Bad Girl Boogey
Alice Maio Mackay’s slasher horror film is now on VOD.
Filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay has made a name for herself with So Vam, an ozzie queer-forward vampire flick, showing us she knows what queer horror really is. Her second feature, Bad Girl Boogey, more than doubles down on populating the genre world of horror with those disenfranchised voices. On the surface it may look like the act of inclusion leads to deaths underneath the “bury your gays” trope but that is certainly not what’s going on.
There’s much more at work under her direction, even if it does feel very rough around the edges. The majority of the film takes on a handheld camera style and the effects are lovingly practical, which speaks volumes to its dedication to the macabre artistry of horror. Most of the photography takes place outdoors and as such the film can look a little inconsistent even in the middle of some scenes. It’s merely something to adjust to, but the punk charm of it all comes through in its imperfections. Punks get this.
The film’s plot is actually a fairly straightforward Scream-inspired riff with a supernatural twist: a haunted mask that compels the wearer to kill all in sight once it’s over their face. The symbolism is efficient and compact enough to instill a universal feeling of hatred towards whatever the mask points to as an enemy, which in this case happen to be a group of queer schoolkids targeted in a string of murders that look an awful lot like hate crimes. And hate crimes they are, but the only ones making this distinction are the ones being targeted — which is sadly the case in real life, so if this hits too close to home, be wary of its content. That said, Bad Girl Boogey establishes an upbeat vibe that continues in the face of this horror, creating a sense of security among the tight friend group. The film also warns viewers of what the film will contain at the start, but it’s always worth reminding.
The best part of all this are the characters and how they interact with each other. You can tell they really enjoy each others’ presence and play off one another well, each of them bringing an authenticity that any actor “playing queer” would fail to bring believably to the screen. This is where the sense of representation pays off: Mackay’s direction steers her characters into situations shaped by lived experiences rather than simulated ones. It truly is a joy to see these kids stumble around trying to find out who the killer is while avoiding them, and the mask adds some vibrancy despite its monochromatic look.
It does end up delivering a disappointing reveal, however, in that the film’s final answer is something not entirely developed enough to be the strong punctuation mark it really needs by the end. But there is something to read into how simple it really is. Underneath this mask is an individual who, alone, will always pale in comparison to the nebulous and unknown horror that has cursed this object that influences them. Somebody who has perpetrated hate who requires (or in this case, needs) an augmentation to control and protect their identity while they act out their crime feels more manageable to disarm once the mask is ripped off, and for some this might be the key to equip themselves with to move forward. Bad Girl Boogey may be an uneven experience but therein lies the charm of its territory.
Mackay already has a new horror film out this year playing festivals, T Blockers, and this reviewer knows she does not intend to stop anytime soon. She already has the crucial elements of her voice evident in her films, and it’s only going to get better, honed over the course of each and every project she creates. This is a filmmaker to watch for, without a doubt.
Bad Girl Boogey is currently available to rent on video-on-demand through Darkstar Pictures. It will also see a release in select theaters Friday, July 7th and a physical media release through Umbrella Entertainment on DVD Tuesday, July 11th.
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