BAGHEAD

Germany/UK, 2023, 93 minute, Colour.

Freya Allen, Jeremy Irvine, Ruby Barker, Peter Mullan, Anne Muller, Svenja Jung, Ned Dennehy, Saffron Burrows.

Directed by Alberto Corredor.

Baghead is not a title that would draw in a large audience. Except, perhaps, for horror fans. One of the difficulties with horror films these days and horror film audiences is that there is a huge demand and expectation for blood and gore, increasingly, especially for younger audiences. But, this kind of wallowing is not appealing for an adult audience brought up on more traditional horror films. Which means then that the response to Baghead is more favourable from older audiences, younger audiences complaining that it is too slow, too tame…

This is British production with an international cast filmed at studios in Berlin. It is based on a 2017 short film with the same title by the writer, Lorcan Reilly and the same actor, Alberto Corredor. There has been a screenplay collaboration with Bryce McGuire, who made Night Swim at the same time (also bypassed as to tame)..

The audience is introduced to a rundown hotel in Berlin, deserted, crumbling, but with a sinister basement and a jagged hole in the wall. The host is Owen Lark, played by veteran Peter Mullan, 20 years caretaking, and a sinister creature beyond the jagged hole in the wall, a female creature, bag over her head, who emerges stumblingly on command. However, Owen has had too much, confronts Baghead, sets her and the building a light.

Then a transition to his daughter, Iris (Freya Allen) alienated from her father, but with her friend, Katie (Ruby Barker), suddenly discovering that she owns the building, a lawyer, a touch cadaverous, wants her to sell the building but she decides to sign the parchment deed of ownership.

When they go into the building, we are not surprised that there are sinister feelings, especially when they are shocked by a visitor, Neil (Jeremy Irvine) who is willing to pay them money to have an audience with Baghead, knowing that the creature will come out, shape-shift. He wants to say farewell to his dead wife but the person who emerges is his unloving mother. There is eerie atmosphere in the way that the shape shifts, skeletal hands to normal hands, the removing of the bag and the revelation…

As with this kind of tale, everything is not what it seems, Neil has ambiguous motivations, Iris wants to stay in the building, even to investigate the mysterious creature who is obedient to her command. Katie is much less enthusiastic.

So, a buildup to Baghead’s various appearances, confrontations, Iris having to come to terms with her father, the truth about the creature and the fire, conflict with Neil – and one of those endings which we might have expected but were not thinking that it would happen!

An adult horror film in the more traditional manner.

1. The title, tone, theme, characters?
2. The German setting, filmed in Germany? International cast?
3. The setting, the streets, vistas of the city, the old pub, the basement? Atmosphere? The musical score?
4. More traditional horror? Adult plot and themes? The contrast with the popularity of blood and gore?
5. The opening, Owen, his age, in the building, 20 years, Baghead, the bag and disguise, shape shifting? His video, setting the fire, his burning to death? The later reprisal of the scene, his failure to burn down the building? His life, alienation from his daughter? Thinking he had burnt the title deed? Iris inheriting it, her distance from her father, growing up, institutions, friendship with Katie? The final confrontation with her father, his explanations, the repetition of the burning?
6. Iris, age, ambitions, friendship with Katie, the solicitor, the explanation of the bequest, the building, he suggesting it be sold, run down? Her decision to sign? Going to the building, the initial impressions? Deciding to stay?
7. In the building, the dark, Neil’s presence, suspicions, his explanations? The ritual, the chairs, the basement atmosphere, the hole in the wall, the noise, the emergence of Baghead, the threats, Neil and his wanting to talk to his late wife, offering money, Iris finding she could command Baghead?
8. The shape shifting, Neil and the appearance of his mother, her saying she never loved him, the appearance of his wife, his desire to say goodbye, the reality of interrogating her, her wanting to leave him, the medication, the car crash, her death? Her saying she wanted to leave him?
9. The two-minute limit, going over, the consequences?
10. Iris, her visit to Neil, his explanations? Money no limit?
11. Katie, scepticism, participating, fears, seeking out the solicitor, the photos and the names, the truth about the owners, the list on the document? Her phoning Iris, coming back, the experience with Baghead, her death?
12. Neil, his return, bargaining with Iris? His wife reappearing, his mother reappearing, the commotion, Neil and his different desperation, Iris and her refusal, the chase, on the roof, Iris falling to her death? Neil and his motivation?
13. The return downstairs, Baghead, Neil, the appearance of Iris? Her being in control, the power?
14. Horror film for an adult audience?