Some of the best horror movies have the most innocent beginnings. Monsters and things that go bump in the night can be very frightening, but sometimes the scariest things are the ones people pay little attention to. All the movies centered around cute little demon children are a great example.
Bad Hair is a comedy horror movie about the rise of hair extensions in the 1980s. Anna (Elle Lorraine) works for a music television network. She is told her chances of a better position will improve dramatically if she has a more presentable look. Anna decides to get a weave leading to bloody consequences.
A movie about a killer weave with a mind of its own sounds like it will be hard to take seriously. There are certainly some funny moments in Bad Hair but make no mistake about it; this is a horror movie. Things get very bloody, especially in the last thirty minutes of the film. Horror movies have always done a great job of keeping the kills creative (how else are you going to keep a franchise going?), but the use of hair in writer/director Justin Simien’s movie is to be commended.
Bad Hair also has a message to impart about Black culture. There is the obvious one about how Black women have been programmed to be ashamed of their natural hair. Anna is told in no uncertain terms, it is what is keeping her career from moving forward. On another level, it is also about spending money to get ahead in life. Though Simien’s movie is about the Black experience, it is one all audiences will be able to relate to.
The issue of race is also discussed. This is most poignantly seen through Grant (James Van Der Beek). Grant wants to appeal to a wider audience using the increasing popularity of Black music. He even puts a Black woman named Zora (Vanessa Williams) in charge of curating music. His plan is to bring in more white viewers, however.
Bad Hair is a fun horror movie that takes on a number of different issues. The kills are as violent as they are funny and the premise is a unique one. There are some slight missteps along the way, but this is an enjoyable Halloween watch.
Bad Hair premieres October 23 on Hulu.
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