Bagman: Review (with Spoilers)
“Bagman,” starring Sam Claflin and Antonia Thomas of “The Good Doctor,” lacks everything needed to be a compelling horror film, and not just because it is PG-13.
Plot Summary
With his tree-cutting invention losing interest and causing a hole in his pocket, Patrick moves his family, Karina, and Jake, back to New Jersey so he can work with his brother at the family business. But, rather than just licking his wounds and moving on, old traumas, which were likely the reason for him leaving Jersey, arise, as a being known as the “Bagman” begins to haunt Patrick’s family and seemingly wants Jake.
Noted Cast and Characters Of “Bagman”
Sam Claflin As Patrick
Patrick is from a family that works with wood, and he spends a lot of his time as a waddler. But, when not doing that, he dreams of making a woodcutting machine as he toils away at the family business, shipping lumber.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Me Before You.”
Antonia Thomas As Karina
Karina is Patrick’s wife and Jake’s main caregiver, balancing working from home with watching their son.
- The actor is also known for their role in ” Sunshine on Leith.”
Caréll Vincent Rhoden As Jake
Jake is a toddler who loves the recorder his father made for him out of wood.
Will Davis As Bagman
Bagman is an entity that lives in a former copper mind that captures people into his bag, after scaring them to get them to be all the more delicious.
What “Bagman” Is Rated and Why
Content Rating: Rated PG-13
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Notable Fight Scenes
- Sexual Content: N/A
- Miscellaneous: Body Horror, Drinking
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Where To Watch This:Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.
Highlights
The Ending
While the ending of “Bagman” opens it up for a sequel, I appreciate that it subverts what you’d expect from a movie like this, which is all I can say without giving the film away.
Low Points
The Film Lacks What It Needs To Be Engaging
While “Bagman” does have jumpscares and slightly creepy moments, for the most part, it is stale. To begin, Jake, the kid that the Bagman seems to be after, is an odd duck. How? Well, he’s odd for something about the performance pushes you to think all of his dialog is a voiceover vs. was done live. On top of that, when it comes to his parents, they lack chemistry as a couple, and their development as individuals is lopsided.
Karina often works on a laptop, but your guess is as good as mine as to what her job is. We get to see Jake experience the Bagman for the first time when he is around eight years old and is told that the story of the Bagman was passed down from generation to generation, but why his family found out about the Bagman in the first place is a mystery. Also, we’re told if the Bagman gets a piece of your hair, it should be able to find you no matter what. So, why did it was until Patrick was an adult to come after him or his offspring, who it could have easily snatched in the hospital after being born?
I get that fear is like seasoning for the Bagman, but the lore and actions of the character are far more intriguing in the writing or the trailer than what played out on screen.
The Gist
The TLDR Recap/ Review
- In “Bagman,” a couple, Patrick (Sam Claflin) and Karina (Antonia Thomas), are fearful over the possibility that a being known as Bagman (Will Davis) may kidnap their toddler Jake (Caréll Vincent Rhoden).
- Mind you, this fear comes about after having to move to New Jersey after Patrick’s invention fails to get investment and him having to deal with his childhood trauma.
- Meanwhile, his wife, who works from home and does most of the child-rearing, is struggling to balance being a mother and a wife and working due to their son’s love for this wooden flute.
- But, together, Patrick and Karina, as well as their friends and family in or near New Brunswick, try to protect Jake from this sinister, cave-dwelling monster.
- Simply put, “Bagman” is a boring movie that lacks anything notable to get you invested.
- It heavily relies on you caring about this little kid, whose dialog all seems to be a voice-over, and his parents, who lack chemistry.
- Then, when it comes to the villain, with no real backstory for them, it isn’t like the villain is the selling point here.
- But, to say something nice, the ending is unexpected, but it may frustrate some people.
General Information
Film Length
1 Hour 32 Minutes
Date Released
September 27, 2024
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
- The distributor is also known for “Mindcage.”
Director(s)
Colm McCarthy
Writer(s)
John Hulme
