In the depths of an ancient house lurks a terrifying witch, capable of assuming the guise of any deceased individual. This malevolent entity possesses the power to summon the departed from beyond, albeit for a mere two minutes. Once this brief window closes, the witch relinquishes control to a sinister force. The witch’s ultimate ambition is to break free from her confinement. Iris (Freya Allan), a young woman, inherits the cursed dwelling and its horrifying inhabitant from her late father. She now stands as the sole barrier between an ancient evil and the world beyond.
Freya Allan as Iris in “Baghead”
“Baghead” emerges as a chilling fusion of two genre favorites from recent years: “Barbarian” and “Talk to Me.” From the former, this British horror film borrows the concept of a malevolent presence dwelling in a basement, while from the latter, it adopts the notion of a time limit when interacting with spirits and explores the theme of grief. However, this comparison does not favor the new release. Despite a promising premise, the execution falters, making it a prime example of a debut work where a compelling idea alone is insufficient.
The film is an expansion of a 2017 short film of the same name. In it, director Alberto Corredor depicted a grieving man who ventured into the lair of evil to encounter the ghost of his wife. The screenplay for the feature film has been expanded. A character named Iris, played by “The Witcher” star Freya Allan, was introduced. The role of the grieving widower went to British actor Jeremy Irvine, who gained recognition for his roles in “War Horse” and “Now Is Good.” Another key figure in the plot is the main character’s friend, Katie, played by Ruby Barker, known for the series “Bridgerton.” Scottish actor Peter Mullan, who has appeared in “Trainspotting” and “Harry Potter,” plays Iris’s father. Ned Dennehy, who played the demon Hastur in “Good Omens,” has a small role. The cast is successful for a directorial debut; the problem is that the actors don’t have much to play.
Freya Allan as Iris in “Baghead”
Flaws in Character Development
One of the film’s major shortcomings lies in its poorly developed characters. The main character’s best friend is the only one who can be considered the voice of reason. Katie is the only one who understands that they need to get out of the sinister house. Iris’s motivation for living next door to a creature in the basement simply because the house was free seems absurd. Instead of leaving the walls of the creepy building, the girl not only decides to stay, but also expects to make money from exploiting the abilities of the evil spirit. This is one of those cases when it is difficult to feel sympathy for the victim.
Still from “Baghead”
A Missed Opportunity for Intellectual Horror
“Baghead” desperately strives to be an intellectual horror film. Through dark imagery and suspense, the filmmakers contemplate the feeling of loss and touch on the theme of fathers and children. The problem is that beneath the careless layer of hidden meaning lies a rather mediocre horror film. The film fails to capitalize on its initially promising chances of occupying a niche among indie hits like “Talk to Me” and “Barbarian.” “Baghead” can hardly be considered a genre attraction with classic jump scares either. The jump scares are lost against the backdrop of a sluggish plot. A couple of interesting twists do not save the situation.
The dirty blue-yellow color palette greatly cheapens the picture. The creators of “Baghead” seem to be stuck in the 2000s, when an unnaturally twisted white balance was considered the standard of the genre. The visual effects also look outdated. It feels like the film has been gathering dust on the shelf for several decades. Of course, one should not expect much from a low-budget debut by a little-known director. But the Philippou brothers managed to make a hit horror film on their first attempt. The question is: what prevented Alberto Corredor from doing the same?