We at THN have been fans of director Benjamin Barfoot since his feature debut, Double Date. That film was a British comedy horror, written by and starring Danny Morgan. For his second feature, Daddy’s Head, Benjamin Barfoot has left humour behind and dialled up the horror elements ten fold. The film is a moody and atmospheric tale of grief, and includes a creature whose design is so unnerving that sleepless nights are almost guaranteed. Having recently debuted at Fantastic Fest, THN were first in line to check out Daddy’s Head, and we thoroughly enjoyed getting spooked by Benjamin Barfoot’s latest project. Daddy’s Head is perfect Halloween season viewing, and its release onto Shudder on 11th October ensures that everyone can snuggle in and enjoy the scares that Daddy’s Head houses.
In the wake of his father’s untimely death, a young boy is left in the eerie solitude of a sprawling country estate with his newly widowed stepmother. Struggling to navigate the overwhelming task of parenthood, his stepmother grows distant, leaving their fragile bond at risk of collapse. Amidst the growing tension, the boy begins to hear unsettling sounds echoing through the corridors, and is soon haunted by the presence of a grotesque creature bearing a disturbingly familiar resemblance to his late father. As the boy’s warnings are dismissed as the imagination of a grieving child, the sinister entity tightens its grip on their crumbling lives.
In the lead up to the release of Daddy’s Head on Shudder on Friday 11th October, THN were able to speak with Benjamin Barfoot about the project’s creation. We spoke about the inception of the idea, how his own childhood informed elements of the story, and how The Exorcist inspired Daddy’s Head’s moments of silence.
Daddy’s Head arrives onto Shudder from Friday 11th October 2024.
