Bad Hair
A Venezuelan child’s desire to straighten his hair exposes the fear, prejudice, and fragile love governing his working-class family.
Overview
A poignant exploration of identity and acceptance through the eyes of a young boy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- claustrophobic
- austere
- unsettling
- arthouse cinema night
- social issue film discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s sharply observed social critique, emotional performances, and unsettling portrayal of homophobia within family life.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Junior’s fixation on straightening and styling his hair triggers adult fears about his sexuality and gender expression.
Marta’s hard-working, pressured life frames her reaction to Junior’s behavior and constrains the family’s choices.
The story centers on everyday grooming, caregiving, and family interactions within contemporary Venezuela.
Marta’s panic about Junior’s perceived homosexuality drives the central emotional conflict.
Films like Bad Hair, and why
Tomboy
shared intimate family drama, queer identity anxiety, and socially observant realism
The Florida Project
shared child-centered perspective, working-class family tensions, and restrained emotional realism
Girlhood
shared coming-of-age drama, maternal conflict, and LGBTQ-related themes
The Maid
shared Latin American social realism, economic precarity, and oppressive family dynamics
Movie Details
- Director
- Mariana Rondón
- Release Date
- 2014-04-02
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (61)
Cast
- Samuel Lange Zambrano
- Samantha Castillo
- Beto Benitez
- Nelly Ramos
- María Emilia Sulbarán
- Luis Domingo Gonzalez
- Martha Estrada
- Julio Mendez
- Alí Rondon
- Roimer Enrique Parralas
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- OVID
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Pijama Films
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bad Hair about?
- A Venezuelan child’s desire to straighten his hair exposes the fear, prejudice, and fragile love governing his working-class family.
- What is Bad Hair like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bad Hair as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Bad Hair violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Bad Hair as mild.
- What did critics think of Bad Hair?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s sharply observed social critique, emotional performances, and unsettling portrayal of homophobia within family life.
- Which films are like Bad Hair?
- Films with a similar feel include Tomboy, The Florida Project, Girlhood, and The Maid.
- How long is Bad Hair?
- Bad Hair runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bad Hair?
- In United States, Bad Hair streams on OVID.
