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Justin Simien’s ‘Bad Hair’ is a Terrifying Romp that Will Leave You In Stitches
Bad Hair is set to premiere on Hulu on October 23, 2020. The new horror-comedy from Justin Simien takes viewers on an Easter-egg filled ride through the late 80s that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
When Anna Bludso (Elle Lorraine) was just a girl, she had a bad experience with a home relaxer that left her scalp badly burned and since that time she’s worn her hair natural. All grown up, Anna works at a budding music television station and she wants nothing more than to be an on-air VJ. Her new boss (Vanessa Williams) tells her that will never happen unless she changes her look, including taming her hair to appeal to a wider audience.
Though she’s terrified, she goes to a posh salon where a stylist (Laverne Cox) gives her a new look. Unfortunately for her, that new weave is deadly with a mind of its own and her nightmare is only just beginning.
This is Simien’s first foray into the realm of horror. His previous work includes the award-winning film Dear White People as well as the follow-up series by the same title, and his talents and voice as both a writer and director are on full display here.
So let’s break this down.
Bad Hair works on multiple levels.
First, you’ve got a great body horror film where a woman’s weave actually comes to life and starts killing people in inventive and fascinating ways. Simien manages to craft a believable mythology around this special, diabolical hair and manages to pay homage to his influences while doing something all his own.
Furthermore, he and his crew support what we see on the screen with a sound design that will make your skin crawl.
This is not an overstatement. I’m telling you when Anna sits down in that chair and Virgie goes to work on her, my head actually began to hurt and I felt myself sinking down into my chair. The film uses these same types of soundscapes throughout to underwrite the horror, reminding the audience that sound can sometimes be even more important than visuals in creating discomfort and fear.
Then there’s the level of pure late 80s nostalgia. So many things were changing in 1989. New music, new fashion, and new trends seemed to be happening every single day. Keeping up with them was nearly impossible but everyone tried.
Simien brings it all to life in the lighting, the clothing, and the music, throwing in little nostalgic Easter Eggs–listen closely for all the song lyrics as dialogue throughout the film. If you lived through the 80s, you’ll recognize it all. If you didn’t you might just emerge a fan.
Then there’s the third, and possibly the most potent level. The underlying horror of Bad Hair comes from the real life experience of the African-American community and the beauty standards that have been forced upon them for centuries.
Why is it necessary to “tame” or cover natural hair? Why is it that natural hair isn’t seen for its own unique beauty? Why is it important for your hair to look a certain way–and let’s be real here, for it to adhere to white, European standards–in order to be taken seriously?
All of this is important and its imperative to Simien’s storytelling, especially as the final frames of the film roll before the credits.
Through all of this, Simien’s seriously impressive cast never misses a beat. Lorraine’s Anna is like an open wound as she navigates the new landscape in which she finds herself. She is as much a victim as anyone else around her, and you can feel her desperation as things get out of hand.
Then there’s Vanessa Williams at her cold-hearted, all-business, take-it-or-leave-it best. No one does this better than Williams. She has a way of looking into another person while sharing a scene that just works for this character. She is constantly sizing up everyone around her to make sure she’s still in charge, and believe me when I say she almost always is.
The remainder of the supporting cast is just as strong. Lena Waithe delivers the best one-liners in the film with cool alacrity while Kelly Rowland’s Janet Jackson-styled character practically leaps off the screen and demands that you dance. Laverne Cox, meanwhile, is beautifully ethereal as Virgie, the stylist, and James Van Der Beek oozes smarmy television exec.
Honestly, there are a thousand reasons to watch Bad Hair, and you’ll have your chance on October 23, 2020 on Hulu.
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Movies
‘The Strangers’ Invaded Coachella in Instagramable PR Stunt
Renny Harlin’s reboot of The Strangers isn’t coming out until May 17, but those murderous home invaders are making a pit stop at Coachella first.
In the latest Instagramable PR stunt, the studio behind the film decided to have the trio of masked intruders crash Coachella, a music festival that takes place for two weekends in Southern California.
This type of publicity began when Paramount did the same thing with their horror movie Smile in 2022. Their version had seemingly ordinary people in populated places look directly into a camera with an evil grin.
