The “Badger!” that it might as well have been titled “Badger Attack” with three exclamation marks, is a “pleasant”, comedy-horror short film put together to pay homage to the great cult-following genre and an important part of popular culture, that of B-horror movies.

Furthemore, director Barry Wilkynson sheds light on the UK “Badger Cull”, which started in 2013 aiming to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle, leading to the death of over 230.000 of the friendly and cute little creatures.

In this film the balance of power has been disrupted in favor of the “lesser” species. 

This is a macabre story of vicious, blood-thirsty badgers creating havoc on a small English town, where Jenny (Stacey Daly), a local inhabitant, has just been appointed as the new head of the local Badger Culling movement.

Barry follows a funny-to-scary formula with all the necessary cheesy special effects, campy dialogue and over-the-top gore and violence one expects to see in this kind of film. Featuring dimly lit settings, shadowy cinematography and eerie sound effects Barry creates a genre-focused cinematic universe which unfortunately and despite all the good intentions in emulating the B-horror genre, lacks the creativity and originality needed to truly captivate viewers and leave a lasting impression.

Each genre has its own unique style, conventions, and tropes and trying to imitate it requires a deep understanding and a careful execution in order to successfully replicate them. Although Barry succeeds in creating the necessary atmosphere, he nevertheless fails to strike the right balance between paying homage to the B-horror genre and creating something fresh and innovative.

B-horror movies are known for their cult following and are typically not taken too seriously by critics, a fact I’m sure the director is well aware of. 

A good idea could be a bunch of frenzied badgers massacring film critics…

All jokes aside, “Badger!” is an enjoyable film to watch with good pacing, interesting performances and a somewhat engaging aesthetic, reminding us of John Landis’, “An American Werewolf in London”.