Short Film Review: "Dooley Does Murder" Gives "Killing It" A New Spin
A handsome but quiet vintage perfume salesman experiences major life changes after he loses control of his “NECKrophiliac” fantasies. Dooley has to tame his growing psychopathic personality while feeding his sexual and spiritual need for fashionable bloodshed.
Dawn Storey’s latest short, Dooley Does Murder, is a bloody good romp that gives “killing it” a whole new spin and boasts some quality throwback camp in the process. Contrasting the conventional drama of their debut short, LiME, with something altogether more pulpy, Storey swerves into genre cinema and steps out from behind the camera to bring their latest vision into a gleefully loony existence. Harking back to the campy-concept horror/comedies of the 80s (such as Sleepaway Camp or Stuart Gordon’s Dolls, which the film references directly in its closing credits), Dooley Does Murder is a brisk and fun-filled genre exercise that’s sure to slay its viewers with laughter.
The film centers around Dooley (wonderfully embodied by Storey), a vintage perfume salesman with self-confidence issues who harbors some kinky fetishes. When the teachings of a guru help Dooley embrace his true self, his “NECKrophiliac” fantasies become unleashed and give way to a whole lot of hilarity — and murder! The film probes into the dark side of identity to illustrate how positive intention can go wrong when it’s skewed or taken out of context.
Nowadays, the optimistic and inspirational self-help figures and their motivational quotes aren’t just limited to the bookshelves; they’re also plastered all over social media via its many memes and influencers. Storey essentially asks us, what if that well-intentioned way of thinking was used for more sinister means than just building yourself up? What if the price of our confidence came at the detriment of others?
Storey pokes the bear and acknowledges the dangers of this confidence-boosting culture, but they also do it in a lighthearted, hilarious, and entertaining way. Its campy tone and black comedy help its heavier machinations go down smooth, and its fast pacing keep the audience engaged throughout Dooley’s murderous rise to the top. Storey and cinematographer Thomas Hubbel attack the film with infectious enthusiasm, filling it to the brim with affectionately crafted genre flourishes. This is best exemplified in the film’s more dreamy moments, where the visuals are given a bit of an over-exposed glimmer or bathed in a particular hue, but its montages, which creatively implement archival footage into the mix, are a close second.
Far and away the best aspect of Dooley is Storey’s spirited portrayal of its lead. They fully embrace the duality of Dooley’s character, giving his self-doubt and confident turn a palpable edge, while playing up the absurdity and camp in a way that makes Dooley’s journey continuously fun. They have a charismatic presence and find a perfect balance between the silly and serious. Given the ground the film covers, its costume and production design really help to visually shade in aspects of its story, giving subtle details into Dooley’s character and their progression towards total confidence.
There’s only so much a film can do in the short format though, and while Dooley manages to squeeze in a lot, its character’s journey feels slightly incomplete and the stakes are relatively low. In the grand scheme of “problems,” leaving the audience wanting more is hardly one to worry about, but it would have been nice to know the side characters in a bit more detail, particularly the guru and their teachings, as well as getting to know Dooley on a more intimate level, both as a confidence-seeker and -possessor. Perhaps, Dooley will do more than just murder though; maybe there’s a potential feature to be had here, one we would gladly behold.
At the end of the day, Dooley Does Murder is an incredibly fun and entertaining watch that wraps you up in its character’s murderous rise all the way up until its Dolls-inspired credits (which features a great track from Jon-Joseph Nepaul that will have you nodding your head and laughing till the end). With excellent pacing (courtesy of editor Billy Nawrocki), lovely visuals, and an incredible lead performance, Dooley keeps a tight grip, but it always allows enough airflow for laughter to be had! It might leave you wanting a bit more, but that also just means you’ll want to hit play and experience its bloody good time over and over again.
Recommendation: Dooley Does Murder is an entertaining and breezy 11 minutes that will be having its World Premiere at this year’s Outfest. If you can’t catch the flick at the Los-Angeles based LGBTQ+ Film Festival, you can give it a watch when it hits Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes, and Vudu later in August. Follow the film and Storey on Instagram for more updates!
Murderous for more?! Check out the links below:
Dooley Does Murder interview
Podcast with Dawn Storey about Dooley Does Murder
LiME review
LiME interview
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!