Ever since I started watching Charles Band and Full Moon’s back catalog, I’ve been trying to find the period in which the films had gone from campy and awesome to pitiful and annoying. Within the first five minutes of 1999’s Ragdoll, I thought I was watching what could have been the first of the terrible films in the ever-extensive library. After the movie started to pick up, however, which luckily was only about ten minutes later, I realized that this film was actually one of Band’s good ideas!
Don’t get me wrong, Ragdoll has some of the terrible features I’ve alluded to in the past about Band’s newer films — awful blood effects, bad acting, etc., but it also contains enough of the good qualities to redeem itself! While there are certain [minor] characters that perform some of the worst acting I’ve ever seen, there are a few key cast members who really bring this movie to the next level. Russell Richardson who plays our protagonist, Kwame, does a fantastic job and really makes this film more enjoyable than it would be without his presence.
The ragdoll itself immediately becomes another member of the classic line-up of Charles Band/Full Moon dolls and puppets. The design is original and fun, while still maintaining a certain level of creepiness and fright. While I wish I could have seen some more creative killing from this tiny terror, a la the puppets of Puppet Master, I still did enjoy the little bit we got to see.
I am almost scared to watch any more films that Full Moon released after 1999 because I feel this really is the last good film the studio released. Overall, I give Ragdoll 3.5 hip hop artists out of 5.
I most probably like this movie. Nice review!
Creech, I think you’ll really like this. Just have enough patience to get past the first few minutes of terrible acting and the rest is better, trust me! hah