The name of creative Alice Maio Mackay is becoming quite well known in the horror genre, from films such as So Vam.
Her latest feature Bad Girl Boogey, feels like a slasher combined with a hard-nosed drama; this film doesn’t pull its punches.
There is an arthouse vibe, with some surreal imagery which is quite graphic when it hits stride.
Similar to the UK indie horror feature Mask of the Devil, Bad Girl Boogey sees a cursed mask causing chaos and sees a killer go on a rampage in the queer community around Halloween.
What Mackay does well is write a diverse set of characters who must come together against a common enemy. This feels like a metaphor for how the queer community needs to come together.
Much like So Vam, Bad Girl Boogey is imbued with a punk rock spirit, filmed in the dark corners of the city in neon-soaked light.
Unlike some slashers, when a character does get bumped off there is some weight to it. Bad Girl Boogey tries to craft its own mythology with unconventional heroes.
Bad Girl Boogey screens as part of Sohome Horror Fest Pride 2023.
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