The fourth and final episode in the Italian cult TV-series "Door into Darkness" is literally a world of difference compared to the three previous segments. The other ones are straightforward and dealing with complex murder investigations, whereas "The Doll" is a hugely ambitious and psychological tale of terror focusing on the mind and behavior of an escaped mental asylum's patient. During the opening sequence, we witness how an individual nervously walks out of a secured institution towards freedom. We can't see who it is, or even determine the sex, as everything is filmed using ingenious and convincing POV-shots. The action then moves to the big city, where a suspiciously behaving man meets with a ravishingly beautiful young girl in a toy store. Their relationship develops rather curiously, as they're both distant and very asocial. Meanwhile, the police are investigating the murder of a female fashion designer, presumably committed by the escaped mental patient. Their paths all come together during an intense albeit fairly easy to predict finale at the young woman's apartment. The story of "The Doll" is oddly constructed and definitely ahead of its time. Director Mario Foglietti only provides a minimum of background and information and really involves the viewers to help unravel the mystery. This unusual approach, as well as the occasional red herring, is quite successful! Even though you figure out the patient's identity rather quickly, Foglietti still manages to confuse and even make you doubt sometimes. Although a slight bit tedious, the bizarre interactions between the man and the girl are eerie and uncomfortable. Dario Argento probably deliberately saved the most experimental and awkward segment in his successful TV-initiative for last, if only to avoid losing the audiences uninterested in watching the more psychological trademarks of psychopath killers. Still, for open-minded and versatile horror fans, "The Dolls" comes with just as much recommendation as the other installments.
Review of La bambola
