Kye Misak’s Bad Haircut is the kind of movie that follows a pretty predictable plot, but that somehow still manages to hit the right tone with what it’s trying to say. Because, jokes aside, a bad haircut can be a lot of people’s idea of body horror. And even if the movie is way less existential than what a lot of movies in the genre are, it’s still imaginative enough (and just plain fun) to be worth watching.
Full disclosure, I’m not usually a horror person. Horror comedies, however, are usually right around my wheelhouse, because if I’m going to be scared, I might as well be allowed to laugh about it. Bad Haircut exists in that complicated place between cartoonish and earnest, and mostly pulls it off, all while treading familiar ground in a way that doesn’t really feel derivative.
The film follows Billy Crumpus, a college student with self-esteem issues, whose best friends embark on a mission to help him regain his confidence by taking him to their favorite barber: an eccentric man named Mick. But Mick will, of course, offer Billy more than just a haircut—and somehow, that might just be exactly what he needs to discover his confidence.
Horror comedies win or lose by their premise, and how original they are in the process of executing that premise. Bad Haircut’s premise is quite ingenious, and yet the movie isn’t exactly groundbreaking. In many ways, it doesn’t have to be, though. It’s got a charismatic antagonist in Mick, a relatable protagonist in Billy, and it goes overboard in the perfect way to hook you.
If anything, my biggest issue with the movie is that it’s a little bit too long, which affects the pacing. At one point, ¾ of the way through, I thought “well, this is wearing a bit thin,” and that’s partly to do with the runtime. I understand why the decision on the runtime was made; the film does satisfyingly come full circle, but that’s probably not worth the extra time, all things considered.
Overall, though, if you enjoy horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously and that feels borderline absurd, Bad Haircut is a really good option for those looking for something outside of the big, popular movies. It might not be the most memorable film out there, but I guarantee you’ll have a good time watching it.
Bad Haircut streamed at Fantastic Fest.
