“Jeffrey Dollmer” follows a group of models as their photo shoot is turned into a killing ground when a doll possessed by the spirit of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer begins hunting them down.
The opening minutes tell you everything you need to know about the film. Spoiler alert: it involves a glory hole. Almost instantly there are cheesy, blood-squirting effects on display that match the absurdity of the title itself. Immediately after the title card appears, however, it shifts from this practical approach to artificial intelligence. While another 2026 release, “Young Washington,” used AI to accent real footage, “Jeffrey Dollmer” has a similar approach to “Kill Code.” Director Mark Savage uses the tool to completely generate several short sequences — work being done in a chocolate factory, a car coming to a stop from a blown tire — that become distractions in key moments. Because it has such an unpolished, indie aesthetic overall, these scenes stick out like a sore thumb, no matter how few and far between they may be.
The kills themselves embrace camp. The effects aren’t going to win any awards, but Savage shows off plenty of blood splatter and carnage. This typically involves Dollmer biting off body parts: cheeks, noses and genitals. Because of the budgetary limitations, many of the murders aren’t shown in their entirety. Shadows and silhouettes are incorporated to paint a complete picture instead of going overboard on CGI. A real puppet is used in “Jeffrey Dollmer.” While the mechanics are far from complex, director of photography Kody Newton executes close-up shots of its feet and mouth to help convey movement alongside subtle noises that give the doll some personality. There is also POV-style footage that shows the world from Dollmer’s eyes as it creeps toward unsuspecting people.
John Doolan and Jeff Miller’s screenplay isn’t very original, either. Most obviously, it’s a riff on “Child’s Play,” transferring a human killer’s spirit into a doll. This involves a voodoo-like ritual and lightning striking, just as in Tom Holland’s work. This can be passed off as “paying homage,” but it also comes across as parody more often than not.
This also creates an ethical problem that viewers will have to get past. Because it’s not based on a fictional killer like Charles Lee Ray, “Jeffrey Dollmer” runs the risk of being insensitive. The real-life Dahmer has 17 known victims, and the film can easily be viewed as making a mockery of real-life tragedy. Had this horror-comedy been a simple “killer doll” movie, it wouldn’t have this issue. When you attach the name Jeffrey Dahmer to it, that raises the question — should I really be laughing at this?
The story itself shifts between the victims and the police. Most of the 82-minute runtime is spent with a group of models as Jeffrey Dollmer kills them one by one. Other segments feature a pair of cops investigating recent murders that one believes are tied to the doll. By the time it reaches the conclusion, they intertwine. The problem is that there’s no Andy in “Jeffrey Dollmer.” Because none of the characters are overly compelling, there’s nothing to really buy into outside of the slashing. And in moments where the movie lacks that slashing, it’s not entertaining.
The film attempts to explore themes of self-identity and facing fears through Charlie Trepany’s (Darren) character. His performance is very quiet and timid, expressing Darren’s “scared” persona before shifting to exaggerated physical delivery in the final act. Also appearing are Scott Asmar (Byron), Chey Crieger (Valentina) and many others.
“Jeffrey Dollmer” is as dumb as you would expect. Slasher fans will likely find some enjoyment watching an amusing new take on “Child’s Play,” but the exploitative nature of satirizing the infamous serial killer’s crimes is debatable.
Rating: 2 out of 5
