The Killer of Dolls

Director-  Michael Skaife

Cast- Helga Line, David Rocha

Country of Origin-  Spain

Distributor - Mondo Macabro

Number of Discs - 1

Reviewed by -Scott MacDonald

Date- 11/05/2019

   The Killer of Dolls follows Paul, a former medical student who flunked out of school due to his fear of blood.   He moves home with his parents who live on the estate of Countess Olivia (Horror Rise's From the Tombs, Helga Line).   Paul befriends a little boy named Robert, who he seems to have an unhealthy fascination with. Though the Countess seems to be interested in Paul; Paul seems to be more interested in the Countess daughter, Audrey. Unfortunately for Paul, he was raised in a bizarre fashion that makes it difficult for him to cope with his increasing sexuality.

I just have to say it, Killer of Dolls is a weird film. Amazingly, and wonderfully weird.  We have a killer in a white porcelain mask, and wig running around killing sexually active women. A young man who is obsessed with the destruction of dolls, who has a background that would not surprise anyone familiar with Sleepaway Camp, and that is just the beginning.

    The film has a series of excellent central performances from David Rocha (Night of the Werewolf) as Paul, and of course the immortal Helga Line does a fantastic turn as Countess Olivia. The imagery in this film is amazing and creepy, and the death scenes are well-handled and feel suited to the giallo vibe director Miguel Madrid is going for here. Alfonso Santisteban's score is excellent and truly adds to the atmosphere of the material.

    Mondo Macabro presents the Killer of Dolls in an excellent 1:85:1 1080p transfer. The film is scanned in 4k from the negative, and while print damage does show up from time to time, everything here looks absolutely fantastic with nicely reproduced colors, textures, and details.  Audio is handled by a DTS-HD Mono track that is crisp, clear, and accurately reflects the sonic material here.

     Extras include not one, but TWO excellent commentary tracks by some of the best commentators working in EuroCult cinema today. We have the always reliable Kat Ellinger of Diabolique Magazine who goes into the Spanish film industry, the director's career, and much more. We then get another excellent commentary with the NaschyCast Rod Barnett and I Am In a Jess Franco State of Mind's Robert Monell. The pair have excellent chemistry, and end up analyzing the film, while going into details about Spanish cinema of the era. We also get an interview with David Rocha. 

    The new Mondo Macabro Blu-ray edition of the Killer of Dolls, shines a light on a true Spanish horror obscurity, and does a fantastic job restoring it for the Blu-ray era, with some light, but excellent extras features. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.