What Happened to Dorothy Bell?

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

After uncovering disturbing revelations from her early childhood involving her late grandmother, Dorothy Bell, Ozzie Gray sets out to document her investigation into these events. Seeking answers, She visits the library that Dorothy died in to try to communicate with her spirit. As her attempts become increasingly desperate, Ozzie unwittingly awakens something far more malevolent than she could have ever imagined.

Dark Star Pictures distributes in the US. The movie will initally open on October 3rd in Los Angeles (Lumiere Theater) and Brooklyn (Film Noir Cinema), before expanding to Alamo Drafthouse locations in Los Angeles, New York City, and Austin on October 10. It will then hit Digital and VOD platforms on October 21. (9/25/25)

Director Danny Villanueva Jr. was quoted saying: “For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an obsession with ghost stories. I wanted to play in the found footage realm because it’s such a powerful format to explore the paranormal. Those supernatural elements feel much more accentuated when set in a reality grounded, diegetic world. The film has gore, thrills, and a touch of mystery, but what truly drew me to this project was the relationship between Ozzie and her grandmother, Dorothy Bell. My grandmother was my best friend and hero growing up, so I resonated deeply with that bond. Ozzie’s inner journey of making peace with her traumatic past, rectifying her grandmother’s name, self-discovery, and forgiveness all struck a chord with me.”

This is a found footage horror movie.

Dark Star Pictures released What Happened to Dorothy Bell? in Select Theaters on October 3, 2025.

Dark Star Pictures released What Happened to Dorothy Bell? on VOD and Digital on October 21, 2025.

IMDb

Director: Danny Villanueva Jr.