In the 2010s, one of the most popular mainstream horror subgenres was supernatural found footage. The influx was inspired by box office juggernauts The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, which proved that an audience could be drawn in despite low production budgets. The fading of the found footage craze makes What Happened to Dorothy Bell? stand out amid the sea of supernatural indie horror in 2025.
The picture follows Ozzie Gray (Asya Meadows), who is trying to uncover the truth of the tragic history of her grandmother Dorothy Bell (Arlene Arnone Bibbs), while also trying to manage her mental health and her extremely strained relationship with her parents. Her journey leads to the library where her grandmother worked and a sinister red book that opens up some ghostly terrors.
Director Danny Villanueva Jr. plays to some found footage strengths, especially allowing most of the story to unfold from Ozzie’s perspective, which allows us to deeply connect and unravel the mystery alongside her. The lack of a score allows subtle sounds like the howling wind, creaking floors, and buzzing flies to create an unsettling atmosphere. Villaneuva demonstrates some great patience in a few scenes where he allows them to linger, building up tension. There are a few expert moments of cinematography, especially an angled shot towards a mirror that shows off both the characters and their reflection.
The movie suffers from following the handy found footage checklist, and even some blatant call-backs to Blair Witch, such as a character standing still facing away from the camera. You’ll also be able to mark faithful standbys like the expert giving an exposition dump, the camera continuing to run long past what makes sense, shots that defy the found footage concept, big loud thudding noises, and skeptics denying clear evidence.
Meadows embodies a very sympathetic and appealing Ozzie, and there are intriguing moments on her quest. The mythology doesn’t connect to make a sensible reveal, it has some ridiculous moments like a teleporting book, and and a jumbled, chaotic finale that relies too much on screams and darkness. There are those moments of craftsmanship and spookiness that show why filmmakers return to this subgenre. Optional Purchase
Can What Happened to Dorothy Bell? be used in film studies or media literacy courses?
It is ideal for film studies or media literacy courses wanting to analyze the visual language, strengths, and challenges of the found footage subgenre. It can also be used to discuss how genre storytelling explores family trauma, grief, and mental health, making it useful for psychology or sociology programs that engage with media analysis.
How can this found-footage horror enrich library programming?
For library programming, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? could pair well with community screenings or discussions about how independent horror films use the supernatural as allegories for mental health issues and trauma.