Head Count

Head Count, directed by Elle Callahan is a pleasing genre fusion of supernatural and psychological thriller elements, and was released in 2018. The leading cast showcases riveting performances by Isaac Jay, Ashleigh Morghan, and Jay Lee.

The narrative of Head Count revolves around the protagonist Evan (Isaac Jay), a young man who seeks some time away from his stressful everyday life and visits his estranged brother Peyton (Cooper Rowe) in the isolated, boundless landscape of Joshua Tree. The film navigates Evan's journey of self-discovery when he stumbles upon a group of free-spirited, fun-loving college students and is inevitably drawn towards their infectious vivacity.

While the film beautifully highlights the chirpy, rebellious mood of youthfulness, it spices things up by introducing an unusual tone of eerie suspense. Callahan orchestratively employs folkloric elements in the storyline to accentuate and contrast the ominous undercurrent running beneath the layers of apparent joviality. Particularly, the film uses a chilling desert campfire story found on a weird website that one of the characters reads out to the group, unknowingly inviting a sinister, shape-shifting entity into their carefree world.

The entity that Evan unintentionally summons from the cryptosphere begins to manipulate their perceptions and steadily injects discord, fear, and paranoia into their group dynamic. Interestingly, the spirit haunting them mimics their characteristics and can take the form of any group member, adding another layer of complexity and intense paranoia. This leads to a lethal game of identity and survival as the supernatural entity starts picking the group off one by one.

The character of Evan, a somewhat socially aloof individual, adds to the growing sense of alienation and paranoia. As he develops a romantic relationship with Zoe (Ashleigh Morghan), her interest in him begins to sow seeds of jealousy amongst the group, further escalating the tension in the film.

What stands out in Head Count is its clever choreography of fear, with the threat coming not from a distinct external source, but from among the familiar faces in the group. This offers an opportunity to explore the themes of identity, fear, and trust whipped in a chilling thriller format. The screenplay cleverly exploits the narrative chaos that ensues, blurring the thin line between paranoia and the paranormal.

The production design of Head Count does an exceptional job of creating an eerie and tense atmosphere. The natural settings of the Joshua Tree, the simplistic desert home, and the casual yet meaningful placement of the group only serve to escalate the suspense and anxiety experienced by the characters. Most of the film's sequences are lit traditionally, but also at times creatively to heighten tension. This gives the film a visually pleasing aesthetic, combining the natural beauty of the desert landscape with well-placed shadows and bright slants of light.

The director does an excellent job of weaving suspense into the frame of every scene, keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats, and every minute thereafter is a slow-burning puzzle of the group’s imminent survival. The supernatural entity's modus operandi, by acknowledging itself, leads to a constant mounting tension in every corner of the movie's runtime.

Callahan's Head Count is a film that doesn't depend entirely on jump scares or gory horror to bring about a sense of dread. Instead, the terror plays out in broad daylight, amid the laughter and casual chat, hiding in plain sight among us—the invisible enemy, indistinguishable from the friend.

In conclusion, Head Count is a gripping, psychological thriller that keeps audiences guessing and engaged. It provides a unique spin on shape-shifting supernatural entities, fostering an unsettling, suspenseful experience throughout. With a well-written script, strong performances, and Callahan's expert control over the atmosphere, Head Count is undoubtedly a commendable offering from the genre of psychological-slash-supernatural horror.