“What Happened to Dorothy Bell?” is an unnerving, thought-provoking entry into the found footage horror genre. This small scale movie blends supernatural scares with a deep exploration of generational trauma and mental illness, embracing its heavier themes with a nice balance of traditional horror.
Ozzie Gray (Asya Meadows) is investigating the traumatic childhood incident in which her grandmother, Dorothy Bell (Arlene Arnone Bibbs), violently attacked her. Ozzie’s return to her haunted hometown (including the extremely creepy library tied to an urban legend) forms the backbone of the story. As she delves into the mystery, Ozzie confronts not only the supernatural, but the hidden truths about her own past. As she slowly pieces things together, she discovers how her grandmother’s actions are intertwined with her own mental health struggles.
Director Danny Villanueva Jr. uses a variety of found footage formats including video diaries, home video camcorder tapes, and security camera footage to immerse the audience in the story of unravelled family secrets. Though the genre isn’t new to metaphorical treatments of trauma, this film digs deeper, examining the ways mental health and family histories are often concealed or misunderstood.
The film wouldn’t work as well as it does without the strong lead performance from Meadows, who captures her character’s internal fragility as well as her determination when it comes to wrestling with increasingly complex feelings. She brings Ozzie to life as a grounded, fully realized character who is easy to root for.
Villanueva’s use of found footage is particularly effective here, adding layers to the narrative in a way that doesn’t feel too gimmicky. The disorienting cuts between grainy home video and modern-day digital footage mirror Ozzie’s fragmented memories and growing sense of unease. This stylistic choice enhances the film’s psychological tension, making it difficult to decipher whether the supernatural events are real or simply the product of a mind tainted with confusion and distress.
The supernatural threat works well too, with creepy visuals caught on security cameras. The eerie figures and shadowy movements definitely feel familiar to a low budget horror project, but they still work as an effective scare tactic. Ditto for the atmospheric setting of a dusty old library with darkened corners and ancient books.
The film occasionally suffers from pacing issues which consistently slow things down. Alternating between investigative dialogue and supernatural moments feels uneven, with certain stretches becoming highly repetitive because there’s not quite enough story to justify the run time.
Despite minor flaws, “What Happened to Dorothy Bell?” gets a lot of things right. Its exploration of how trauma is passed down through families while remaining hidden under layers of silence and misunderstanding takes it a few notches above traditional found footage and psychological horror films.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 