Film Name: The Doll Maker
Director: Jose Maria Cicala
Writers: Jose Maria Cicala, Griselda Sanchez
Starring: Mario Alarcón, Alejandra Baldoni, Eduardo Calvo, Santiago Domínguez, Alejo García Pintos
In a quiet village, a charming young man named Tomás leads a simple life: caring for his mother, working at the video store and town clinic, and collecting dolls. As women start disappearing, newly arrived Inspector Porter investigates.
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds, I got a chance to ask Director / Co-Writer Jose Maria Cicala a few questions about ‘The Doll Maker‘, which has been selected to play at Horror-on-Sea on Sunday, 18th January at 20:00hrs.
Q. Your film The Doll Maker has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. Can you tell us what we can expect?
A. A somewhat different kind of horror, born from the impunity created by the protagonist’s environment — one that allows him to live in a promiscuous everyday reality, since he feels no need to hide the way he relates to others. At the same time, his psyche splits, leading to a complete unconsciousness of the effect he has on those around him. And finally, he possesses a power to charm others, worthy of those beings who have caused great harm to humanity. A set of ingredients that, when combined, could end up creating a monster worse than Hitler.
Q. You co-wrote the script with Griselda Sanchez. What were some of your inspirations when writing the script and what was your process for writing together?
A. We were inspired by those stories of everyday horrors — and it’s shocking to use the word everyday for something so terrible! But the initial inspiration comes from those world leaders who have caused — and continue to cause — great harm to our planet. The list is endless, and sadly, in every country, people can probably identify someone with those same traits.
We’ve already worked with Griselda on four films; it’s a big part of our lives. We live together, so there are no fixed hours for ideas! They just come up, and we start shaping them right away. Sometimes one of us sparks an idea, and the other ends up giving it a place in the story. We just blend naturally.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. Our influences come from the deep admiration we have for Lynch, Kubrick, and Hitchcock — always approached with the humility of our own means and possibilities.
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. At times, it’s quite common for scripts to evolve during shooting. While it’s important to have a clear structure — and fortunately, that’s usually the case — the rest of the participants in this wonderful collective creation that is cinema always enrich the work. The contributions of the cast and the production team help these stories grow! The same often happens during the editing process — the story remains alive and unfinished until the very final cut.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. My favourite moment during filming lasts the entire shoot! When we’re on set, I feel like I’m nine years old again — playing with my friends, creating stories where time simply doesn’t exist. There’s nothing more fascinating than being there, being part of that beautiful community. Of course, just like when we were kids, there’s always someone yelling, “It’s late! Come inside, finish your homework, and have dinner — you’ve got school tomorrow!” That mother, today, would be the voice saying, “We’ve gone two hours over schedule! We need to wrap now or we’ll go over budget!”
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. The setbacks that come up during filming should never stop you! They’re part of something often intangible — what matters is finding the positive side and making the most of it. For example, we had planned to shoot a scene in the town’s main church, but at the last minute, the priest didn’t give us permission. They offered us another option — a more modest chapel — and when I saw it, I fell in love. The place was magical, standing alone in an open field. It turned out to be far more powerful than we ever expected!
Q. What makes The Doll Maker stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. A bit like what I mentioned in the first question — a very tangible kind of horror, something close to us, right behind our backs. Very real.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. I hope the audience leaves with a strong awareness that we must never, in any way, contribute to the making of a monster — that story never ends well. If at the very least we choose to step away when we sense something is off, that’s already a start. Think the worst, and you might just be right!
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. We’re currently working on a new project — a series of individual stories that all take place in the bathroom of a restaurant, where absolutely anything can happen!
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. If you have the desire to make films, you have to start now! Any way you can — with the help of friends and family, or even on your own. With the best camera you can get, or just a basic phone.
The important thing is to do it — to practice, to shoot. Cinema has no limits. You’ll never feel that everything is perfectly in place to begin; there will always be something missing. You just have to be brave enough to get out there and start.
The Doll Maker will be playing at Horror-on-Sea on Sunday 18th January at 20:00hrs.
You can find out more about Horror-on-Sea and purchase tickets the The Doll Maker here
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
