Latest Video Librarian Review: “What Happened to Dorothy Bell?” Showcases the Strengths and Weaknesses of Found Footage

Since The Video Librarian is a resource for librarians, academics, archivists, and festival programmers, it’s no surprise that most of the movies submitted for review are documentaries. So, it was exciting to finally review a scripted feature for the site, and even better, one in my beloved genre: horror. I’m always eager to unearth a hidden gem of independent horror.

What Happened to Dorothy Bell? doesn’t completely work, but after mainstream audiences moved away from supernatural found footage nearly a decade ago, it was refreshing to see a return to the subgenre. Director Danny Villanueva Jr. crafts a paranormal tale that highlights both the format’s strengths, such as offering the intimate perspective of lead character Ozzie and using subtle sounds to build an unsettling atmosphere, and its weaknesses, including jarring loud noises, stretches of murky darkness, and moments that make you wonder how the camera kept rolling or who was filming at that time.

You can read all my thoughts in my latest review over at The Video Librarian.