Baghead is a true gem, a tribute to indie film-making at its best. I may be partial to no and lo budget film-making, on the other hand I have very little patience for regular art-house talkfests where nothing really happens. The filmmakers here find the perfect balance of indie talking heads type non-plot and a suspenseful genre piece, which is a rare feat.
Directing is okay, although the hand-held camera-work can be exhausting sometimes. The actors are great and the relationship drama between the four characters is interesting and at times funny enough to hold the viewers' interest. I loved the fact that there is no true horror soundtrack, so the scares and tension work without the usual "boo" staccato sound effects and unnerving suspense music. This is something extremely difficult to achieve, so kudos for that.
At 80 minutes the story does not wear out its welcome. Baghead is a definite recommend for anyone hungry for something different from the usual Hollywood fare.
Baghead
2008
Action / Comedy / Drama / Horror / Romance
Baghead
2008
Action / Comedy / Drama / Horror / Romance
Plot summary
Four struggling actors retreat to a cabin in Big Bear, California in order to write a screenplay that will make them all stars. Problem is: What happens when their story idea -- a horror flick about a group of friends tormented by a villain with a bag over his head -- starts to come true?
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
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Unpretentious and fun
Duplass indie idea
Friends, Matt (Ross Partridge),Michelle (Greta Gerwig),Chad (Steve Zissis),and Catherine (Elise Muller),attend an indie film showing directed by Matt's pretentious acquaintance Jett Garner. Matt suggests going to a remote house to write their own screenplay. Chad has an unrequited crush on Michelle who immediately puts him in the brother-zone. She has a vision of a creepy figure with a bag over his face. Matt sees it as a great idea for their movie.
Chad needs to be better as the lovable loser. Matt may be better with normal confidence towards Jett. It felt out of character initially and should be wrong considering the ending. Of course, Greta Gerwig is the star and the obvious final girl unless the Duplass brothers would flip the script. It ends up being a $1000 indie where four people hang out in a house. By the time they are finally confronted by the bag-men, it's a bit too late. The twist is interesting for the fact that it fits the indie filmmakers. They could have done more with the premise. It would have been fine to find cameras in the house or have a camera crew following the bagheads. It would be both a clue and something creepy. All in all, it's an interesting indie idea but the execution leaves it as an interesting idea.
sometimes it's a good idea to wait a few years before watching a movie
In the past few years, Greta Gerwig has become one of the most renowned people in cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. That made it all the more of a pleasant surprise that I happened to watch this movie from several years ago and see that she starred in it. The Duplass brothers' "Baghead" is an entry in the mumblecore genre, filmed documentary-style. Of course, its clever plot is the main thing. It shows the Duplass brothers to be talented directors. I recommend it. I hope to see more of the Duplasses' movies, and I'm eager to see Greta Gerwig's next movie; from what I've seen of her work, she can do no wrong.