Harlin’s reboot is actually a trilogy with a more expansive world than that of the original.
“When setting out to remake The Strangers, we felt there was a bigger story to be told, which could be as powerful, chilling, and terrifying as the original and could really expand that world,” said producer Courtney Solomon. “Shooting this story as a trilogy allows us to create a hyperreal and terrifying character study. We’re fortunate to be joining forces with Madelaine Petsch, an amazing talent whose character is the driving force of this story.”
The movie follows a young couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) who “after their car breaks down in an eerie small town, are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive in The Strangers: Chapter 1 the chilling first entry of this upcoming horror feature film series.”
The Strangers: Chapter 1 opens in theaters on May 17.
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Movies
‘Alien’ Returning to Theaters For a Limited Time
It’s been 45 years since Ridley Scott’s Alien hit theaters and in celebration of that milestone, it is headed back to the big screen for a limited time. And what better day to do that than Alien Day on April 26?
It also works as a primer for the upcoming Fede Alvarez sequel Alien: Romulus opening on August 16. A special feature in which both Alvarez and Scott discuss the original sci-fi classic will be shown as a part of your theater admission. Take a look at the preview of that conversation below.
Back in 1979, the original trailer for Alien was kind of terrifying. Imagine sitting in front of a CRT TV (Cathode Ray Tube) at night and suddenly Jerry Goldsmith’s haunting score begins to play as a giant chicken egg starts to crack with beams of light bursting through the shell and the word “Alien” slowly forms in slanted all caps across the screen. To a twelve-year-old, it was a scary pre-bedtime experience, especially Goldsmith’s screaming electronic musical flourishes playing over scenes of the actual movie. Let the “Is it horror or sci-fi?” debate begin.
Alien became a pop culture phenomenon, complete with kid’s toys, a graphic novel, and an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It also inspired dioramas in wax museums and even a frightening setpiece at Walt Disney World in the now-defunct Great Movie Ride attraction.
The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, and John Hurt. It tells the tale of a futuristic crew of blue-collar workers suddenly awakened out of stasis to investigate an undecipherable distress signal coming from a nearby moon. They investigate the source of the signal and discover it’s a warning and not a cry for help. Unbeknownst to the crew, they have brought a giant space creature back on board which they find out in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history.
It is said that Alvarez’s sequel will pay homage to the original film’s storytelling and set design.
The Alien theatrical re-release will take place on April 26. Pre-order your tickets and find out where Alien will screen at a theater near you.
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Home Depot’s 12-Foot Skeleton Returns with a New Friend, Plus New Life-Size Prop from Spirit Halloween
Halloween is the greatest holiday of them all. However, every great holiday needs amazing props to go with it. Luckily for you, there are two new amazing props that have been released, which are sure to impress your neighbors and frighten any neighborhood children who are unfortunate enough to wander past your yard.
The first entry is the return of the Home Depot 12-foot skeleton prop. Home Depot has outdone themselves in the past. But this year the company is bringing bigger and better things to their Halloween prop lineup.
This year, the company unveiled its new and improved Skelly. But what is a giant skeleton without a loyal friend? Home Depot has also announced that they will release a five-foot tall skeleton dog prop to eternally keep Skelly company as he haunts your yard this spooky season.
This bony pooch will be five feet tall and seven feet long. The prop will also feature a posable mouth and LCD eyes with eight variable settings. Lance Allen, Home Depot’s merchant of decorative Holliday gear, had the following to say about this year’s lineup.
“This year we increased our realism within the animatronics category, created some impressive, licensed characters and even brought back some fan favorites. Overall, we are most proud of the quality and value we are able to bring to our customers with these pieces so they can continue to grow their collections.”
But what if giant skeletons just aren’t your thing? Well, Spirit Halloween has you covered with their giant life size Terror Dog replica. This massive prop has been ripped out of your nightmares to appear frighteningly on your lawn.
This prop weighs in at almost fifty pounds and features glowing red eyes that are sure to keep your yard safe from any toilet paper throwing hooligans. This iconic Ghostbusters nightmare is a must have for any fan of 80s horror. Or, anyone who loves all things spooky.
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