One of the most effective horror film tropes is the "Creepy Doll" character. Right away, audiences know what they're in for: a story of terror and surprises, as the doll is likely connected to the supernatural or a killing machine. There are going to be characters who think that a doll could never be involved with anything sinister, along with a protagonist, sometimes a young child, who is all too aware of what can happen.
Reflecting on the "Creepy Doll" horror trope is a fun exercise as there is so much to know about how this really works in scary films. How is this trope defined and what movies use it in an effective way?
There are many scary dolls in horror movies and the "Creepy Doll" trope is used often. According to TV Tropes, dolls are "adorable" or "gorgeous" but when they appear in horror films, they're more evil than they appear to be at first. The website explains this trope by saying that, similarly to clowns, dolls provide an unnerving and dreadful atmosphere and are "part of the scenery." A sub-trope includes the "Vengeful Abandoned Toy" as sometimes, an object doesn't like that they have been left alone. Dolls are also sometimes "clockwork toys" who seem to move without anyone being near them.
TV Tropes explains that dolls look innocent and sweet, so it's always a shock when they commit murder. And it's always horrifying. There are many great examples of creepy horror movie dolls, including Annabelle, who just might be the most famous one. Annabelle Comes Home could end The Conjuring franchise as it's such an effective movie.
The Annabelle movies use the "Creepy Doll" trope perfectly. Just looking at this doll's appearance would send a real shiver down someone's spine. Annabelle has big eyes and rosy cheeks and yet there's something in her gaze that proves that something is afoot. No one would want to spend time in a house alone with this doll, especially not when it's dark outside.
Chucky is a timeless horror villain and the Child's Play franchise brilliantly uses the "Creepy Doll" trope. In the 1988 film, Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) wishes for a Good Guy doll for his birthday, which ends up being the absolute worst thing that could ever happen to him. The movie has a scary setting from the start, as the serial killer Charles Lee Ray puts a voodoo spell on a doll and the evil Chucky is born.
As TV Tropes explains, the stage is set for the scary moments that are to come when the "Creepy Doll" idea is used. Andy loves spending time with Chucky and even brings him into bed, which is terrifying. Chucky does look cute and no one could ever guess what he's actually capable of. The image of a doll holding a knife or other weapon and chasing after people is definitely memorable. Chucky keeps coming back and it doesn't feel like he can be killed, which adds to the terror.
TV Tropes explains that when the "Creepy Doll" trope is used, it is "part of the scenery" and helps prove that this is not going to be a peaceful story. Brahms in The Boy is a flawless example as the 2016 film follows this idea. Greta Evans (Lauren Cohan) begins working for a family who lives in the U.K. and they have a doll named Brahms. He looks scary and strange as he has defined cheekbones and a hallow, dark look in his eyes, and the family wants Greta to look after him as if he's actually a child. Brahms is an underappreciated 2010s horror villain as there is a clever twist: Brahms is a regular-sized human who lives in the walls of the house, causing strange things to take place. The doll is nothing more than a toy.
While some horror movie plot twists don't make sense, this one works, and the trope is used well here since it does add to a strange, oppressive setting. In the case of the doll in The Boy, he does look odd, but he wouldn't seem like he would be responsible for weird noises or people getting hurt since, of course, he's simply a toy.
Horror movies that employ the "Creepy Doll" trope often end in a similar fashion: the characters can't ignore the havoc that the toy has caused and they figure out a way to stop them. In most cases, if there's a sequel or, in the case of the Child's Play slasher franchise, several more films coming, the doll is not really dead or destroyed and there's more evil where that came from. And that's where the fun of this trope lies.