From the infamous Annabelle to the lesser-known but equally eerie Robert, haunted dolls have long captured the imagination of horror fans and paranormal enthusiasts alike. In her latest release, A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls, writer and paranormal researcher Fiona Dodwell takes readers deep into this unsettling world, blending real-life accounts with insights from pop culture.
Fiona Dodwell is a journalist and author with a long-standing fascination for the paranormal. Having studied demonology, exorcism, and theology, she brings both experience and curiosity to her work. “I’ve always been intrigued by the idea that an innocent object can carry an energy or presence,” she explains.
The book includes interviews with well-known figures such as Patti Negri (psychic-medium on Ghost Adventures), Don Mancini (creator of Child’s Play), Jennifer Tilly, and Jayne Harris of Help! My House Is Haunted. Each contributes to Fiona Dodwell’s exploration of why haunted dolls continue to unnerve us. “Dolls are meant to be comforting, even sweet,” she says. “When that innocence turns dark, it unsettles us on a deep level.”
Structured in two parts, the book first examines true cases of haunted dolls — from Annabelle and Robert to lesser-known names like Mandy and Okiku — before delving into how these tales have inspired film, television, and literature. “Pop culture has done so much to keep these stories alive,” Dodwell notes. “They’re part of our modern folklore.”
Fiona even adopted a supposedly haunted doll during her research. “I expected nothing to happen,” she recalls, “but I experienced a few strange things that definitely made me think twice.”
When asked what to do if someone suspects they own a haunted doll, Dodwell advises calm curiosity over fear: “Observe, make notes, and if needed, seek help from a reputable medium. Protect yourself spiritually, but don’t panic.”
Creepy, compelling, and surprisingly human, A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls offers a fascinating look at why we remain drawn to objects that frighten us. As Dodwell puts it, “Even the most ordinary item can hold a story — and sometimes, that story refuses to fade.”
What inspired you to dedicate an entire book to haunted and cursed dolls, and why do you think they continue to capture the public imagination?
I have been fascinated with the concept of haunted and cursed items for over ten years now. While I have been interested in the paranormal in general since I was a child, the idea of a doll or object having some kind of energy attached really gripped me. Cases such as the Annabelle doll (who has been feared the world over since the 70’s, and has even inspired movies) and Peggy the doll (who made headlines in 2015 after people reported that even seeing her photo made them ill) captivate so many of us, and I wanted to understand how this happens. I wanted to ultimately answer the question, can something as innocent as a child’s toy bring a ghost into your house?
I think it’s the same for the public – we have been exposed to cases of haunted dolls like Annabelle and Robert through articles, movies and TV shows and it’s hard not to be intrigued. After all, who amongst us isn’t creeped out by the idea that a cute looking doll can wreak supernatural havoc in our lives?
Your book features both real-life cases and pop culture portrayals. How did you balance fact and folklore while writing?
I mainly wanted to explore true-life cases of haunted dolls, but felt it would be interesting to take a dive into the entertainment world that has been so inspired and influenced by the idea of a doll being spirited. From Child’s Play to Annabelle and the Robert the doll movies, as well as numerous fictional novels, popular culture is full to the brim with references to dolls that are haunted. I divided the book into two – the first section is full of true-life references and interviews with haunted doll owners, and the second section takes a look at the world of entertainment that has used the horror trope of haunted toys more often than many probably realise. For that section I spoke to many well-known names from the movie world who agreed to talk to me for the project.
Yes, you actually interviewed a wide range of people — from psychic-medium Patti Negri (from Ghost Adventures) to Child’s Play writer Don Mancini and actress Jennifer Tilly. What did you learn from bringing together voices from both paranormal research and Hollywood?
I was delighted and honoured to get to speak to so many very talented and informed individuals. Don Mancini, who wrote and directed the Child’s Play/Chucky franchise and Jennifer Tilly (who voiced Tiffany) both delved into the world of Chucky with me, talking about what inspired his character, what it’s like being part of such a cult horror classic and how the character’s roles developed. It was fascinating and they were both such lovely, down to earth people. I also interviewed Patti Negri (she’s the regular medium on Zak Bagan’s TV show, Ghost Adventures). As Patti believes in the idea of haunted objects and actually owns a haunted doll herself, it was great for me to pick her brain and get her insight into this wonderfully spooky subject.
