Daddy's Head

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.

In case you're wondering, no, this is not a movie about a haunting, possession, zombie or another 'Pet Sematary'. There is a very subtle scene that edges more towards an alien movie, but its also not that kind of movie.

'Daddy's Head' revolves around the loss of a loved one. In this case, young Isaac is longing for his father, James, who passed away after a car accident. James recently got married to Laura, now Isaac's stepmother. When James dies, Laura considers sending Isaac to an orphanage, because she is convinced Isaac "hates" her. The two of them don't really get along, and is aggravated by James' absence.

When something starts lurking around the house at night, Isaac is convinced it is his Dad, who has come back for him, although he looks different - he has the same head, but a different body. The 'creature' is creepy and the sound effects are very good and scary.

The characters are well set up to make their actions believable. Rupert Turnbull delivers a strong performance as Isaac, and we root for him even though we know he is in the wrong. And then there's Laura, who not only has to come to terms with the loss of her husband, but also having to deal with Isaac. She confides in her friend, Lucas, which causes more friction between them. Apart from the supernatural horror, this is also a character study.

Over-analyzing the film will result in too many questions, like why the creature chose Isaac, how did he manage to resemble James, and what did it stand to gain by misleading a young boy? Rather just sit back, and enjoy the film for the creepy ride and unpredictability, with jump scares galore!

I recently watched the UK film 🇬🇧 Daddy's Head (2024) on Shudder. The story follows a young man living with his stepmother after the tragic death of his father. As they both struggle to cope with their loss, a strange figure emerges from the woods, claiming to be the boy's father. But what is buried in the woods, and is this really his father?

The film is written and directed by Benjamin Barfoot (Double Date) and stars Julia Brown (Shetland), Rupert Turnbull (Scrooge: A Christmas Carol), Nila Aalia (The Commuter), and Charles Aitken (Happy Death Day).

This film had a lot of potential. The casting and performances were spot on, and the settings, cinematography, and props effectively created a moody, atmospheric backdrop. The psychological struggles of the main characters felt authentic, making their vulnerability palpable. However, despite the buildup, the villain or supernatural presence never fully takes over the film as you'd expect. The best horror elements come from the eerie sound effects of the creature, but even that isn't enough to carry the tension. The ending is especially disappointing, as it leaves you waiting for a climactic moment that never happens.

In conclusion, Daddy's Head has all the ingredients to be a great horror film, but it never quite delivers. I'd rate it a 5/10 and recommend giving it a pass.

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.

The film seems to set itself up in the first 2 acts to deliver some interesting history on the characters. It drops ambiguous tid bits relating to past trauma and connections between characters both dead and alive that pique the interest.

It then never eventuates to anything.

What is the connection between the father's work as an architect and the way the creature is presented? How are any of the characters related? Why should the viewer care about the fate of anyone when there is little semblance of character development? The creators of this film must have run out of time or budget because the script doesn't just feel ambiguous, it feels unfinished.

The cinematography is absolutely beautiful and creates tension and suspense which is utilised well with some creepy and scary moments. This would have been enough to salvage the film but for the ending that undoes the little character development seen previously. It instead opts for a nonsensical deus ex machina reminiscent of the ending that was re-shot for the British release of 'Invaders From Mars (1953)'