It's encouraging to see more horror films centered on female characters, but stories specifically highlighting Black women in the genre remain rare. That’s what makes writer/director Justin Simien’s “Bad Hair” so captivating. The narrative of a woman’s ambition and her (quite literal) murderous wig functions as an outlandish yet perceptive commentary on contemporary trends, carrying a significant underlying point. This is a film that will likely stay with you even after the credits have finished. The story unfolds in Los Angeles during 1989. Anna (Elle Lorraine), still affected by a childhood incident involving burns to her scalp, generally prefers to go without styling her hair. She works diligently as an assistant on a music video program for the Culture television network, but finds advancement difficult because of how she looks. Following the dismissal of her supportive supervisor and the arrival of a former supermodel (Vanessa Williams) in his place, Anna fears losing her job and decides to alter her appearance. Acquiring a stunning new weave, she discovers that these luxurious locks may be the key to success she’s been seeking—until they develop a taste for blood. The unsettling narrative draws inspiration from fabricated slave stories and beliefs, incorporating elements of African folklore to illustrate how everyday experiences feel like horror, particularly regarding the sacrifices some make in pursuit of beauty standards for Black women in America. “Bad Hair” exists as an unconventional horror film presented with familiar conventions. It includes sudden shocks and a somewhat ridiculous ending, but Simien successfully combines humor and terror within this campy thriller. It’s also a thoughtful form of social horror that will probably resonate more deeply with women and people of color. The movie confronts the silliness found in daily life, specifically addressing the oppressive systems that disproportionately affect African-American women. The characters are manipulated into perpetuating their own oppression, all to conform to societal ideals of beauty. This film is remarkably intelligent, unflinchingly honest, occasionally sharp, and frequently unsettling, but it's also genuinely humorous.

Source on TMDB