Criatura Infernal

The trailer kind of made this seem like it was going to be a creepy home invasion movie but boy is it not that. It's a straight up creature movie, think werewolf movie buttttt not a werewolf. Lol .. it's bizarre, but fun. I loved the saturated colors and look of the movie. It was well-acted, and the gore work was outstanding. Funny and over the top practical effects will always win me over. And surprisingly it has a twist ending I did not see coming. If you like a silly weird horror comedy (ie: Slotherhouse) then check this out. Always glad to add another Christmas horror to the yearly rotation :)

A middle aged mother and her teenage daughter have shut themselves in their home- over Christmas- to ride out a blizzard...when two home invaders break in.

The brother and sister claim they were just trying to escape the cold...and convince the woman to let them stay.

However, little do they know what they've walked in upon.

Though...they're about to find out.

And, I assure you, it's not going to be anything you, they, or anyone else is suspecting.

Because it's quite the trip.

And not one of the good kinds, either.

The whole thing is super weird.

And plays out rather cryptically.

Leaving you to wonder if it's just an incredibly bizarre situation...or actually some sort of psychedelic odyssey into the absurd.

Either way...it's quite twisted.

Not to mention wholly and completely original.

But I must say...I loved every minute of it.

If only because it's super friggin' weird.

I won't give away what the "creature" is in this particular case...because you'll never guess (even though the poster hints at it)...and finding out is half the fun.

So just give it a watch.

And get ready to get weird.

6 out of 10.

I have to say that the movie's title and its cover/poster was initially what lured me to pick up this movie. Sure, I had never heard about "A Creature Was Stirring" prior to sitting down and watching it here in 2023, so I didn't know what I was in for here, aside from it being a horror movie.

Writer Shannon Wells put together a rather interesting and enjoyable script and storyline for director Damien LeVeck to bring to life on the screen. And director Damien LeVeck certianly did bring the movie to life in an enjoyable and entertaining manner. I like how the storyline keeps the audience in the dark, letting us guess as to what is really going on throughout the course of the movie.

The acting performances in the movie were good. And while the movie had a very small cast ensemble, the actresses and actors on the cast list did put on convincing performances and carried the movie quite nicely. I was especially impressed with the performance of Chrissy Metz, playing Faith. I wasn't familiar with anyone on the cast list, and that is something I enjoy when I sit down to watch a movie.

Visually then "A Creature Was Stirring" certainly was interesting, and the creature design and effects were good. Sure, they weren't over-the-top impressive, but they definitely served the purpose of the movie well enough.

However, I have to say that the ending of the movie, well the last five minutes or so, were sort of anti-climatic and felt somewhat like a slap to the face of the audience, as if the writer and director had to round things up on the fly.

All in all, a watchable and enjoyable horror movie, though it is hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing.

My rating of "A Creature Was Stirring" lands on a five out of ten stars.

So, trying to be spoiler free, the movie is just strange. The acting leaves a lot to be desired. The lighting reminds me of the George Clooney Batman. Some of the effects are fun, as I really do like practical effects over CGI. There are just too many holes in the end. There's an attempt to wrap it all up, but it just can't make up for all the questions. Some of the questions were happening as I watched. Others came at the end. I'm not trying to blast the movie, as it does have a fun quality, but it certainly isn't one I'll be watching again. Also, I feel compelled to do a review, because with the rating currently an 8/10 at the time of me writing, I think I'm trying to set some realistic expectations for future watchers.

I had fun watching this one. All of the performances were decent. The first 90% of the movie was straight up campy holiday horror fun. Trapped in a blizzard with a porcupine creature. We've all been there. I actually didn't see the twist coming until well into the second half. That being said, this is partly because the story telling didn't really put in the work. The flood of flashbacks right at the end seemed a bit lazy. I didn't think the ending was terrible but also think the movie would have been much better without it. Turn it off at the breakfast scene and the movie is a 7. Side note, does Connor Paolo not age?