July 21, 2008
Fear Factor
Baghead concocts the creepiest movie premise to come along in years: Four less-than-accomplished actors leave L.A. for a weekend in the country‚ hoping to co-author the screenplay that will make them all stars. One of them dreams they saw a guy with a paper bag over his head lurking in the woods‚ which seems like a great basis for their script…until they actually spot a guy with a paper bag over his head lurking in the woods.
Sounds like a killer set-up for a scary movie‚ right? Except that Baghead (the new film from mumblecore maestros the Duplass Brothers‚ opening July 25) is more like a talky romantic comedy‚ with a horror streak. The four players are less like a pack of sitting ducks than a Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice for the handheld DV generation. They indulge in loads of alcohol‚ flirt with each other indiscreetly and all become prime suspects - for cheating‚ stealing a best friend’s lover‚ stalking in the woods‚ you name it.
Packing some low-key laughs and several well-executed jolts‚ Baghead is a truly original piece: a character-driven‚ slacker-esque tale about friends and relationships that you can’t help watching with your hands covering your face.
Baghead opens July 25 from Sony Pictures Classics.
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