The Stylist (2020)

Directed by: Jill Gevargizian | 105 minutes | drama, horror | Actors: Najarra Townsend, Brea Grant, Davis DeRock, Sarah McGuire, Jennifer Seward, Millie Milan, Kimberly Igla, Laura Kirk, Chelsea Brown, Bety Le, Kelsey Nicholes

When the hair salons opened their doors again after the coronalockdowns, everyone was eager to make an appointment as soon as possible. After watching ‘The Stylist’ you may be less enthusiastic about taking a seat in the hairdresser’s chair. Based on a 2016 short film of the same title, this film tells the sad and disturbing story of lonely hairdresser Claire. She lends customers a listening ear and craves contact, but doesn’t quite manage to make it. That changes when she meets the confident Olivia, a woman with a real circle of friends who is also about to get married. But nobody knows that Claire keeps dark secrets…

‘The Stylist’ is a distinct cross-fertilization of drama and horror that focuses on themes such as loneliness, obsession and social awkwardness. Main character Claire is very good at her craft, but not very skilled at dealing with people. The combination of loneliness, incomprehension and frustration ensures that she treats clients to a not-so-pleasant treatment after working hours and builds up a collection of scalps and the accompanying head of hair in the basement of her house. The violence is plastic, but dosed in such a way that there is no question of overkill or cheap effect.

While the scenes where Claire cuts with her scissors collection are quite gory and unsuitable for weak stomachs, the film as a whole isn’t always balanced. The biggest problem is the combination of a (too) long playing time and the slow pace of narration. It makes sense that you don’t rush into a character study like this, but ‘The Stylist’ could have been a little less than half an hour without losing much of its essence. The good listener will probably see the equally lurid and slightly absurd final act coming from quite a distance, but nevertheless it does not miss its effect.

‘The Stylist’ is a decent film, but it doesn’t dig deep enough into Claire’s psyche to make this cross-fertilization of horror and drama an unforgettable characterization of a sick mind.