires, and a demonic showdown to restore some of the madness that was lost in the last round.

The action moves to rural California for “Dollhouse,” giving the feature some expanse to work with while it showcases a miniature haunting, finding the titular toy bringing nothing but agony to its new owners. Director Steve White doesn’t have much to say with the picture but he goes through the motions with ease, highlighting deadly encounters with supernatural forces, adding a bit of sleaze with a sexual obsession addition that spices up the material considerably, layering on some mental illness to boost the darkness of the endeavor.

Amityville Dollhouse Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect room) presentation has advantage of being an "Amityville" offering that's big on small detail, offering a sharp examination of dollhouse interiors and cloth-based inhabitants. Textures are excellent throughout, achieving a full feel for facial particulars and costuming, while exteriors are vivid, with sun-blasted distances preserved. Colors are inviting, leading with warmer, fire-lit household visits. Period clothing is striking, securing bold reds and blues, and skintones are exact, sustaining natural appearances. Delineation is strong, never slipping into solidification. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Amityville Dollhouse Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix emerges with louder levels, clarifying everything "Dollhouse" has to offer, including dialogue exchanges, which keep their nuance and sense of alarm. Scoring is active, working hard to support the effort with a heavier synth-based presence. Sound effects detail explosions and assorted acts of violence comfortably. Hiss is detected along the way.

Amityville Dollhouse Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Welcome to the Dollhouse" (9:25, HD) sits down with director Steve White, who details his longtime association with the "Amityville Horror" series and his fandom of the first movie, recounting its origin story. Connecting with screenwriter Joshua Michael Stern, White elected to step away from producing to helm "Dollhouse," a decision he quickly regretted, unable to keep up with the pace of the low-budget shoot. Casting is recounted, including his experience working with children. White also explore remake rights, with his plans to revisit another "Amityville" feature stopped by Harvey Weinstein, who bought out the producer for his 2005 remake. The interviewee also examines the directorial experience, sharing its challenges and demands.

• "Jump into the Fire" (15:11, HD) is an interview with cinematographer Thomas Callaway, who shares his childhood interest in moviemaking, which he developed after moving to Los Angeles, quickly acquiring a series of jobs, including the mounting of his own production, 1987's "Ghost Riders." Finding a proper home for "Dollhouse" in Santa Clarita, California, Callaway shares his intricate lighting schemes for the house and his work with the titular dwelling. The interviewee explores his relationship with White, who pulled back from professional duties, and goes in-depth with his efforts to pull off a 360 degree shot, work with monster makeup, and orchestrate a climatic explosion. Callaway also reflects on his history with the genre, and the legacy of "Dollhouse."

• "Demons in the Dollhouse" (11:30, HD) is a conversation with Roy Knyrim, the special makeup effects artist on the picture. The interviewee recalls his initial hiring, working with White to design characters and the dollhouse. Knyrim offers insight into the creation of the "Dead Dad" monster, also supplying memories of working with Lisa Robin Kelly and Thomas Callaway, who had the ability to make quick work come alive onscreen. Knyrim provides some professional history, charting the improvement of his technique, and discusses the fanbase for "Dollhouse," with some once paying a fortune for the feature on laserdisc.

• A Trailer has not been included.

Amityville Dollhouse Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Dollhouse" doesn't have any sort of dramatic pull, and personal conflicts are painfully dull, mostly regulated to whiny children and a clueless father. More exciting are demonic encounters, where the production team delivers on grotesque makeup, bloody events, and laser lighting, securing a level of insanity needed to endure weak writing.