Daddy’s Head- Fantastic Fest 2024
October 9th, 2024
MOVIE: DADDY’S HEAD
STARRING: JULIA BROWN, RUPERT TURNBULL, CHARLES AITKEN, NATHANIEL MARTELLO-WHITE
DIRECTED BY: BENJAMIN BARFOOT
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 97 MINUTES
Daddy’s Head is a horror film that skillfully blends realistic trauma with nightmarish elements. It explores tragedy from multiple angles: a son who has lost both parents and a step-parent unexpectedly thrust into the role of caregiver. These are the kinds of fears that resonate deeply. With genuinely terrifying imagery, the film evokes a profound sense of dread, resulting in a horror experience that lingers long after viewing. Directed by Benjamin Barfoot, Daddy’s Head is an unsettling tale of grief that leaves audiences with scares that keep them up at night.
The lead character, Laura (Julie Brown), is the second wife of James (Charles Aitken) and stepmother to Isaac (Rupert Turnbull). She struggles to connect with Isaac after his mother’s passing, while James has moved on with his new partner. Their initial discomfort is palpable, but they attempt to bond over board games and conversations. Tragedy strikes when James suffers a horrific car accident, leaving him mangled and ultimately leading to his death. For Laura and Isaac, healing seems impossible, and together they begin experiencing strange hallucinations, including an eerie wooden structure in the forest and a spectral figure resembling Isaac’s father communicating from beyond the grave.
Barfoot’s script effectively merges familial trauma, reminiscent of Hereditary, with elements of folk horror akin to The Witch. It crafts a neo-folklore atmosphere, with a home that echoes the lavish yet foreboding setting of Parasite, complete with expansive glass windows and upscale decor, juxtaposed against dark, encroaching woods. The film follows the classic horror trope of a teenager whose experiences are dismissed by adults, further intensifying the tension and paranoia as Isaac’s actions make Laura appear unfit.
The third act of Daddy’s Head ramps up the horror. Robert (Nathaniel Martello-White), an old boyfriend of Laura’s, serves as fresh meat in the narrative. The forest’s monster finds increasingly creative ways to invade the characters’ lives—manifesting in the house, the wooden structure, and their dreams. While the film’s conclusion feels a bit clumsy, even in its missteps, Daddy’s Head remains eerie and enigmatic. I find myself eager to watch it a second time to capture details I might have missed. What lingers are the unnerving visuals and the undeniable horrors of loss. In this respect, Daddy’s Head truly excels.
3 STARS
DADDY’S HEAD IS NOW STREAMING ON SHUDDER OCTOBER 11TH, 2024.
Written by: Leo Brady
