Small Budget, Big Screams: "American Dollhouse" Shocks SXSW

Despite only having a few days left, South by Southwest rages on in downtown Austin. New, exciting films premiere every day, even though most of the stars have gone back to Los Angeles to attend the Oscars. While audiences come for the headliners and big-budget films, they stay for the festival's fabled "Midnighters" category, showcasing the best new horror shorts and features the industry has to offer. One film that debuted this week was the new horror feature, American Dollhouse by John Valley, a film that despite its humble roots has not only captured audiences' attention, but the heart and soul of Austin, Texas.

American Dollhouse tells the story of Sarah, (Hailley Lauren) a young woman who has recently moved into her deceased mother's house, only to discover that the home comes with a psychotic neighbor, Sandy (Kelsey Pribilski) who has more than sinister intentions. Directed by John Valley, the film was shot on one single street in Austin, using hometown-based talent to bring it to life. The soundtrack includes the music of some of Valley's favorite local bands. American Dollhouse is the second feature by the director since 2020's The Pizzagate Massacre. Inspired by classic slasher films of 80's, Valley and company set out to create an homage to the genre in the city that raised them.

I did not know what to expect from American Dollhouse. It is a very small, independent film without any big names attached but man, did it pack a punch. The best way I can describe it without spoiling anything is a mix of Psycho, Longlegs, and Barbarian. It does struggle with some pacing issues in the beginning but this is one of those movies where you will never guess in a million years how it ends. The conclusion genuinely had me on the edge of my seat and it made me wish I had some friends in the screening to experience the chaos with. Hailley Lauren gives a great lead performance as Sarah whose relatability lies in her deeply flawed, emotional nature. However, the crown jewel of this film is Kelsey Pribilski as Sandy who has been haunting my every thought since I left the theater. I can see both these women as the next's decades top scream queens.

In addition to having plenty of heart and genuine scares, American Dollhouse is one of the more technically impressive films I have seen at South by Southwest this year. The production design in the third act is impossible to take your eyes off of and the sound work is downright impeccable throughout. Not to mention the great cinematography by Taylor Camarot. Overall, American Dollhouse feels like a labor of love from all who were involved. At the screening I attended, I could tell that everyone in the cast and crew had a real respect for eachother both as artists and as people. It was honestly a joy to support this film at SXSW this week. It is simply put, deliciously twisted handmade horror. Exactly the kind of movie you'd expect to premiere at South by Southwest.

With plenty of shocking, heart-racing moments, American Dollhouse really is a great time at the movies. Hopefully it gets picked up for distribution after SXSW, and if it does I would encourage anyone seeing it to go with as many friends as possible...especially if you are from Austin!