‘Head Count’: This Indie Horror Film Transforms Urban Legend into a Chilling Supernatural Mystery

Urban legends, those eerie tales passed down through generations, often start as unsettling stories told around campfires. While their origins are usually murky, these legends are filled with creepy details that blend the mythical with the unnervingly real. The 2018 indie horror film ‘Head Count’ taps into this concept, turning the essence of an urban legend into a nightmarish reality. In this film, the creature known as Hisji embodies the very spirit of these legends—elusive, enduring, and guaranteed to provoke fear.

 ‘Head Count’ begins with a chilling poem displayed on a black screen:

"A Hisji is a vengeful thing

Five times its name you never sing

With skin pale white and eyes of green

It’s something you’ve already seen"

Image Courtesy: IMDb

The narrative follows Evan (Isaac Jay), a college student who visits his estranged brother Peyton (Cooper Rowe) at a remote trailer in Joshua Tree National Park. The brothers' awkward relationship contrasts with Peyton's attempt to reconnect by playing the role of their deceased parents. While hiking, they encounter a group of college friends who invite Evan to their party. As Evan integrates into the group and forms a connection with Zoe (Ashleigh Morghan), they share spooky stories around a campfire. When Evan recites the Hisji poem, their fate is sealed, and a series of unsettling events ensue.

The Hisji, while rarely seen, exerts a palpable influence throughout the film. It can assume the appearance of people the victims know and drives them to suicide, mirroring the intangible nature of urban legends. This ambiguity creates a constant sense of dread, as characters struggle to discern whether their fears are real or imagined.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

The film's success is partly due to its effective use of cinematography. The camera's roaming style adds to the tension, making viewers feel as if they are part of the unsettling events. For instance, scenes in the hot tub and around the house are shot from perspectives that enhance the eerie atmosphere and disorientation.

Overall, ‘Head Count’ cleverly intertwines it's supernatural elements with the mystique of urban legends, creating a chilling and suspenseful experience that plays on our primal fears.

–Farheen Ali