What Happened to Dorothy Bell? was one of the first films I had the chance to watch this week at Fantastic Fest. The film intrigued me from the moment I saw the poster and read the synopsis. What Happened to Dorothy Bell? is directed by Danny Villanueva Jr.

The film synopsis can be found below:

WHAT HAPPENED TO DOROTHY BELL? follows Ozzie Gray, who, after uncovering disturbing revelations from her early childhood involving her late grandmother, Dorothy Bell, sets out to video document her investigation into these events. Seeking answers, She visits the library that Dorothy died in to try to communicate with her spirit. As her attempts become increasingly desperate, Ozzie unwittingly awakens something far more malevolent than she could have ever imagined.

I was really intrigued with the premise of the film as soon as it starts. It doesn’t take long for it to setup a tone and mood that gets under your skin. The film is presented in a found footage format that really amps up the antics throughout. Our protagonist is Ozzie (Asya Meadows) as they try to uncover a dark secret about their grandmother. We quickly see that some things should probably stay hidden as unknown terrors arise. The mystery aspect of the movie is also strong and you’re really wondering what’s about to happen. If a horror movie has me wincing my eyes, then I know its effective and Dorothy Bell manages to do so in its first half. There are so many moments where you’re unsure of what lies ahead that adds to the dread. The film being presented in found footage adds to this but also takes away from the film, which I’ll talk about later.

The movie runs into a pacing issue halfway that kind of took me out. It felt as if things were being stretched out, but not enough tension was added to keep me intrigued. Almost like to the point that it felt a bit repetitive in what was happening. I also felt that a lot of things were being brushed off and not given the time to breathe. All of this is resolved in its final act, however, which definitely packs a punch visually and with the story. I wonder if a lot of my issues might be due not having the other characters in the film explored more.

The performances are all great throughout and this is where the film shines. Asya Meadows as our main protagonist is great and is able to carry most of the film on their own. Arlene Arnone Bibbs who plays Dorothy Bell is so effective in the first minutes of when she’s presented to the audience. I truly found myself feeling so many mixed feelings for the character which is a good thing. You’re quite unsure on how you should feel about Dorothy Bell and that’s just something to commend Arlene Arnone Bibbs performance for. A lot of the moments that kept me locked in are when you have the family drama and conflict. I wanted more of Ozzie’s family and their dynamics to be showcased to really understand the situation. I love found footage, but the format here sometimes didn’t work for me and was a bit distracting. A film can work with multiple formats, but I think What Happened to Dorothy Bell? would have shined more without it at times.

What Happened to Dorothy Bell? is able to keep your interest peaked with some tense filled scenes. The framing of some shots keeps you at a distance from the danger that lurks only heightening your experience. Under all of the scares and mystery there’s still some heart which is effectively told from Michael Hargrove’s performance in the end. I really liked a lot of the ideas and execution from What Happened To Dorothy Bell? which make it a standout found footage film.

We give What Happened To Dorothy Bell? a 3/5.