Control Freak

Even though the cover of Control Freak looks like a cheap SYFY movie, I was intrigued because it was tagged as body horror, and the ambiguous description gave me hope that it would be something special. The film's low ratings prepared me to lower my expectations, but I gave it a try nonetheless.

The story follows Valerie, a successful motivational speaker who becomes tormented by an unrelenting itch on the back of her head, causing her life to spiral out of control.

Visually, the movie is well-made, with strong cinematography and decent performances, though the acting felt uneven at times. Unfortunately, the story itself falls flat over its 100-minute runtime. Control Freak is apparently based on a short film, which I haven't seen, but I imagine the concept worked much better in a shorter format. The premise-where a protagonist is tormented by something unknown, leaving the audience to wonder whether it's psychological or supernatural-isn't exactly new. The only unique angle here is that the lead is a motivational speaker, which fits well with the movie's overarching metaphor.

The film did succeed in making me feel itchy and uncomfortable, especially with Valerie's constant scratching and the unsettling imagery of ants crawling around. I also genuinely enjoyed the third act, though the movie never really built up enough momentum for me to stay fully invested in Valerie's struggle.

If you have Hulu or another streaming service where you can watch this without paying extra, it might be worth a try. However, I wouldn't recommend spending money on it, as it doesn't offer enough to stand out. The pacing drags, and the narrative lacks originality, but it remains a watchable film with both its strengths and flaws. [5,4/10]

I found that a greatest disservice an author can make to a struggling protagonist, whose struggle is amplified through horror is juxtaposing them against a backdrop of supportive sound boards. Sometimes it's necessary. However, here I see some interesting symbolism and it simply falls short in that backdrop. She comes across as one-dimensional, her partner is an idealized portrayal of a person incapable of suffering or harm, and her ignoring her assistant or a doctor considering the severity of her state comes across as forced. Portrayal disregards complexities women face and appears as a writer's limited understanding of their character. I do prefer horror with social commentary and I am not feeling that here.

I was not familiar with this 2025 movie from writer and director Shal Ngo prior to stumbling upon it by random chance. And the movie's cover was interesting enough to make me stop up and take notice. And since it was a horror movie, of course I opted to check it out.

The narrative and storyline in the movie is somewhat of an acquired taste. I doubt that this is movie that will easily find a widespread appeal with the general audience. The narrative is unique, and thus might be somewhat of a niche thing. I found it to be adequate, but "Control Freak" by far from one of the greatest psychological horror movies that I've sat through.

The acting performances in the movie were good. And it was definitely nice to see Kelly Marie Tran in the leading role, and she carried the movie quite nicely.

Visually then the movie was okay. The special effects weren't outstanding or jaw-dropping, but then again the movie wasn't heavily relying on special effects to carry its narrative.

Watchable for what it was, but I doubt that I will ever return to watch "Control Freak" a second time. I will say, though, that I would say you should check out the movie if you enjoy off-beat horror movies that deviate from the generic formula.

My rating of writer and director Shal Ngo's 2025 movie "Control Freak" lands on a five out of ten stars.

I really tried to give this move a chance. There are not alot of redeeming qualities to this film. The acting is very hit and miss, sometimes they will convey all the true emotions then it's equal to a bad soap opera. The special effects are extremely lack luster. The shadows are done will but that's it. I can't say more without spoiling it. You'll see what I mean... It's rough. The story itself is very bad. It falls apart quick and doesn't come back. One thing this movie does very well is make you think you have an itch on your head. All the main character does is scratch! This movie is something to have on in the background but don't expect alot from it.

This film crawled under my skin in ways I didn't expect. Control Freak follows Val, a self-help guru grappling with anxiety and grief after her mother's death. Her anxiety manifests as a disturbing compulsion to scratch her scalp, which becomes more than just a nervous habit. There's something living beneath the surface, and it's horrifying. The way the movie uses the parasite as a metaphor for mental illness was powerful. I found myself squirming through the intense scenes, especially as Val's sense of reality began to deteriorate. The practical monster effects and eerie sound design made every scratch feel almost physical. What really got me was how real the emotional horror felt. It's not just about the creepy parasite; it's about how untreated trauma can consume us from within. It's unsettling, raw, and lingers long after the credits roll.