'Slayed' is an oddity. Co-directors Jim Klock and Mike Capozzi illustrate a measure of artistic tact in some of the shots and scenes they arrange, and in realizing Klock's screenplay, while other instances are dubiously, absolutely overdone. The production values tend to teeter ever between "staged TV movie artifice" and "modern bare-faced ultra-low budget eyesore." The grisly violence suggested in the premise and (somewhat inauthentically) shown as early as the brief opening scene is counterbalanced with a sardonic, sometimes nonsensical levity - while falling short of horror-comedy laughs. And in a feature that's only a hair over 73 minutes long, including credits, there's a fair bit of what feels purely like exposition before the plot meaningfully begins, and a slow build to the horror core - and yet, still, it feels a little long in the tooth.
I appreciate some of the details put into the narrative, such as Crandle's apparent preparation. On the other hand, some moments feel out of place, marking the editing and sequencing as deficient as well, and there are definite contrivances on hand in too many ways. I appreciate how the cast vigorously leans into their roles - including Klock and Capozzi themselves in prominent roles, and supporting cast members like Coel Mahal or Kyra Kennedy - yet there's also an unmistakable dearth of subtlety in their performances, as in much of the picture broadly. 'Slayed' is marked through and through with a bizarre dichotomy between mindfulness and carelessness, thoughtful craft and brazen construction. The term "whiplash" is perhaps too charged, but it's certainly a peculiar viewing experience - not least of all as the movie somehow attains a strange level of balance between its opposed qualities.
To be fair, I hardly think 'Slayed' has any illusions about being something it's not. I feel like Klock and Capozzi know what level they're operating on, and are happy to do so, as long as they get to make movies and have fun doing it. Good for them! One rather has to admire the earnestness of the endeavor. Of course, keeping in line with the pervasive, all-around division between good and bad - the sincerity that one may be inclined to feel in the movie is also countered by flailing, overzealous self-indulgence for much of the latter half.
It's not that this is a bad movie - I just don't think it's at all remarkable. There's no especial reason to seek it out, but then, if you're looking for a bit of horror (holiday-themed in particular), you could also do a lot worse. There's nothing here to really grab our attention or spark the imagination - but for all its faults, 'Slayed' still manages to be just engaging enough to be passable.
Worth 73 minutes of your time? Sure, if you can accept the feature on its level.
