Psycho Sex Dolls (2024) Review​

 

A porno filmmaker whose business is crumbling due to industry disruption and his failure to pay his performers gets his hands on some state-of-the-art sex dolls, with dire consequences.  

Writer-Producer-Director David Wilde’s Psycho Sex Dolls is a bold and imaginative film that captures the spirit of decades of exploitation cinema, especially the 70s and 80s. With his unique blend of storytelling and homage to seedy classic Euro movies and horror, Wilde delivers exactly what is promised: a wild ride filled with T & A, dark humour, and sharp commentary on A.I. and the adult film industry.  

The film follows Damien Self, played wonderfully by Simon Weir. Weir’s performance as Self is nothing short of stellar (no pun intended), portraying a man clinging to his glory days with sheer desperation. His acting anchors the film, making Self’s downward spiral both compelling and tragically humorous.  

Perfectly cast, Stellar Paris shines in a dual role, capturing the essence of the adult industry with a performance that balances the control and disdain of the profession with moments of reward and joy. Her portrayal of a robot character eerily embodies both the dark and light sides of the work, adding layers to the film’s exploration of its humanity and A.I. themes, all amidst girl-on-girl kisses that echo 90s soft-core DTV thrillers and robot POV shots reminiscent of The Terminator and Westworld.  

The supporting cast does a great job of bringing their characters to life. Kieran Chalker offers weight as James Steel, leaving an impression, while the female cast members, notably Jamie Jones and Emma Cole, deliver memorable maniacal performances.  

With mature content, foul language from the outset, blood, knives, bats, and guns, Wilde pulls no punches, especially in the third act. The limited budget occasionally shows, but Wilde makes up for it with snappy dialogue, clever use of location space, and imaginative films-within-films, along with Stepford Wives vibes. The film’s bright colour timing matches the characters and costumes, adding a layer of vibrancy that contrasts sharply with its darker themes, creating a visually striking, snappy ride.  

Overall, Wilde’s visuals evoke the era of declining VHS rentals, the fall of analog, and the rise of digital and DVD. With nods to classics like A Clockwork Orange, Hammer Horror films, and Kill Bill to name a few, Psycho Sex Dolls is a creative, trashy (in the best sense), and nostalgic tribute to the films that inspired it, while standing on its own as a new chapter in modern exploitation.