It’s that time again! New Monster High dolls are hitting store shelves! This review is about the new Zombie Shake two pack featuring Venus and Rochelle. Venus and Rochelle are two of my favorite Monster High characters.
Box Image
Box Image
These two renditions of the characters are definitely unique. I’ve found that my Monster High tastes have moved towards really enjoying these ‘over the top’ lines versus the slightly more safe Monster High lines of the past.
Rochelle
Rochelle
Rochelle is a Monster High character that I feel can blend into the background a bit when included in doll lines. This one, however, stands out. She has a ‘dark’ sort of look to her styling that is fantastic. Starting from the top, she has rooted curly baby pink, teal and black hair. It’s pulled up into a high ponytail. Her bangs have the same pink, black and teal highlights.
Rochelle
Rochelle
Long time readers will know that I’m not a fan of super messy hair on my Monster High dolls, or any doll for that matter. I’m going to cut this Zombie Shake Rochelle some slack, as the messy curls that top her head do fit with the Zombie theme.
Rochelle
A small detail I really love is the easy to miss headband Rochelle wears. It has a small blue brain on it. There’s just something about it that I really like!
Rochelle
The teal in Rochelle’s hair is carried over onto her face. Her pink eyes, which traditionally look larger than other Monster High dolls, are accentuated with a thick layer of black, long painted lashes and lots of teal eye shadow. There’s also some gray shadow above the teal. That’s lots of eye make up! I think it works really well on this doll, due to the over the top nature of the design. Her lips are a slightly different shade of teal.
Rochelle
Her face has some awesome ‘cracks’ painted into it. It gives her a neat look!
Rochelle
Her body has ‘granite like’ coloring, complete with light and dark freckles on her face and limbs. Just like the ‘cracks’ on her face, she has the same sort of painted cracks on her arms and legs. She comes with two removable wings. My wings stay in pretty well, actually!
Rochelle
Under the black of Rochelle’s dress
Her outfit is fantastic. I really, really like it! Like many Monster High outfits, it is a little shorter than I’d like. Other than that, however, I find it super cute. It’s a short strapless black dress with hot pink designs going across it. That is covered by a black, sparkly layer of tulle that starts at her neck and moves down to the bottom of the dress. She wears a plastic belt in a blue tone. The belt sticks out a bit, to be honest, but it adds a bit of needed color, I guess.
Rochelle
Rochelle comes with a molded black purse with a teal pattern on the front. I’m not too keen on it, as it seems too small for her and doesn’t open.
Rochelle
Rochelle
Rochelle’s shoes are black, just black. They have a lot of detail on them that is easily missed because they’re only one color. You’ll see little widows, columns and a gargoyle.
Venus
Zombie Shake Venus, in terms of design, is fantastic. My doll, however, has a major body issue, which sours this two pack a bit. Similar to Rochelle, Venus has a high side pony tail. Her hair is, as usual, is 1/3rd flocked and 2/3rds rooted. She has a handful of colors rooted in her head– two kinds of green, black and bright pink.
Venus
Her pony tail is curled at the end, again giving this look a bit of a ‘messy’ edge to it. Her flocking is bright pink with green lines going through it. She has green ‘vine’s shooting up from her pony tail.
Venus
Her face is awesome. I love it! She mostly has green embellishments on her face. Her eyes are highlighted with green eye shadow and her lips are an earthy sort of green. Her face has vine like elements painted asymmetrically on it.
Venus
Venus has (yet another) super skimpy outfit. Mattel needs to start adding a little bit more fabric to these dresses. Venus wears a short black and green dress covered by a layer of pink tulle. She wears a plastic green belt.
Venus
Her accessories include vines that sit on her arms and legs, a green vine like necklace and bracelet and a super cool earring. She also comes with a small green purse.
Venus
To be honest, I kind of feel like the purses in this line were an afterthought. They don’t open and they seem just a bit too small for the dolls.
Venus
Her shoes a hot pink. They have little teeth on them that remind me of a Venus Flytrap. There’s not a lot going on with her footwear this time around, which is a surprise. Normally Monster High shoes are far more creative than these.
I mentioned earlier that my doll had a body issue that was surprising. When the Monster High line first hit stores, limb problems were a common issue. Over the past few years, though, Mattel has pretty much fixed that issue. My Venus, however, has a limb problem that I haven’t seen for quite some time. Her left elbow joint just plain doesn’t work.
Venus
Instead of bending like it should, it likes to pop out instead. I thought maybe it was just too tight, but even after I played with it for a while, it continued to not bend, but pop out instead. I definitely plan on asking Mattel for a new joint.
Rochelle and Venus
I wasn’t sure about these two from promo images, but seeing them in person, I like them a lot! I wish a little more thought had gone into the messy hair design and that the dresses were a little longer, but overall, I find these dolls pretty cool!
I posted a video review for Venus late last week. Rochelle’s is coming soon!
What do you think of this two pack? Share your thoughts below!
