The Stylist

2020

1h 45m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

List

90%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

42%

Audience Score

50+ Ratings

We all dream of being someone else... but for Claire (Najarra Townsend, Contracted), that dream goes from an obsession to a living nightmare. Hairstylist by day, serial killer and collector of scalps by night, Claire's lonely existence is thrown into turmoil when her regular client, Olivia (Brea Grant, After Midnight; director of 12 Hour Shift), asks her to style her hair for her wedding day. Increasingly fixated on Olivia's seemingly flawless life, Claire vows to lock up her scalp collection and change her ways for good -- only to discover that repressing your deadly desires is easier said than done...

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Critics Consensus

A slasher with flair and crafty patience for the kill, The Stylist marks writer-director Jill Gevargizian as an uncommonly sharp genre filmmaker.

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Kristy Puchko

Pajiba

With loads of swooning style, Gevargizian guides this gruesome story of self-discovery gone awry into an absolutely bonkers climax that'll leave audiences drop-jawed.

Mar 15, 2021

Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

This is a movie that suggests finding a new friend as an adult can be as difficult and emotionally wrenching as escaping a serial killer.

Mar 6, 2021

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Sadly, nowadays there is no video for this to go straight to. Maybe someone should reopen a branch of Blockbuster just so a VHS copy can be ceremoniously placed in a bargain bin by the exit.

Rated: 1/5

Feb 24, 2021

Full Review

Nicolas Soto

But Why Tho? A Geek Community

The Stylist will surely make many horror fans’ “Best Horror Films of 2020” lists and I for one am extremely excited.

Rated: 9/10

Jan 22, 2023

Full Review

Zoë Rose Bryant

Loud and Clear Reviews

The Stylist delicately details the beginning of a burgeoning serial killer and serves as a showcase for the acting talents of star Najarra Townsend.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 1, 2022

Full Review

Eric Langberg

Everything's Interesting

Najarra Townsend anchors the film by making us feel Claire’s loneliness and despair. She wears Claire’s desperation to be liked just like Claire wears the other women’s scalps, the edges of her pain visible to the audience even if she doesn’t see them.

May 10, 2022

Full Review

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Emilliano Jr S

The movie overall was ok. The story progress was too slow

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Chloe M

not bad, the scalping was a little too slow paced, a little too gross for me. the actress was good, made me really anxious. I hated the scene she ate pizza tho, why'd she chew like that?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

thom g

An original, beautiful and very stylish addition to the slasher genre. The emotional character of Claire (Najarra Townsend) is particularly compelling and elicits a mixed attachment from the audience: both charming and touching in her distressing desires and scary or repulsive in her intentions and actions (a subtle balance that culminates at the end of the film).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Hugo

An unusual serial killer with a taste for fashion hairstyles. Entertaining enough to keep you until the end of the journey.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/17/22

Full Review

Audience Member

i mean; the ending was fantastic - you saw it coming, but it was still satisfying to watch it play out. however, the build up is pretty lack luster; i wanted to quit watching it multiple times throughout. it's long & boring - the acting & dialog are subpar; all in all i do not think i would recommend this one.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Well worth watching, with a very good central performance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Jill Gevargizian

Director

Brea Grant

Actor

Najarra Townsend

Actor

Millie Milan

Actor

Sarah McGuire

Actor

Jennifer Seward-DeRock

Actor

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Synopsis

We all dream of being someone else... but for Claire (Najarra Townsend, Contracted), that dream goes from an obsession to a living nightmare. Hairstylist by day, serial killer and collector of scalps by night, Claire's lonely existence is thrown into turmoil when her regular client, Olivia (Brea Grant, After Midnight; director of 12 Hour Shift), asks her to style her hair for her wedding day. Increasingly fixated on Olivia's seemingly flawless life, Claire vows to lock up her scalp collection and change her ways for good -- only to discover that repressing your deadly desires is easier said than done...

Director: Jill Gevargizian
Screenwriter: Jill Gevargizian
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2021
Runtime: 1h 45m