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Too many fans seem to be blown away

The Worst Film Ever

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Blistering performances.

After being knocked to the ground by her brother who also vandalised her doll and shot her with his toy gun, a little girl develops some special powers which she then uses to get revenge against her annoying sibling. Bedhead is a little short Robert Rodriguez directed before he made his break through movie, the impressive lo-fi action movie El Mariachi (1992). This one was very much a family affair with Rodriguez siblings playing the parts. His sister Rebecca plays the main role and gives a thoroughly charming performance. Shot in black and white, with no synchronised sound and only clocking in at 8mins, this is very lo-fi stuff. It is essentially an unpretentious kid's movie, with a story which is playful and silly. But Rodriguez uses his limitations well to experiment with inventive camera-work and editing techniques, while incorporating a sense of humour throughout. Like most films of this very short time-frame, it is limited. But it is kind of a sweet natured and fun watch all the same.

It was a typical Saturday morning. Rebecca is easting breakfast with her little sister (as ever done up in high fashion). The arrival of her noisy and aggressive brother at the table ruins the peace of quiet as, on top of having the worst bed-head in the world, he is also a typical pain in Rebecca's life. Later in the day, the bullying and annoyance continues, with Rebecca falling to the ground and knocking herself out cold. She comes to quickly but instantly she finds that the knock has given her powers that she could either use wisely for the benefit of mankind, or to take revenge on her brother. What a choice… A curio piece that I found from early in the career of Robert Rodriguez, using his own family as his cast and his own home as his set. The plot is simple and the idea is that it sets up lots of physical comedy as Rebecca's powers come into play. Unfortunately the limitations of the film prevent it being hilarious because the material is not that inspired; if it weren't for the presence of Rodriguez then it would probably not be worth seeing. As it is, it is interesting to see the way that Rodriguez's hyper style was there from the start. Here it needs refining but it is there none the less.The main positive factor in the film is from Rebecca herself. She is cute and charming, with great charisma and she does drive the film forward by her personality. David has less of a character and is not as good because of his role within the film. Overall though, it is quite an amusing short film but it is not as strong as many have said and does benefit from the curiosity value of being an early short film demonstrating the distinctive hyper/cartoon style of Rodriguez.

You might get the sense of Robert Rodriguez, if his college short film is the first time you're being exposed to his work, that he could be a near protégé of Sam Raimi. But if you've seen Bedhead after already seeing the bulk of his work (The Misbehavers, Mariachi films, at least one Spy Kids, From Dusk Till Dawn, even Sin City), you can tell a style already in camera and sense of humor being defined. The edge and crazy verve of comic-books get worked into almost all of Bedhead, a movie about kids that would have appeal for anyone who can find a smile for the endlessly tongue-in-cheek. Like the other short, Misbehavers, Rodriguez is totally in tune with the vendettas and plots waged between siblings, only here it's done in a fashion that's faster, more wicked, and with almost a morale that could land it on Nickelodeon. There's also the outrageous to it, of course, but cranked to the demented once or twice, which lends it a more unique quality than other kid's short films. It's like something a kid might think up when bored in a class. That it's done with seemingly so little is also remarkable. I liked also how it was kept at a kind of innocent level, too, of kids being only so rotten towards each other, as kids can get. It's even sweet in it's crazy way, as Rodriguez's camera keeps getting strange angles and even stranger, more contorted angles and zooms and pans and even animation in the mix. The kids- Rodriguez's own family- are pretty good at being these exaggerated characters because there's a grounding to it that can be seen at the start and finish of the film. It's brief, to the point, and packs a neat little punch; one of the better student shorts I've maybe ever seen.

The only place you're likely to see this is on the El Mariachi/Desperado DVD. You see, its a short black-and-white movie made by Robert Rodriguez - yes him!Bedhead is just a bit of fun. The child actors are his siblings, and he just makes them play around to the basic plot while he films with his usual supercool camera angles and shots.Nothing much, just a cool piece of entertainment. Its just the perfect length of time to watch - any longer and it would have been sh*te.