Film Review: Daddy’s Head (2024)
Daddy’s Head (2024), directed by Benjamin Barfoot, is a strikingly unique horror film that combines elements of grief, science fiction, and psychological tension. Premiering on Shudder, this film explores the emotional breakdown of a family after the death of a loved one while introducing a mysterious creature that challenges their reality. With a brilliant blend of sci-fi and horror, Daddy’s Head offers a hauntingly poignant exploration of trauma, belief, and the lengths people will go to in order to understand their pain.
“A Strange Encounter in the Woods.” – The Premise
At its core, Daddy’s Head is a story of emotional turmoil, focused on the impact of loss. The film follows Isaac (Rupert Trumbull), a young boy struggling with his grief after the sudden death of his father. His stepmother, Laura (Julia Brown), is caught in her own spiral of sorrow, compounded by alcohol abuse and the challenges of adjusting to life without her partner. However, the plot takes a sudden turn when a creature crashes in the woods near their home. This mysterious being, desperate for help, attempts to convince Isaac that it can offer a solution to their pain.
The creature’s communication is eerie and cryptic, but its primary goal seems to be to break through to Isaac, showing him that there is more to life and grief than he understands. Isaac, in his confused state, is torn between the strange being and his strained relationship with Laura, who is spiraling further into despair.
What sets this story apart is the way the creature and the family’s grief intertwine. While most supernatural horror films would focus on the creature itself as a central antagonist, Daddy’s Head uses it as more of a catalyst—a strange force in the background that symbolizes both Isaac’s need for closure and Laura’s unwillingness to let go of the past. The creature isn’t just a looming threat; it is a manifestation of the family’s unresolved trauma, and their reactions to it reveal much about their inability to process pain.
The movie’s central theme—grief—is portrayed not as something to be “solved” but as something that must be understood and accepted, even when it remains unexplained. The creature’s mysterious motives represent the incomprehensible aspects of loss, and its appearance offers Isaac a chance to confront what remains. While Isaac yearns for answers, Laura wants to keep running, denying the weight of her grief.
“The Forest Holds Its Secrets.” – The Execution
What makes Daddy’s Head stand out is its deep emotional core, expertly explored by its cast. Julia Brown delivers an intense portrayal of a woman drowning in grief. Her struggles with alcohol and her sense of alienation are palpable, creating a layered character who feels both deeply relatable and tragic. Brown’s nuanced performance conveys the heartache of a woman caught between trying to move on and being unable to do so. Her transformation throughout the film, from denial to acceptance, feels authentic and devastating, highlighting the difficulty of emerging from the darkness of grief.
Rupert Trumbull’s performance as Isaac is equally compelling. As a child navigating his grief while also being pulled into the creature’s strange world, Trumbull brings emotional complexity to his character. His interactions with the creature serve as a striking counterpoint to the human drama unfolding with Laura, creating a constant tension between his desire for answers and his confusion. Trumbull embodies the conflicting emotions of longing and fear that come with trying to find closure, making his performance nothing short of impressive.
The film’s pacing is deliberately slow, allowing for tension to build gradually. Director Benjamin Barfoot masterfully uses this time to delve deep into the psyche of his characters. The creature encounter becomes a secondary layer of the story rather than the focal point. The creature’s presence, while disturbing, is ultimately a metaphor for the external forces—whether emotions, addictions, or unresolved trauma—that shape the characters' lives. The film often suggests that the real monster is not the creature lurking in the woods but the emotional scars the characters carry within themselves.
Barfoot takes his time exploring the psychological horror of the situation. While Isaac’s interaction with the creature could have been the centerpiece of a more conventional creature feature, here it serves as a backdrop for the emotional and psychological disintegration of the family. The supernatural elements only amplify the raw human emotions on display, ensuring that every shocking moment also highlights the depth of the characters' internal struggles.
“Grief Shapes Everything.” – The Horror Elements
Unlike many horror films, Daddy’s Head doesn’t rely on jump scares or grotesque creature designs to get under your skin. The creature itself is more of an unsettling presence—a silent force that communicates with Isaac in ways that don’t always make sense. The film is vague in its description of the creature, a purposeful choice that leaves room for the audience to project their own fears and anxieties onto it. The mystery surrounding the creature’s true nature is part of what makes the horror in this film so effective.
The creature’s appearance is unsettling, but it isn’t defined by gory details or excessive special effects. Instead, it evokes dread through its quiet, inscrutable presence and its desperate desire to make Isaac believe in something greater than himself. As Isaac begins to listen to the creature, the audience is drawn into his internal conflict—does he trust this being that promises an end to his suffering, or does he confront the painful reality of his loss?
The film’s tension isn’t just in the creature’s occasional appearances but in the constant sense of dread that pervades Isaac and Laura’s relationship. Laura’s refusal to face her grief and her growing reliance on alcohol add to the suffocating atmosphere, creating an almost claustrophobic experience for the viewer. Every scene feels like a slow crawl toward an inevitable breaking point, making every moment, no matter how quiet, feel charged with anticipation.
The horror in Daddy’s Head is psychological in nature. It builds a slow sense of unease that mirrors the characters’ internal turmoil. As Laura continues to spiral, the creature's presence grows ever more disturbing—not because of what it does, but because of what it symbolizes: the struggle to cope with loss, confusion, and the unwillingness to face what is buried deep within. This is a film where the real monsters aren’t creatures but the emotional wreckage caused by grief.
“Some Wounds Never Heal.” – Final Thoughts
Daddy’s Head is a standout on Shudder, offering a fresh take on horror that is as emotionally charged as it is terrifying. It manages to be unsettling without relying on typical horror tropes, focusing instead on the internal horrors of its characters. Its slow pacing may not be for everyone, but those willing to engage with the film’s dark themes will find themselves richly rewarded with a story that is as thought-provoking as it is chilling.
Score: 8.5/10 – Daddy’s Head is a solid film for those who enjoy psychological horror that delves into real human trauma, offering a hauntingly beautiful yet unsettling experience that lingers long after the credits
Strengths:
Powerful performances, particularly from Julia Brown and Rupert Trumbull.
A unique blend of grief, psychological tension, and creature horror.
A slow-burn story that builds tension and emotional depth.
A haunting meditation on the complexities of grief and loss.
Weaknesses:
The pacing may be too slow for viewers seeking fast-paced horror.
The heavy emotional themes might be overwhelming for some.
The ambiguous nature of the creature may leave some viewers seeking more clarity.