My quick rating – 5.1/10. Let’s all find out what happens when a grieving family brings home a creepy Nazi-era heirloom doll. Because nothing says closure like fascist porcelain, and Mamochka is here to supply that very oddly specific horror niche. Right from the opening credits, the movie fires up some genuinely fun 80s-style synth that instantly screams, “Yes, you are absolutely correct, something terrible is about to happen.” Meanwhile, some random kid is frolicking in a cemetery because childhood memories are overrated, and trauma builds character.

When the family returns from Jane’s mother’s funeral, they lug home the titular Mamochka doll, and suburban dad Mark (Alexander Kollar) immediately begins spiraling faster than your Wi-Fi connection during a storm. His nightmares come in hot, featuring imagery that feels like the director grabbed inspiration from a grab bag labeled “Why?” The acting around him lands mostly in the realm of “inoffensively bland,” like everyone’s just slightly too aware of where Craft Services is parked.

Then Mamochka dips into a Groundhog Day-style loop, but luckily, it doesn’t overuse the gimmick. The repetition is just enough for Mark to start doubting his grip on reality without making us stare at the screen as if we’ve accidentally rewound it. Pair that with his late-night Nazi doll research rabbit hole, and it’s especially hilarious when he casually suggests his wife, Jane, might need therapy. Mark, buddy…read the room.

Jane (Maya Murphy), meanwhile, spends most of the movie sounding like she’s auditioning with cue cards, but then she suddenly flips the emotional switch and unleashes some full-throttle “I’ve had enough of this doll nonsense” energy late in the film. It’s kind of refreshing. Wish we got that Jane sooner.

And then there’s the delivery driver (Dino Castelli), who shows up acting like he wandered in from a neighbor’s house. Is he a messenger? A ghost? A guy with a very intense side hustle? No clue. The script refuses to elaborate, and somehow that makes him more entertaining.

Stanley Trub as young Brian absolutely holds it down, though. The kid is the standout, and you can tell he actually came here to act.

Where Mamochka really delivers is in how much atmosphere it squeezes out of its lean budget. The film smartly mixes familiar horror ingredients and pulls off several genuinely creepy beats. It’s just the follow-through that wobbles. The ending doesn’t quite land, doesn’t quite connect the thematic dots, and even dangles a sequel tease nobody asked for, but you know damn well I will watch.

Still, the potential behind the camera is unmistakable. This director has ideas. Good ones. And once they get the resources to back them up, we’re in for something special. I’ll definitely be watching what comes next…even if that doll can stay far, far away from my house.

Thanks to writer/director Vilan Trub for sending this one over for an early look.