Despite it’s humble budget, Headspace manages to entertain and keep the viewer engrossed for most of it’s duration, something I find difficult to say for most of the studio-financed horror outings that are thrown at the audiences these days in PG-13 packagings.

Director Andrew Van Den Houten’s directorial debut is an ambitious undertaking, hampered only by lack of big bucks in the SFX department. Iconic cult stars like Dee Wallace Stone, Olivia Hussey, William Atherton, and yes the ubiquitous Udo Kier, grace the cast in pretty interesting roles.

Plot concerns Alex Borden, a shy collegiate who begins to develop amazing mental powers after a a relatively harmless game of chess. His powers are also accompanied by debilitating migraines that the doctors are unable to explain. He is recommended to see a ’specialist’ and things dont improve much. To make matters worse, he may or maynot be responsible for demons unleashed from his mind, that have laid down a blood path for everything that he comes in contact with.

There are a couple of well executed sequences including one that gives a camera view from the other side of a gunshot wound, and another that involves Udo Kier. Inspite of the simplistic synopsis, the film is anything but, and much head-scratching should be anticipated, if not a repeat viewing.

Film gets the casting right, and benefits greatly from a fantastice performance from newcomer Christopher Denham as Alex Borden. Sean Young as the mother is a treat, as is Dee Wallace Stone as Dr. Denise Bell, ageless Olvia Hussey as Dr. Karen Murphy, the speciliast, and lastly, the charismatic Udo Kier as Rev. Karl Hartman.

Technical creds, apart from the monster suits, are pretty decent and quite amazing for a low-budget flick. Special nod to lensman William M. Miller (who also serves as one of the producers) for an exceptional job.

An ‘R’ rated film that has pleasing gratuitous nudity & gore, is well-acted and last but not the least, boasts a well-scripted storyline. What else do ya need?

MPAA RATING: Rated R for strong horror violence/gore, sexuality and language
DURATION: 89 minutes.
CAST: Christopher Denham, Erick Kastel, Olivia Hussey
DIRECTOR: Andrew Van Den Houten