The Stylist is a haunting and empathetic serial killer thriller that’ll peel your head back [Fantastic Fest]

Director Jill Gevargizian presents a very different take on the serial killer trope with The Stylist, her feature film debut. Fleshed out from her 2016 short of the same name, The Stylist is a deeply disturbing and surprisingly empathetic look at a lonely and unhinged woman who uses murder as a tool to connect and live vicariously through the lives of various women in her orbit.

Claire (Najarra Townsend) works as a hairstylist, which allows her to feel a part of the lives of her clients. They open up to her precisely because she is an outsider, allowing them the freedom to unburden themselves as they unwind in her hands. Socially awkward and shy, Claire has a secret obsession; she occasionally kills and scalps women, wearing their hair in her bunker-like apartment in order to channel their personalities and imagine herself in their skin.

Things get complicated for Claire when she is persuaded by Olivia (Brea Grant) to style her upcoming wedding. Olivia brings the reclusive Claire into her social circle, opening a dangerous door as Claire begins inserting herself into Olivia’s life, with deadly consequences.

A mishmash of Single White Female and Maniac filtered through a female lens, Gevargizian has crafted a unique and unexpectedly moving look at a serial killer, one that goes much deeper than the standard sensationalistic tropes. Najarra Townsend is heartbreaking and incredibly creepy in the main role; you can’t help but root for her, even in the midst of her violent outbursts. Her evolving friendship with Olivia (the third great Brea Grant performance we’ve covered in as many weeks!) is cringe-worthy and relatable and shines a light on the intersection of female relationships and obsession that you don’t often see paired with a violent thriller like this.

Jill Gevargizian has worked as a hairstylist in her real life and brings a great sense of style to the film, from the haircuts (obviously) to the moody lighting and intimate camerawork that help lure the audience into Claire’s fractured mindset.

An incredibly accomplished and gut-wrenching debut, The Stylist will stick with you much longer than your next trim or dye job. You’ll never look at your hairstylist the same way again.

The Stylist screened as part of the virtual Fantastic Fest 2020 Celebration.