Film Review

Bad Hair (2020) • Hulu

In 1989 an ambitious woman gets a weave in order to succeed in the world of music TV. However, her new hair may have a mind of its own…

Writer-director Justin Simien is a bold and ambitious filmmaker whose work brims with an assortment of concepts. His feature debut, Dear White People (2014), was a colourful satire about black millennial anxieties on a predominantly white college campus. His symmetrical compositions and on-screen text echoed that of Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom); whereas his authorial voice of racism, sexuality, and micro-aggressions was a composite of early Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing). The result was a feature admirably packed with ideas and vision. Following great reviews and accolades during its premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, the director’s critically acclaimed debut grossed over $5M on a budget of $1M during its limited theatrical run.

In 2017, Simien signed with Netflix to adapt Dear White People into a television series, allowing more time and space to expand the character development and explore social conventions. Upon returning to…