Arriving on Digital and VOD platforms October 21, 2025, through Dark Star Pictures, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? might sound like a Murder Mystery film. However, you realize fairly quickly that the Danny Villanueva Jr. written and directed What Happened to Dorothy Bell? is more of a twisted, paranormal, demonic possession-filled entity of sorts.
Ultimately classified as a “Found Footage Horror” film, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? follows Ozzie Gray as she documents her investigation into traumatic events from early childhood, which, of course, include her late grandmother, Dorothy Bell. The “supposed” cartoon at the beginning of the film is automatically unsettling. Even for a kid in the ’70s or ’80s, it is very unsettling. But the unsettling feel carries throughout the entire film, overall it is a truly unsettling film. Since the famous 1999 film The Blair Witch Project, found footage films have become a bit of a phenomenon. Not all found-footage genres have lived up to The Blair Witch Project standards. What Happened to Dorothy Bell? is for the audience to judge.
Introducing and starring Asya Meadows (Hyde Park 2022) as the lead, Ozzie and Arlene Arnone Bibbs (Candytown Follies 2022, Spiderweb 2023) as none other than Grandma Dorothy. Both actresses play phenomenal roles, granted some of the acting is a bit B-rated, nothing says edge of the seat shitting ones pants than a grandma who claims “he made me do it.”
While The Blair Witch Project focused on using the fear of the unseen to scare viewers, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? uses the senses to elicit scares. Granted, the eeriness of no, or rather very low-fi music in the background, does not help settle one’s nerves. Speaking of low-fi, the low lighting for the film was executed perfectly; it was not so dark that one had to squint to see what the actor was looking at, and it was not too bright that the scene was not noticeable at first.
Simply put, What Happened to Dorothy Bell?‘ has an interesting plot. Granted, it is pretty common for filmmakers to lean toward the paranormal in found-footage films; this one stands out for its ability to keep viewers interested. With that, Danny Villanueva Jr. brings to the screen something rather typical but altogether very interesting. So, while What Happened to Dorothy Bell? may not be the next big “found footage” rave that keeps people talking for years to come, it is, in fact, a very eerie and unsettling film with decent acting and a good storyline. Whether or not Danny Villanueva Jr. did the film any justice lies in its audience’s eyes, but Cryptic Gives gives What Happened to Dorothy Bell? 4 out of 5 stars.
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