Daddy's Head

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!

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.

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.

By the halfway point, this film had done little to captivate. Pushed through hoping for more, but apart from the slightest case of the creeps there was nothing.

Pros: The concept. Creepy monster adopts the face of a recently deceased loved one to lure relatives to its lair. Potential for days.

Creature design (barely). Unfortunately, we're given barely a glimpse of the thing, which is a pity because it's the best thing about this film.

Cons: The acting. From underacted to overacted to downright wooden, none of the performances did anything to hold my attention.

The characters. No redeeming factors, nothing to elicit sympathy. Two dimensional. The predominant feeling is one of dislike. When you don't care if the characters live or die, what's the point of watching any more?

The monster. What is it? Where does it come from? What does it want? In the end, I was only holding on for answers to these questions, and I got nothing.

The pacing. Paint dries quicker.

I get the sense they were trying for some grand metaphor, but overall it fell pretty short. After everything, the ending feels pointless.

Disappointing.

Monster seemed cool, if you could see it. Acting not bad not great. Just a series of events with no story - the usual "deep" rubbish. I'm sure there's some grand overture about grief and relationships and etc etc. I can read a book written by professionals for deeper meanings of grief. If you can't translate those meanings into motion then you'd better have a good story - or apparently not a story at all as seems be the case with many films these days. AMBIGUITY IS NOT A STORY - A FILM IS NOT A MOVIE WITHOUT A STORY. It's just collections of thoughts. Everyone has thoughts big deal - tell a story! What a disappointing horror movie season. First Beezle now this. Lame lame lame.