Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Baghead’

4/8/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Freya Allan as Iris Lark in Alberto Corredor’s BAGHEAD. (Photo Courtesy of Shudder.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Baghead’.

It is definitely safe to say, that when trying times find their way into our lives, that we each respond to them in unique and fascinating ways. Some people for instance, find fury in having life get so difficult and unleash that fury in the hopes of finding a way to cope. While others, simply shut down and hide and process the events surrounding them as best they can, because that’s all they know how to do. While there are others… who acknowledge the ugly and put their head down and push through it, believing that the only way out is through and that the emotions that come from such events can be dealt with later once the dust has settled. But regardless of which path one subscribes to, they all equate to one thing: survival.

Because that’s all we are trying to do as we cope with loss, grief, difficult times or big changes that stress. We just need to survive until tomorrow, until the dawn arrives, and our problems are gone, and those paths help us do that. Thankfully though, that need to survive fades when peace arrives, so life can go back to normal. But for some folks, there’s little chance they will let those survival mechanisms go. Because the clarity it affords them, the strength it gives them… is too powerful to let go. So, they hang onto it, keep it fresh, consequences be damned, and there will be consequences for not letting it go. Since survival mode is never meant for long term use and well, the potential dangers of what could happen and who we could become in prolonged survival mode, is top of mind today… simply because it serves as the central exploration of the new Shudder horror feature, Baghead.

A feat that this film accomplishes by introducing us to a woman named Iris Lark who… is struggling badly. Because she cannot get a break in life, and she is constantly in motion and working to survive and well, for a brief moment… it appears that peace is upon her. For a phone call from a solicitor reveals that her estranged father, Owen, has passed and he left her a massive and quaint pub for her inheritance. Which would indeed turn her fortunes around. But shortly arriving at the pub and moving into its living quarters does Iris come to learn she’s inherited a nightmare. For she is now the guardian of a horrible spirit that lurks in the basement, one that can allow for folks to communicate with the dead for two minutes before causing emotional trauma, and the being known only as Baghead is ready to move beyond parlor tricks and live in our world, and it will indeed be up to the new owner of the property to keep that from happening.

Anne Müller as Baghead in Alberto Corredor’s BAGHEAD. (Photo Courtesy of Shudder.)

Which at first glance, seems more akin to a story grounded in notions of the sins of the father and how they haunt us, with some commentary regarding our inability to let death go, peppered in, since others are eager to speak to the dead beyond Iris. But those are merely support plot devices, designed to help bring the central exploration into play, which is showcased by way of Baghead and iris. For Iris obviously, is in survival mode in this story and pushes hard and does whatever it takes to keep going, to find her peace and if that means stepping near evil, so be it. Which brings forth some consequences, the kind that inform us that going this route does bring harm. To others and ourselves because we don’t take time to think in survival mode, we just do and when we play with the wrong concepts to find peace, disaster will strike, and people will get hurt.

All of which properly explores the negative power of survival mode and showcases how it can be dangerous to ourselves and others when it goes on for too long. But what’s truly impressive about this horror feature, is that it takes it exploration regarding survival mode one step further. Specifically, by having Baghead personify it. For this monster is survival mode to a tee, since it provides the fear that propels people forward in this story, and teases peace before ripping it away, prompting the characters to push harder and harder to obtain it. Not to mention, it’s desire to consume and be in charge, reflects those dangers nicely, and that makes for one brilliant horror feature. One that properly showcases this concept in a manner that is both supremely fascinating and also incredibly terrifying.

After all, this is still a scary story and by virtue, it is Baghead’s spiritual nature that brings forth the scares. Since its ability to bring forth the dead to converse, and weaponize emotion leads to some genuinely horrifying scenes that feel relatable since they prey upon some of our most primal fears. Not to mention, the camera work, the setting, and the lighting and some delightful editing choices lead to some solid and impactful jump scares. The kind that genuinely make your skin crawl, and leave you worried about what’s to come and those scares, and those powerful explorations bring forth a story that is refreshing and original in nature and truly keeps you guessing from beginning to end with the mythos it creates and the broken characters it presents us with. Ones that teach us to let go of what we think keeps us strong when we have a moment to breathe, since it can poison us worse than what we left behind.

Watch ‘Baghead’

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