'The Horror Of Dolores Roach' Review: 'Sweeney Todd' Retelling Is A Gory Blast

2022 may have been the year of anthropomorphism in film and television, but 2023 was the year of Sweeney Todd .

In addition to the Tony-winning Broadway revival, the legendary story of a murderous barber and his downstairs neighbor Meat Pie has reached our television screens. The musical comedy Shmigadon! He parodied Sweeney Todd in season two, complete with an Annie mash-up , no less. Now, Prime Video's The Horror of Dolores Roach is modernizing Sweeney's story, replacing the hair salon with a massage parlor and those damn pies with empanadas. Combining sharp comedy, dramatic moments and sheer terror , Sweeney Todd combines everything to celebrate with a unique comedic curve.

What is "The Fear of Dolores Roach "?

In the Gimlet podcast of the same name (opens in a new tab) and her solo Empanada Loca (opens in a new tab) , both by Aaron Marks, Dolores Roach introduces us to a woman who has fallen on hard times - and tries. lead to a terrible way to start a new life.

At the beginning of the series, Dolores Roach (Justina Machado) returns to Washington Heights after serving 16 years in prison for spreading the message. However, the area he is in is nothing like the home he knew. Gentrification is at full speed. The marijuana they busted is now almost legal, and her ex-partner Dominic (Anthony Grant), a drug dealer, is nowhere to be found.

The only thing left from Dolores' past is Empanada Loca, a restaurant run by her friend Luis (Alejandro Hernandez).

"Running through the desert", the establishment says that it blocks the way, as if it were the last chance for salvation. And for a while, it looks like this. Luis is happy to let Dolores into his first floor apartment for free. There, Dolores uses the skills she learned in prison to establish herself as an adult, earning her the nickname "Magic Hands."

But when outside forces threaten to destroy the new life she's building, Dolores turns to the most extreme survival tactics to stay afloat. Let's say the neck snaps, the blood flows, and the Luis Empanadas crowd discovers a mysterious new ingredient they can't get enough of.

Dolores Roach Horror gives us a new pairing in Dolores and Louis.

Like the plot of "Cannibal Empanadas," the real charm of Dolores Roach's horror is Dolores herself. Through Machado's hands, we see Dolores' despair, anguish, and sheer anger at life gone wrong. With his tragic past and determination to stand on his own two feet, our hero is easy to sympathize with. Even when customers start dying, the internal conflict is clear; He does not want to die ; But if he has to die, he justifies it with the philosophy of "survival of the fittest".

Dolores's terror contrasts with her own dark personal growth with the character of Louis, who sees the sudden supply of human flesh in his basement less as a crime and more as an opportunity. Enjoying his new cooking experience and all the business that comes with it, he makes sure nothing happens to Dolores while hiding in plain sight. Of course, Luis's sick advice to cover up Dolores' murder means a lot of trouble for the couple, and Hernandez brings the motivational energy that Luis deserves. Person eating on screen has never been funnier.

Together, Sweeney Todd and Mrs. This gender-swapped version of Lovett works well, though Dolores and Lewis, who are different enough from their inspired roles, don't feel derivative. Unlike Sweeney, Dolores does not commit revenge killings; More often than not, the killers were either accidental or failed attempts at self-defense. And while neither Sweeney nor Mrs. Lovett were eager to share their man cakes, Louis was eager to try this unusual delicacy, adding another layer of terror to his identity.

"The Horror of Dolores Roach" is a true explosion of horror comedy.

"The Dolores Roach Horror" presents an emotional marriage of horror and comedy. The series revels in dismembered human body parts and oozing gore, with some amazing practical effects that will make you think twice about eating another empanada.

However, despite the pile-up of corpses, "The Dolores Roach Horror" cannot leave its dark humor behind. "We serve the community," Lewis proudly tells his customers, and you can't help but smile and laugh at the double meaning. Elsewhere, he and Dolores get into an argument over the proper methods of disposing of the corpse, and most of the murders involve some degree of brutality. Not only is the latter fun, but it helps keep Dolores Roach's horror scenes fresh and unexpected.

However , Dolores Roach's horror sometimes falters when she examines the more dramatic aspects of her story. The subplot that is haunting Dolores Dominique does not have a happy outcome. (However, you can see how it will be explored in the upcoming season 2.) Otherwise, Nellie (Keta Updike) and Jeremiah (C. Todd Freeman) suffer from the strict butchers. , except for the character arcs of the villainous couple at the show's center.

The show's biggest disappointment, however, is its overreliance on voice acting. Since the series is based on a one-woman play and a podcast, it makes sense that Dolores' inner monologue would be featured in the TV adaptation. The horror of Dolores Roach justifies this monologue, as Dolores tells her story to the famous Broadway play (one of the many references to the project's origins). Unfortunately, the lack of Dolores' voice -- and frame narration for most of the season -- hurts more than it improves. While some of his jokes are just plain funny, others, like his expressions of anger or anxiety, are pointless or even stifling. We don't need Dolores to tell us how she feels. We can't help but feel overwhelmed by Machado's emotional performances.

Despite these issues, Dolores Roach's Horror remains a pretty brutal watch, and Sweeney Todd is a solid addition to the 2023 trend. Find it here. Just... maybe don't eat meat while you're watching.

All episodes of Dolores Roach Horror are streaming on Prime Video. (Opens in a new tab)