Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Don’t Look Away review says it’s a welcome relief for horror fans who are fed up with remakes and franchise spinoffs.

Don’t Look Away is an inventive micro-budget supernatural thriller that’s the perfect “spooky season” alternative to showier, name-known horror flicks like Five Nights at Freddy’s and The Exorcist: Believer.

What makes it so much fun is its familiar yet unique premise—not unlike A Nightmare on Elm Street, where falling asleep could kill you, Don’t Look Away ties into its title because taking your eyes off this haunted, homicidal piece of plastic will also lead you to an early grave.

A truck carrying the not-so-precious cargo is hijacked by a gang of criminals, which causes an innocent driver, Frankie (Kelly Bastard), to crash into the vehicle. Without realizing there’s a crime in progress, she thinks that it’s her actions that lead to the driver’s death and believes that’s what makes the mannequin come after her.

She tries to confide in her self-absorbed boyfriend, Steve (Colm Hill), but he’s too busy writing his Ph.D. thesis to pay her much mind. In desperation, she turns to her ex, Jonah (Michael Mitton), and her friends, inadvertently endangering all of their lives. But every horror movie needs cannon fodder, right?

Don’t Look Away review — The opinion

Those who are chilled by the subject matter (I’m reminded of the department store mannequin episode of “Twilight Zone” and the latest deadly doll fare, M3gan), will be drawn into this one right away—the opening credits sequence gets the story rolling without making you wait to see the menacing mannequin.

All of the mannequin’s murders are carried out off-screen, but the bloody aftermath should satisfy hardcore horror fans while not being too gross for those of us who are not. The acting is not always Oscar-worthy, and there are some plot holes, but that’s part of the charm of popcorn movies like this.

Director Micheal Bafaro co-wrote Don’t Look Away with actor Michael Mitton and they make a good team. Despite a smaller budget and no-name actors, the pair worked well together in crafting a creative script that carries through with striking cinematography, effective music, and eerie sound design.

It’s Halloween time, so if you have binged everything and want something unlike all the slashers, remakes, spinoffs, and series you’ve already seen, give Don’t Look Away a peek.

Not Rated
1 Hour 21 Minutes

If reading this Don’t Look Away review makes you want to heat up some microwave popcorn and watch it at home, stream it now on Prime Video.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Don’t Look Away review says it’s a welcome relief for horror fans who are fed up with remakes and franchise spinoffs.