★★★★
Kyle Misak’s debut turns a teen humiliation into a grotesque barbershop comedy-horror that’s sharp, funny, and unsettling in equal measure.
After being mocked at a house party, Billy (Spencer H. Levin) is dragged by his wingmen to get a new cut from the best barber they know. The setup could have been another stale nerd-to-stud gag, but Misak twists it: the barber isn’t a mentor, he’s a menace. What begins in familiar comic territory steadily curdles, the laughs giving way to unease.
Levin gives the film its centre. He plays Billy as awkward and wounded, and you recognise him immediately — you’ve either been that kid or known him. His search for self-worth makes him the heart of the story, especially as the film sets him among a gallery of male figures, some helpful, some destructive.
Frankie Ray, meanwhile, is extraordinary. As Mick, the barber, he doesn’t just chew scenery, he devours it. One of the most memorable characters of the year. He’s twisted, magnetic, and impossible to ignore.
Misak never lets the energy sag. The pace stays brisk, the soundtrack bangs with the swagger of the best 2000s teen comedies, and every scene teases another grotesque gag or turn. A missing-girl mystery, seeded early, builds quietly in the background and pays off in a way that can’t be spoiled but sharply redefines what’s at stake. Sharp, stylish, and always entertaining.
Bad Haircut is a scrappy mid-festival discovery: a relatable protagonist, a feral antagonist, and a theme that resonates beneath the laughs. Taut and amusing, powered by Levin’s vulnerability and Ray’s mania, this is a comic-horror highlight of the festival.
Bad Haircut played at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX.
Whitlock&Pope 