‘Jeffrey Dollmer’ Unleashes a Serial Killer’s Spirit Inside a Murderous Doll
The killer doll subgenre is heading into deliberately outrageous territory this November with Jeffrey Dollmer, a new supernatural slasher built around the spirit of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer possessing a murderous doll.
Uncork’d Entertainment will release the film on Digital and On Demand Nov. 3.
Directed by Mark Savage, Jeffrey Dollmer takes the basic framework of the possessed-doll movie and combines it with a fictionalized version of one of America’s most notorious serial killers.
The story begins in 1991, when the film’s version of Dahmer discovers a doll and performs a ritual intended to transfer his spirit into it. He is captured before completing his plans, leaving the doll behind as evidence.
Decades pass with the object locked away in police storage until it is eventually discarded and makes its way back into the world.
Naturally, that’s where things begin to go very wrong.
In the present day, the spirit contained within the doll is accidentally summoned and becomes fixated on a young model who resembles its former owner. When she heads to a remote location for a photo shoot, the doll follows.
The isolated production soon becomes a killing ground as the possessed toy begins targeting the model’s fellow competitors and co-workers.
The newly released trailer makes clear that Jeffrey Dollmer isn’t approaching its premise with much restraint. The film appears designed as an intentionally extreme addition to the long-running tradition of killer-doll horror, filtering slasher violence through a concept whose title alone makes its intentions fairly apparent.
Killer dolls have remained a remarkably durable part of horror, ranging from the supernatural terror of Annabelle to the increasingly self-aware mayhem of the Child’s Play franchise. Jeffrey Dollmer takes that familiar formula in a more provocative direction by incorporating a fictional supernatural scenario involving a real-world murderer.
Savage directs from a screenplay by John Doolan and Jeff Miller. Doolan’s previous writing credits include Popeye the Slayer Man and Remains, while Miller has worked on genre titles including ClownTown and Ouija House.
Miller developed the story and also serves as a producer.
Charlie Trepany, Chey Crieger, Juliana Destefano, Adam Huss, Eva Hamilton and Tom Parnell lead the cast, with Brian Joseph Mange appearing as Dahmer.
The film also features a cameo from Jeffrey Reddick, creator of the Final Destination franchise.
With its combination of supernatural possession, an isolated photo shoot and an intentionally provocative killer-doll premise, Jeffrey Dollmer appears to be positioning itself firmly within the more outlandish end of independent horror.
Jeffrey Dollmer arrives on Digital and On Demand Nov. 3 from Uncork’d Entertainment.
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