Haunted houses and creepy monsters and creepy monsters lurking in the dark are not always the plot of a grim horror movie. It is in the most unexpected places that one finds a frightful shiver running down their spine. When dolls become animated and decide to collect victims for their murderous games, things can quickly get terrifying. After all, dolls are supposed to be lovable playthings that one so cherishes as a child.
Recently, Annabelle has been at the forefront of haunted doll movies. The Conjuring has elaborated on the story of this demonic doll that plagues anyone around it. But Annabelle is not horror fans' first introduction into the genre of possessed dolls. IMDb has ranked the best-known haunted doll movies and here is what they have to say.
Finders Keepers (2014) - 4.3
A creepy little doll found by a sweet little girl sounds like a common storyline but in this horror-thriller possession and obsession seem to fuse, leading to tragic events for a divorced mother and her daughter. After moving into a new house, everything seems to be adjusting well for this single mother until her vulnerable daughter finds an unsightly doll under the flooring planks and insists on keeping it. Soon tragic events are uncovered about the gruesome murder history of the house which is the doll's playful hunting grounds. Finders Keepers gives this scary doll movie an intriguing twist by portraying an evil doll merging as one with the little girl.
Heidi (2014) - 4.7
Fans of found-footage horror films like Quarantine or Paranormal Activity might find this haunted doll movie worth watching. Like Paranormal Activity, this movie keeps viewers on high alert with unexplained ghostly occurrences. Although IMDb might rank it in the lower end of the list, it has its blood-curdling moments.
A demonic doll is discovered by two high school friends who are filming a prank for their YouTube Channel. Things go from bad to worse as Heidi terrorizes them and their loved ones. Heidi might be one of the only found-footage killer-doll movies that has made a name for itself and certainly deserves a try.
Annabelle (2014) - 5.4
This supernatural horror film has become a household name for most horror movie fans. Not only has writer and director Gary Dauberman produced a chilling and intelligent rendition of a demonically possessed doll but he has also popularized the true accounts of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Annabelle's story begins with a satanic cult and demonic possession. After being gifted to an expecting mother, this haunted doll is set on taking her soul at all costs. The Conjuring gives fans a great introduction and back story into the origins of Anabelle and her evil disposition.
The Puppet Master (1989) - 5.6
A twisted puppeteer has set loose a band of murderous live puppets to haunt and annihilate their victims in horrible ways. Fans of the occult are familiar with this classic and its 10 sequels that follow. Ranked at 5.6 on IMDb, it is a classic worth watching for any horror movie fan. William Hickey (Tales from the Dark Side: The Movie and voice of Dr. Frankenstein in The Nightmare Before Christmas) plays the role of Andre Toulon, a puppeteer who uses an ancient Egyptian potion to bring his eerie marionettes to life. The Puppet Master is a classic ranked at 5.6 on IMDb.
The Boy (2016) - 6.0
Movies about dolls possessed by little children who perished in horrific ways end up being some of the more popular horror films. The lingering presence of a vengeful child returning from the afterlife and inhabiting a toy and the desire to cause harm to the living is still a story plot that sends chills down viewer's spines. What makes The Boy particularly disturbing is the fact that the parents believe the doll is their son, Brahm, who met his demise in a horrible fire. After hiring a nanny who breaks all of the strict rules, sinister events start to take place. Ranked at 6.0, this haunted doll movie has a twist ending worth watching.
Dead Silence (2007) - 6.2
The writer of Saw and Insidious, Leigh Whannell, has given horror movie fans an array to choose from. Most of his films include some form of a haunting or creepy animated doll. In the Saw franchise, Billy is the puppet that is used by John Kramer to give his trapped victims their gruesome instructions.
Perhaps not so ironically, Billy is the name of the ventriloquist doll anonymously sent to a married couple in the movie, Dead Silence. After finding his wife murdered, Jaime who is played by Ryan Kwanten attempts to discover the truth about his wife's murder and the appalling past of the haunted doll and a tortured ventriloquist.
Love Object ( 2003) - 6.3
Ranked at 6.3, Love Object is a horror-thriller with a plot that can make one's skin crawl. Desmond Harrington plays Kenneth Winslow, a socially insecure and awkward man who buys a pricey, life-sized, customizable sex doll to keep him company. He becomes somewhat obsessed with the doll, treating it like a real-life girlfriend. It's a sad story up until Kenneth finds a love interest and starts a relationship with an attractive new co-worker. Love doll, Nikki can't accept Kenneth's betrayal and soon her jealousy spirals out of control.
Pin (1988) - 6.6
This is a 1988 portrayal of a man who becomes obsessed with his father's medical doll. What makes Pin unique is the psychological stress and creepy development of the relationship between the doll and the character, Leon. It's difficult for the audience to determine if Pin is the mastermind behind the insanity or if Leon is simply not mentally sound. Director of Pin, Sandor Stern also wrote the 1979 film, The Amityville Horror. The movie Pin features an array of famous actors such as Terry O'Quinn (The Stepfather) and David Hewlett ( Splice, Cube, and The Stargate franchise).
Child's Play (1988) - 6.6
Highly ranked on the list at 6.6 is the 1988 popular film, Child's Play. Most fans of evil-doll horror films are familiar with Chucky and his evil killing sprees. The Chucky franchise has become one of the most famously known haunted-doll movie series around the world. A popular doll is possessed by a serial killer, Charles Lee Ray (Chucky) through voodoo incantation. After possessing a Good Guys doll that is given to a young boy, Chucky decides to transfer his soul into the boy before it's too late and he stays trapped in the doll forever.
Dead Of Night (1945) - 7.7
Dead Of Night is a thriller, mystery and horror movie that has inspired many other films about the possibility of possessed ventriloquist dolls. Movies influenced by Dead Of Night include Magic (1978) starring young Anthony Hopkins and Dead Silence (2007) number 5 on this list. Strangers gather together in an old country cottage. Craig, an architect, seems to have had violent premonitions about the guests at the cottage and to put his mind at ease the group decide to tell stories. One tells the story of a ventriloquist who truly believes his doll is real. A murder takes place at the cottage and things start to get out of control. A movie with an unexpected ending, Dead Of Night is a must-see and rightfully ranked at 7.7 by IMDb.