A flashback from 2000 reveals that the doll-like creatures are modified versions of the Barbie dolls photographed by Mark Hogancamp .
As told in flashback in 2000 , it ’ s revealed that the doll-like figures are actually modified Barbie dolls photographed by Mark Hogancamp , who has created a model village named Marwen ( later renamed Marwencol ) to help him deal with his diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and memory loss from an attack some time earlier by white supremacists after he unwisely told them about his fetish for wearing women 's shoes .
Welcome to Marwen