Noted as the "lost" Dario Argento film, released between the forgotten Four Flies on Grey Velvet and the seminal Deep Red, The Doll is an intriguing but ultimately weak effort by a true talent in transition. Echoing the narrative weaknesses of his "animal trilogy" while simultaneously foreshadowing the powerful stylistic aspects of his later work, this is the story of a "sick brain, with only one purpose -- to kill." An escaped lunatic moves into a small town to destroy the remains of a fragmented and violent past. When a doctor and a policeman form a reluctant alliance to catch the killer, they are lead on a winding path of red herrings and tense mind-games. A bizarre, masochistic relationship is formed when a mysterious lodger stalks a lonely woman, leading to a standoff that will reveal the killer no one suspected. All of Argento's trademarks are present here, from the prowling, point-of-view camerawork, to the disjointed Morricone-esque score (courtesy of future Deep Red collaborating composer Giorgia Gaslini). The stylistic direction is sure to please Argento fans who think they've seen it all, as well as mystery hounds seeking an entertaining mind-bender.
by Jason Buchanan
synopsis