Many other names were interviewed for the book, I was extremely lucky. Horror film directors, doll artists and psychics. So many kindly offered their time. Fred Batt, demonologist of the TV show Most Haunted wrote the Foreword, which was a big deal to me. I have a lot of respect for him and his work.
What do you think makes dolls so uniquely unsettling compared to other haunted objects?
I think it’s the fact that dolls are such sweet, innocent looking toys. Kids have them in their bedrooms, we have them lying around our house or even lined up on shelves as collectors items. They’re such a common item, we’ve all owned them and as children we adore them. So this idea that they can be haunted, possessed or cursed really pulls the rug from beneath our feet. It turns their innocence upside down. It’s unsettling and frightening and all the more so because any of us, at any time, could own a doll that might be haunted.
As someone who has studied demonology, exorcism, and theology, how has your academic background informed your approach to haunted doll research?
I like to look at things from all angles, and I feel my areas of study help me in this. Yes, I do believe an item can be haunted (that is, that an object can have some kind of energy attached to it) however I don’t believe it’s necessarily a common occurrence. Most items we bring into our homes are just that – furniture, collectible objects, material. Yet, for the few that do seem to be genuinely haunted, having studied subjects such as Exorcism, Theology and Applied Paranormal Research, I feel I have learned a lot about the spiritual realm and how things like hauntings can occur. I’ve developed an appreciation for the paranormal and spiritual through my studies, that’s for sure.
In your experience, do haunted dolls tend to share certain traits or histories, or is each case entirely unique?
There are a few common traits that haunted dolls exhibit when brought into a home, such as cold spots around the item, a strong feeling of energy, hearing or seeing things around the doll, feeling your own energy or mood shift around it and the item moving or being found in places you never left it. Signs can be very subtle or quite significant, but they are quite common in genuinely haunted dolls. What is not so common is the histories of them. The histories of the dolls are as unique as you or I; essentially they are the spirits of people who lived lives and experienced many things, from all different kinds of ages, races and backgrounds.
What was the most surprising or unsettling discovery you made while researching A Cursed Collection
I think it’s the fact that you can experience the most unnerving paranormal events simply through buying an item that just happens to catch your eye in a shop. It’s that simple. Like I stated previously, I don’t think it’s common, in fact it’s quite rare, but it does happen. One day someone can pick up a cute porcelain doll from a charity store because they like the look of it, and several weeks later they can be calling on the help of priests and mediums because of a frightening haunting that’s been unleashed. Seeing that this can and does happen is quite eye-opening, and my book is full of cases where this is detailed.
Was there one particular case you uncovered while writing that truly surprised you?
Yes, Robert the doll. His case was made famous through movies and books, much like Annabelle. Although many people have heard of Robert – the haunted sailor doll that currently resides in a Museum in Key West, Florida – it’s quite unsettling when you study him and realise people are still experiencing frightening events because of him to this very day. People visit him in person in the museum and end up sending in letters of apology to the doll, begging him to lift the bad luck they are sure he has struck them down with. It sounds crazy, but this happens a lot and my book delves into this.
While writing, did you ever feel unnerved enough to stop working?
I did have moments when I felt creeped out, that’s for sure. I didn’t stop working on the project, but I did have times when I worried that I’d get unwanted “attention” from the spirits I was writing about and end up experiencing things myself.
I can say that the most frightening thing about working on the book was when I adopted a haunted doll (to study it and gain insight to the subject while writing). I expected nothing to happen and was sceptical, but I ended up experiencing quite a few weird and creepy things.
If someone suspects they own a haunted doll, what’s the first piece of advice you’d give them?
Spend time with it. Make notes, make logs of what happens and when. Try and capture evidence when possible, such as audio recordings or video. See how you feel when around the doll, and try and experiment (respectfully) using paranormal technology and gadgets. You can also call on the help of a reputable medium. I would also say that coming up with your own method of spiritual protection is a good idea (such as a prayer of protection), because you don’t really know who you are communicating with at first.
What next for Fiona?
Well I am currently working on a second non-fiction paranormal book, but it’s in the very early stages, so I can’t give too much away. I am continuing to study haunted objects, and am always keen to hear from anyone who has experience of owning one. Look me up online, and feel free to reach out to me on X or Instagram if you have a story to share.
Thanks to Fiona – and very best wishes!
You can pre-order the book now here.
Matt
Matt Jacobson
Explore Liverpool
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