Kalamazoo's 'Bad Haircut' Set for World Premiere at Fantastic Fest

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The dark comedy 'Bad Haircut', filmed entirely in the Kalamazoo area during the summer of 2023, is poised to make its world premiere at Austin's esteemed Fantastic Fest, running from September 18 to 25.

Directed by Kalamazoo native Kyle Misak and produced by Jon Petro, the film is among the headliners at this year's festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary with a lineup that includes titles like 'Black Phone 2' and 'Whistle'.

Petro expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "It's one of the biggest genre festivals in the United States, if not beyond. Following Fantastic Fest, we have more festivals lined up in October, including our European world premiere."

The movie follows Billy, whose routine haircut spirals into a fight for survival as his barber, Mick, reveals a deeply troubled mind. The cast features Hollywood actors Jake Busey of the 'Predator' franchise and 'Stranger Things', and Larry Hankin of 'Friends' and 'Home Alone' fame.

Misak reflected on the journey, saying, "It's been four years since the script was written to where we are now. It's been a great journey, but it's not over yet! The festival circuit is next, and following that, the next step will be distribution."

He added, "It's the first time the world will hear about it. We've been doing podcasts and interviews for the last two or three weeks."

Fantastic Fest will provide Misak and Petro with national press attention and industry feedback. They anticipate the movie will be released in theaters and/or on streaming services sometime in 2026.

For updates, follow the film's Instagram page @badhaircutthemovie.