“Daddy’s Head” Waxes Strange

Daddy’s Head (Benjamin Barfoot, 2024) 3½ out of 5 stars 

Daddy’s Head, from director Benjamin Barfoot (Double Dates), tells the story of Isaac (Rupert Turnbull) and his somewhat estranged stepmother, Laura (Julia Brown, Jessie and the Elf Boy), as they both equally mourn the death of Isaac’s father/Laura’s husband (Charles Aitken, Red Sandra), who dies in an unspeakable accident. One night, Isaac hears the voice of his father coming from the woods, and soon a dark, grisly figure stalks the halls of Laura and Isaac’s home. As this menacing presence terrorizes the family, stepmother and son experience real turmoil. Laura tries to assure a miserable and disturbed Isaac that his father is dead and that the creature imitating him is an imposter.

Daddy’s Head reads extremely well on paper, weaving a deep narrative about a young boy in denial over his loss. The ghastly monster from the woods seems to reinforce and instigate Isaac’s declining mental health, causing him to be more violent as the film progresses. Brown gives a genuine and moving performance as a woman bound to a young boy by marriage, but as one who’s emotional energy starts to drain as she fends off the monster in the night. Actor Nathaniel Martello-White (Silent Night) plays a family friend trying to be there for both mother and child, in a solid supporting role. Ultimately, the drama may be a bit heavy at times, but it surely carries the film’s messages and moves the plot forward.

Barfoot shows his true colors when the action kicks into full gear. I was at first taken aback by the simplicity—combined with terror—behind an almost blank, emotionless humanoid creature.  Yet the chilling concept of the “thing” preying on the whims and hopes of a heartbroken child, proves thoroughly engaging. Barfoot manages to find new ways in each scene to raise the stakes, and uses the story’s slow development to his advantage.

Sadly, what I find imperfect about the film is its failure to fully develop this concept into a climactic moment. Barfoot guides his viewer to the finale, yet seemingly runs out of ideas to bring the film to its ultimate showdown. While overall I enjoyed Daddy’s Head through and through, a lack of budget keeps the narrative from taking the final leap into chaos and fear with an oversimplified resolution, followed by a jarring jump into the future. Any horror fan loves seeing a battle between good versus evil, and the lack of falling action in the movie holds it back from being an even better work of spooky fiction.

Adam Vaughn

Adam Vaughn is a graduate of the Film & Moving Image program at Stevenson University, with a focus in Cinematography and Production. He also has a minor in Theater and Media Performance. Adam works as a freelance photographer and videographer, focusing his craft on creating compelling photographic and cinematic imagery. Adam is excited to join the Film Festival Today team and explore the world of cinema and visual arts.