Evil Little Things

Evil Little Things from 2019 is a chilling horror anthology that aims to pull back the covers and investigate what really goes bump in the night. It stars the 1980s cult favourite, Zach Galligan, who many may remember from his leading role in Gremlins. He is joined by L.A. Winters, whose talents have been observed in various TV shows and independent projects, as well as the relatively new but impressive Mason Wells.

This film's premise focuses on those sinister items we seldom pay heed to - dolls. Showcased through this chilling anthology are five separate, but interconnected short stories each as nerve-wracking as the last. The common thread through every tale is the eerie, often disturbing nature of dolls, which the film uses astutely to elicit a consistent sense of fear and suspense.

Evil Little Things opens with a mother and son duo, encountering a rather peculiar-looking leprechaun doll in an obscure antique shop. Its grotesque, unsettling figure has the child captivated, leading to a series of unnerving events that offer suspenseful scares. Zach Galligan plays the antique shop owner, who acts as a sinister storyteller of sorts to the mother and son, sharing the haunting tales behind each doll in the store.

One of the stories follows a couple's tumultuous journey who purchase a doll for their child. As this eerie, clown-like doll becomes a significant part of their lives, an atmosphere of suspicion and dread starts to invade their idyllic suburban life. The scenes featuring the doll are not for the faint-hearted and make one wonder if a toy can be a source of genuine terror.

Similarly, other stories feature a range of dolls, each possessing varying degrees of uncanniness. The narratives delve into the terrifying realm of the supernatural, focusing on ancient curses or demonic elements tied to these seemingly harmless playthings. The plots intertwine with the characters' personal stories subtly, conveying a profound sense of unease accompanying the terror beyond mere jump scares.

The setting is particularly noteworthy in Evil Little Things. The creators exploit ordinary locations such as a child's bedroom, an antique shop, a suburban home and use them to build the setting for extraordinary events. The film employs a distinctive gothic palette, playing heavily with shadows and dim-lit interiors to create a foreboding, ominous atmosphere which is a feature of effective horror filmmaking.

The performances from the multiple story ensemble are compelling and intriguing. Zach Galligan's appearance, despite being brief, evokes a lot of nostalgic dread, which suits the movie's theme perfectly. L.A. Winters and Mason Wells, among others, handle their respective roles with sincerity and intensity, adequately portraying the fear and uncertainty the stories demand.

Evil Little Things is known for its effective storytelling that emphasises psychological horror and suspense over typical gore. Its anthology format works to its advantage here, as the intermittent breaks between the stories provide the audience with a brief respite before diving back into another suspenseful narrative.

Similarly, the film doesn't attempt to redefine the genre nor is it packed with high-octane, fast-paced horror moments. Instead, it offers a slow-burn narrative that unfolds cleverly and subtly. Even the big reveal towards the climax is delicately handled, ensuring the film doesn't lose its suspense and mystery.

In the vein of classic horror anthologies like Tales from the Crypt and Creepshow, Evil Little Things strives to tell engrossing miniature tales of horror, tethered together by an overarching theme. While it often trades in the classic horror tropes associated with dolls, the film manages to present them in a fresh and exciting light.

In conclusion, Evil Little Things is an enthralling anthology of horror that centres around the unassuming but terror-inducing world of dolls. It does an impressive job delivering a sense of fear and suspense while also playing with the psychology of its characters and the audience. The film is a worthy viewing experience for those who prefer their horror to slowly unnerve and unsettle, rather than embarking on an overkill of brutal scares and bloodshed.