Titular entity the stuff of nightmares Suffers with similarity totalk to Me
Baghead Alberto Corredor makes his full-length movie debut by adapting his short film of the same name.
It’s rather surprising that three writers (Christina Pamies, Bryce Mcguire and Lorcan Reilly) penned the script as the story is relatively simple.
Freya Allan stars as Iris Lark, a young woman who inherits a rundown pub and discovers a dark secret in the basement – the titular shapeshifting creature that will let you speak to lost loved ones; but not without consequences.
It is very unfortunate that Baghead comes hot on the heels of Australian horror Talk to Me as the general premise is very similar.
Baghead has a decidedly British flavour, though, thanks to its cast and prominent dingy pub and basement locations – despite the fact it is, bizarrely, set in Berlin.
The evil entity, with its creepy head covering and ability to transform into anyone it desires, is the film’s zenith, especially the way in which it slowly and shakily makes its way in and out of a hole in the wall bathed in seemingly never-ending darkness.
The Witcher’s Allan is still a relatively inexperienced actress but she does a decent job as an in-over-her-head protagonist struggling to balance her need for cash and a new home with catering to Baghead’s demands.
You are always questioning Jeremy Irvine’s (War Horse, The Woman in
Black) Neil’s motives and it would have been nice to have seen more of Peter Mullan (Iris’ dad Owen) as he serves up experience and intensity.
Jump scares are utilised a few times but never match the initial tension evoked by Baghead and your uncertainty over exactly what the creature is capable of.
But a deliciously dark denouement both effectively closes the door on the story while leaving tantalising terrors to think about.
If the superior Talk to Me didn’t exist I’d probably rate Baghead a little higher, however it still earns its place in the horror market with a haunting titular creation steeped in the stuff of nightmares.