Paper Dolls

98 min., 2007             

Directors – Adam Pitman, David Blair

Review by Daniel Hargrove

Right from its cryptic prologue, using a handheld video camera, Paper Dolls grabs your attention.  The film was so well written (by lead actor, co-director and producer, Adam Pitman) that I honestly felt as if I were hanging out with a group of close friends.  The humor and banter engaged in by all the leads felt genuine and comfortable.  The story involves two lifelong buddies, Travis and Nate, taking a road trip to Canada after their high school graduation.  Through a series of mishaps and misdirection they end up fighting for their lives in the dark forests of Montana.  I don’t want to give away too much.  I wouldn’t rob anybody of the experience that is Paper Dolls.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film.  It was by far the best feature that I had the pleasure of viewing at this year’s festival.  It’s easy to see why Paper Dolls swept the 2007 Eerie Horror Film Festival where it captured awards for Best Feature, Best Actor and Best Director.  Not only is it a wonderful mix of  “buddy” film, “road trip” film, and “suspense thriller” (with a little “teen sex comedy” thrown in), but above all, it’s a fresh, unique creature feature the likes of which I haven’t seen in a long time.  Filmed on location in the Flathead and Glacier National Park areas of Montana, Paper Dolls was a joy with its brilliant acting by all characters and wonderful musical soundtrack