It also does not help that young Mason Wells is not a particularly strong actor. I don’t wish to be too harsh, as he is just a child, but of the, roughly, half a dozen kids in the film, he is the least convincing. He and Winters, as his mom, don’t share a ton of chemistry either, meaning the movie is opening on its weakest elements. Mind you, Winters and Galligan are just fine in their minor roles, and McKnight is fantastic as the creepily calm dollmaker.
But the two stories are pretty good. Blood For Gold spends a bit too much on the history of the house, and a flashback to a young Jess is not necessary. But, where it matters, Evil Little Things delivers. The leprechaun moves well and is creepy to look at, especially when his real face is revealed. Plus, the lore of the evil little thing and why it is attacking Jess is fascinating. Again, maybe one too many scenes spent on it, but it is original and creates a creepy monster.
The acting for this segment is okay to good. Youngblood and Collins are enthusiastic and fun, especially when discussing their upcoming Halloween plans. Fierman is relatable and makes for a vicious scream queen as she battles the doll at the end of the story. Her best friend, police officer Susan, is played by Courtney Hogan, and she is not all that good. She is not awful but comes across as a dull, blank slate.
“…hits that perfect balance of creepy and fantastical…”
But fear not dear readers, because Evil Little Things has an ace up its sleeve. Be Careful What You Wish For is a masterpiece in every way. Courtney Lakin is fabulous as the anxious but delicate and charming Abby. She sells the discomfort over her facial scars perfectly. Watching her excitement and joy emerge when she runs into Jeremy again is delightful. Her fear of the controlling Patty doll is unmistakable and real.
Horne is warm and kind, and the audience instantly understands why Abby would fall so quickly for Jeremy again. Lakin and Horne are perfectly cast together, sharing superb chemistry. Bakhtiari, as the voice of Patty, is incredibly disturbing, imbuing the doll with a commanding, creepy voice.
As in the previous tale, Patty’s movements are stellar. Due to the perfect intersection of the puppeteers Wes Campbell and Roy Wooley, design, and acting, Patty is a terrifying creation. Green’s direction of a nightmare sequence with floating dolls is exceptional, as he hits that perfect balance of creepy and fantastical. It concludes in a crazy, tragic, scary way that is perfect.
Evil Little Things is an anthology that delivers decidedly mixed results. Some of the acting is great, some of it is not. Parts of the wraparound and first segment feel a bit padded out. But, the puppetry of the dolls is fantastic, and the framing device works well. Plus, the second tale is astounding. It’s perfectly cast and delivers intense chills throughout its creepy plot. On top of that, the dolls are well designed, and their intricate movements are realistic.
"…the puppetry of the dolls is fantastic..."
