Some movies make you rethink a bad haircut. “Bad Haircut,” which premiered at Fantastic Fest 2025, makes you reconsider stepping foot in a barbershop ever again. On the surface, Kyle Misak’s debut appears to be a quirky indie thriller about a guy trying to reinvent himself with a new look — but once the scissors come out, so does the madness. Think Animal House meets Texas Chain Saw Massacre, with a touch of Coen Brothers’ oddball energy added for good measure.
The setup is deceptively simple: Billy just wants a killer haircut (emphasis on killer). His friends take him to Mick’s Barbershop, a local spot known for its “perfect” styles and slightly questionable atmosphere. Mick, played with deliciously deranged enthusiasm by Frankie Ray, looks like your typical eccentric barber… until the clippers start buzzing and the doors mysteriously lock. What begins as small talk and haircuts quickly turns into a nightmare of hostage-taking, delusional monologues, and basement horror that feels like something out of a late-night cult classic.
What I enjoyed most about Bad Haircut is its willingness to embrace its own absurdity. The film clearly knows what it is — part dark comedy, part slasher fever dream — and it never tries to be anything more lofty. Misak directs with a wink, mixing bursts of violence with moments of bizarre humor that feel like they belong in a frat-house prank gone wildly wrong. There’s plenty of camp here, but it’s intentional, and it works.
The cast fully commits to the chaos, anchoring the madness with performances that strike the right balance of unhinged energy. Frankie Ray stands out as the clear highlight, devouring the role of Mick with a blend of menace and manic charm that’s both hilarious and unsettling. He’s the kind of villain you’d dread to have near your scalp but can’t look away from anyway.
Sure, Bad Haircut might not reinvent the horror-comedy genre, but it doesn’t have to. It’s chaotic, dark, and gleefully exaggerated — exactly the kind of midnight movie that makes Fantastic Fest so enjoyable. If you enjoy your scares with a touch of silliness (and your laughs drenched in fake blood), this quirky barbershop nightmare is definitely worth watching.
Just maybe… bring your own scissors.