Short Film Review: “Bananahead” – A Haunting Tale of Expectations and Unraveling Realities.

Life can often feel like a paradox, especially when you see the life you want within reach but can’t quite grasp it. This is a familiar struggle for many creatives, who find themselves grappling with the weight of their ambitions and the harsh realities that often accompany them. This appears to be the very themes that writer and director Christopher Greenslate‘s latest short film ‘Bananahead‘ delves into.

This psychological horror tells an interesting story about the complexities of managing expectations and the haunting consequences that can follow.

In “Bananahead“, we follow Andi Sanger, the daughter of a disappeared bestselling author, who moves into her grandmother’s home hoping to give her acting career a fresh start. Her mother’s famous novel, ‘BANANAHEAD’, is being adapted into a feature film, and Andi sets her sights on the lead role. She believes that this is a perfect opportunity to escape her mother’s shadow and carve out her own path. But when she discovers a key to a locked room in the house, she opens more than just a door. She opens a portal to her desires and the chilling legacy that might destroy her.

Christopher Greenslate crafts a narrative that brilliantly blurs the lines between reality and the psyche, exploring how the weight of our expectations can shape, and sometimes mess with our reality. The film’s strength lies in its ability to intertwine a haunting psychological journey with an engaging and suspenseful plot.

Andi is played flawlessly by Sally Maersk. Her portrayal is compelling from the very first frame. You can sense her inner struggle as she prepares for the audition, a role that could be her final chance to prove herself in a career that’s yet to take off. There’s a palpable tension in her demeanour, a blend of frustration, self-doubt, and the quiet desperation of someone who feels the world slipping from her grasp. When she opens the door of the house and is exposed to what her future could be as an actor, we see her display another range of emotions and demeanour in her depiction of a successful and famous Andi.

As the film progresses, the psychological strain on Andi becomes more pronounced. Each time she enters the strange room, the audience is drawn into the mounting pressure of her expectations, feeling the impact of her hopes and disillusions.

Greenslate’s creative directorial choices further elevate the film’s narrative. The decision to start with a 1:1 aspect ratio, which then shifts to a wider 2.35:1 format around the six-minute mark, is a clever visual metaphor. This change reflects Andi’s expanding world as she opens the door to the golden room and glimpses the life she desires. It’s a creative technique that adds layers to the storytelling, symbolizing a broader, more enticing reality that is just out of reach, not just for Andi, but for the audience as well.

Another standout element is the way the film interweaves scenes from the production of the movie Andi auditioned for into the short film itself. This fusion blurs the boundaries between Andi’s reality and her cinematic ambitions, adding a layer of creativity and immersion that enhances the overall viewing experience.

What truly sets ‘Bananahead‘ apart, however, is its ability to unsettle the viewer on a psychological level. The most effective horror films are the ones that mess with your mind rather than relying on cheap scares or excessive gore, and Greenslate’s approach ensures that the fear comes from within, tapping into very relatable and universal anxieties about self-worth, the strive for success, and the weight of inherited legacies.

Though this is a short film with a runtime of about 24 minutes, the themes and psychological depth suggest a story ripe for a feature-length expansion. The haunting exploration of ambition, family legacy, and self-discovery could be further developed, allowing for an even more profound dive into Andi’s story, her struggles and how she comes out of it.

Undoubtedly, “Bananahead” is a well-executed psychological horror that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll. It’s a film that doesn’t just scare you, it also makes you think. In my opinion, that is something every good film should make you do.

I will score this short film 4 out of 5 stars.