Daddy's Head

At first, I was a bit skeptical about this movie because the first 25 minutes were not particularly entertaining. It didn't give me much to work with, and the characters were not very interesting. The drama also didn't hit as hard, as we've seen movies with tragic deaths of loved ones a million times before. However, after the first encounter with the threat that Isaac-and especially Laura-have to deal with throughout the movie, I was hooked. Every time this entity appeared on screen, I was mesmerized by its design and movement. It felt like something new, not the typical evil you see in every third horror movie nowadays.

As the relationship between Laura and Isaac escalated, the drama worked more for me. Imagining the grief and pain that come after the death of a loved one under these circumstances was harrowing. The movie also has some really interesting visuals that look unique and engaging. The acting was decent, though nothing extraordinary, but Rupert Turnbull definitely succeeded in making me very annoyed with his portrayal of a grieving Isaac.

In the end, I had a rather good time watching this, and even though it's not spectacular, I would recommend giving it a try. [6.1/10]

Now, I always say, it ain't about a picture show havin' a story that's been told before. What matters is how they tell it. Pictures, they're all about spinning a yarn, see? It's a tradition passed down from our ancestors, gatherin' 'round a fire in them caves, tellin' tales and paintin' on the walls.

And that's where director/writer Benjamin Barfoot, he shows his stuff. "Daddy's Head," it ain't the first picture to tell this kind of story, and it don't pretend to be. But the way Barfoot handles it, with his camerawork and set design and sound, it's like he's pieced together a masterpiece outta bits and pieces. And the result, it's a picture that keeps you hooked from the first flicker to the last.

Now, gotta give credit where credit's due. Young Rupert Turnbull, he's a real find. Been trainin' himself since he was five years old, they say, on TV, in pictures, even on the stage at the National Theatre. There's scenes in this picture where he carries the whole thing on his shoulders.

This film, it follows in the footsteps of "The Babadook" and "Under the Skin," and does a mighty fine job of it. It's proof that SHUDDER, they're still churnin' out quality pictures to keep us entertained this year.

One of these days, I'm gonna buy myself an island and call it SHUDDER Island, and I'm gonna have SHUDDER pictures playin' there 24/7.

What some have labelled a flaw I will call a feature.

The acting is tight. The sets beautiful.

The tone is menacing and the sense of dread is intriguing.

This is not apocalypse now or is it menat to be. For a horror it's great. The issue with any review is there is no qualifier to the type of movie the reviewer likes or the day they had when they watched it.

Many things are left unexplained. Many things that I enjoyed others felt frustrating. If you require all things explained and wrapped up in a bow this film is not for you. It doesn't make it bad just not your cup of tea. If you enjoy tone and setting and don't want to be bogged down by 60 minutes of boiler plate character development this is more for you.

I enjoyed the look feel and lack of pointless filler so many horror movies are bloated with. The filler is what some look for and enjoy along with a pablum-like exposition.

Good movie for some bad movie for others....

This movie starts with a good premise and really builds the tension. I think the two leads here are doing some great work here. I really loved that we saw less of the creature - that really built the suspense of what is it. The ending felt rushed and motivations of the characters seemed off. I think there was a lot of unanswered questions about what the creature was and why now. What did it want? The location and camera work really save this film. Overall I was creeped out and invested the entire time. I think if you're looking for a decent horror film with the spooky atmosphere you should check this one out.

Laura (Julia Brown) inherits a house in the middle of the woods from her late husband. Her young stepson Isaac refuses to talk to her. Her husband insisted on being buried with his previous wife on the property. They find an unusual wooden structure in the woods.

I like the isolation and the brooding moodiness. It starts with a good concept. There is good potential for a horror thriller. They could do more with the guardianship. They could also do more with the woods. If he gets lost in the woods overnight, the threat of losing guardianship could rise. In the end, the movie doesn't push beyond a few good ideas and the general spooky vibes.