Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, trauma, self-harm in low-budget monster horror.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Baghead
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
BAGHEAD tells the story of Iris (Freya Allen), who inherits an old pub that holds a dark, supernatural secret.
Is It Any Good?
This exposition-heavy, low-budget horror fails to make the best of the mix of new and familiar faces that make up its promising cast. While technically impressive at times, strong sound design and editing aren't enough to enliven Baghead's script, which often relies on flashbacks to fill in the gaps in characters' lives and their motivations. Cast as a desperate young woman thrown into a surreal and horrific situation, Allan anchors this tale of trying and failing to connect with the dead to provide closure. The only relationships—between Allan's Iris, her friend Katie (Ruby Barker), and the interloper Neil (Jeremy Irvine)—are told rather than shown, with characters blurting out life details in unconvincing dialogue. More time spent diving into their worlds, with more sparing use of the titular monster that literally lurks beneath their feet, would've made for a much more compelling and suspenseful story. The writers probably had something to say about the dangers of forming Faustian pacts and the damaging effects of grief, but whatever that might be is obscured by a procession of deadening set pieces.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Baghead. Did the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? Was it shocking, or thrilling? Why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Did you find the movie scary? Why, or why not? Why do you think some people enjoy being scared by movies?
How did the movie portray grief? What drove the characters toward Baghead? Could you understand why?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain level of language expected in a film like this?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 5, 2024
- Cast : Freya Allan , Jeremy Irvine , Ruby Barker
- Director : Alberto Corredor
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Writer(s) , Multiracial Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Shudder
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Friendship , Fantasy ( Ghosts , Monsters )
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 5, 2025
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