Dollhouse [Movie Review]

Dollhouse [Movie Review] | Another movie recommended by TikTok has landed on my watchlist. The premise looked creepy enough to get my attention, but we all know TikTok recommendations can go either way.

So, is this one a hidden horror gem worth watching, or another TikTok miss?

SYNOPSIS

Dollhouse (2025) Trivia

• Starring: Masami Nagasawa, Kōji Seto, Tetsushi Tanaka, Aoi Ikemura, Totoka Honda, Ken Yasuda & Jun Fubuki
• Director: Shinobu Yaguchi
• Producer: Manabu Endo, Tomoo Fukatsu & Akira Yamano
• Production Companies: Toho & Django Films
• Distributed by: Toho
• Release date: June 13, 2025
• Running time: 110 minutes
• Rating: MA
• Country: Japan
• Language: Japanese
• IMDb: 6.6/ 10
• Tomatometer: 100%
• Metascore: NA
• The 16th film that Shinobu Yaguchi wrote and directed, but the his very first horror movie. 
• The movie’s unusual inspiration came from a real life story about a friend who preserved a beloved pet parrot after it died. 
• The doll looked slightly different each day because the crew had to constantly touch up her makeup after handling her on set.

The movie opens with Yoshie looking after a few neighbourhood girls at her home, along with her five year old daughter, Mei. When she realises they are running out of food and snacks, she decides to make a quick trip to the nearby store. Before leaving, Yoshie takes every precaution to make sure the house is safe. She hides all the sharp, dangerous and potentially harmful objects, checks the rooms and makes sure there is nothing that could cause an accident while she is away.

Confident that the girls are safe, Yoshie leaves for the store.

But when she returns, the house is strangely quiet. The girls are gone and Mei is nowhere to be found. The neighbourhood comes together to search for her, but as night falls, the search is eventually called off.

While cleaning up after the long and exhausting day, Yoshie gathers a soiled tablecloth and places it into the washing machine. That is when she discovers Mei inside.

The tragedy completely breaks Yoshie. Unable to accept the loss of her daughter, she falls into deep grief, with every corner of the family home reminding her of the child she has lost.

Then, almost by chance, Yoshie discovers a life sized antique doll at a market. The doll bears an uncanny resemblance to Mei and what begins as an unusual purchase soon becomes much more personal. Yoshie dresses the doll in Mei’s clothes, takes her along when she goes out and even includes her in family photographs. To Yoshie, the doll becomes a way to cope with a grief she simply cannot let go of.

Her husband, Tadahiko, is understandably uncomfortable with the attachment, but eventually accepts it as part of Yoshie’s recovery.

Everything changes when Yoshie becomes pregnant again. Their new daughter, Mai, brings happiness back into the family, while the doll is gradually forgotten and pushed into the back of a cupboard.

Five years later, Mai discovers it.

The little girl becomes fascinated by the doll, gives her the name Aya and quickly treats her as her closest companion. Mai talks to Aya, plays with her and insists that the doll can communicate with her. At first, Yoshie sees it as nothing more than an innocent childhood friendship.

But then strange things begin to happen.

As the incidents become increasingly disturbing and turns physical, the family starts searching for a way to get rid of the doll. Yet no matter how far they try to put it away, Aya somehow finds her way back into Mai’s arms.

How far will this mysterious doll go to reclaim her place at the heart of the family?

MY REVIEW

What I Like:  

• The movie starts with a bang with the lost of Mei. That hits home hard that sometimes we take our home is always safe no matter what. 
• The fact that at times the walking girl is not Mai really creeps me out.  

What I Don't Like:

• The ending feels a bit rushed.

Will I Watch It Again: I don't mind watching it again. 

Overall: 4.5/ 5.0

The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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