Red Christmas [Review]

Holiday horror films hold a special place in the hearts of genre fans. It’s hard to explain why it is that we find them so intriguing; we just do. That’s why my excitement started to build upon seeing the teaser trailer for Craig Anderson’s Red Christmas. And if I were to write a review on the effectiveness of this little indie’s marketing efforts, it would be a solid 10–no doubt. Unfortunately, the waters become slightly muddled once we begin to talk about the film as a whole.

Let’s begin with the plot; it’s fantastic. I’ve spent a very large amount of my life dedicated to watching horror films, and I can’t recall ever seeing a film that attacks this subject matter in quite the same way. A great deal of care has gone into keeping the specific plot elements under wraps, so I’ll respect that in this review. Just know that this is some pretty heavy-handed stuff, but it never feels “preachy” or forced. I can’t stress how much I enjoy the overall concept of the film. That said, as a first time feature film writer/director, Anderson struggles to keep the story interesting throughout the duration of the film. What starts as an extremely uncomfortable (and genuinely heartbreaking) arrival of a mysterious stranger morphs into a cliche-ridden final act full of stereotypical decisions made by panicked survivors. After such a strong opening, it was a shame to see Red Christmas falter just before the finish line. But that’s not to say some straight-up insane shit doesn’t happen from time to time–because it totally does.

The practical FX work is truly something to behold. The only problem is that very little of it feels like it belongs in this particular film. While seeing people get axed, chewed, and spun into bits is super cool to look at, it definitely feels out of place here. Our killer is a sympathetic one, and he doesn’t appear to have the “mean” in him to warrant such terrible destruction. Not to mention the confusion that sets in once you start to wonder where the hell this guy is getting some of this stuff. I’ll admit though, the cheekiness of the kills goes a long way in exuding the vibe of classic VHS horrors that Anderson is obviously well-studied in.

As far as Anderson’s work behind the camera is concerned, it’s inconsistent. Shots range from drop-dead-gorgeous to head-scratchingly primitive. The same can be said for the cast of mostly unknown actors. As surprising as this may be, I found the film’s star, Dee Wallace, to be the weakest link while Janis McGavin and Geoff Morrell stole the show. A special nod to Sam Campbell and Gerard Odwyer as well. The film truly would not have been the same without them.

So should you watch it? That depends. If you’re a die hard fan of the video store horrors of yesteryear, then this is probably for you. The FX, lighting techniques, and subject matter are sure to lure you in. If you’re a realist that can’t stand the thought of seeing another group of survivors making one illogical choice after another, skip it. It’s that simple. Regardless of which camp you fall into though, I’m sure we’ll all agree that the film could stand to be quite a bit shorter. Craig Anderson has a classic horror film within him, I’m confident in that now. Here’s to hoping that Red Christmas is just the first step of many.

Red Christmas is currently touring the festival circuit.