There are often red flags in life. When you see those red flags, it’s a good idea to stop and consider whether you’re on the right path. When you’re in a horror movie, you rarely stop to consider a red flag. In fact, the horror genre is predicated on blowing through red flags that would turn most sane people around.

I couldn’t help but think of red flags and sanity when I was watching Dolly, a new IFC/Shudder film getting a theatrical release on Friday. It’s a film that’s unsettling and certainly, for me, presented at least a few red flags.

In the film we meet Chase (Seann William Scott) who is ready to take the next step with Macy (Fabianne Therese). He’s chosen to take her to a secluded spot in the Tennessee woods to take that next step. For me, that would be a red flag. Nothing good happens in the secluded woods.

And yet, Chase and Macy arrive at their spot and head out. While in the woods, they spot a disturbing collection of mutilated dolls tacked up on trees and along the path. Again, I’d consider that a red flag. But for Chase and Macy, it’s a curiosity they choose to explore. It’s Chase who first comes upon a doll related shrine—and grave—in the woods. There he meets Dolly (Max the Impaler), who is wearing a cracked porcelain doll mask. That would be yet another red flag, but Chase tries to strike up a conversation.

It doesn’t go well.

Later, Macy stumbles on the scene. She’s also not deterred totally by what she sees—though she’s also looking for Chase. She finds him—and Dolly—and, again, it doesn’t go well. But that’s only the beginning of a long journey for them both.

This film has a good location and a fairly distressing concept. The kind of person that would dress in a creepy doll mask and keep a collection of mutilated dolls probably isn’t the best subject for friendship, but it makes for a sufficiently unsettling horror film. And that’s not the only horrors contained in this film from director Rod Blackhurst, who co-wrote the script.

The film also moves at a fairly brisk pace. It’s only 82 minutes, and it doesn’t take even 15 to get to some of the unsettling carnage. That’s the good for fans of the genre. There’s also a few unsettling twists along the way that will make it a draw for those that enjoy gore and a good slasher set up.

But that’s where my praise ends. Despite being 82 minutes, this film feels overly long. There aren’t many characters and there isn’t really many places to go after a solid set up. This is the kind of film that might have worked better as a horror short. Instead, we get about 45 minutes of false endings tacked on to the point where you’re more than ready for it all to end.

I also am in the camp where I like a little black comedy in my horror. Despite Scott and Ethan Suplee being in the cast, there aren’t any laughs to be had. This is dark, graphic, and unsettling all the way through. That made it feel like more of a slog than I’d like.

Dolly opens in theater on Friday, March 6.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.