Noche de Horror

Can't say it's bad.

The plot is very flawed, the acting makes no sense in most parts. It was classified as a dark comedy, horror and fantasy film. Only the fantasy part was kind of right, and even there is mostly due to the elfs reference than any fantasy at all. In the first half of the movie you get the feeling that the elf's are fast and hard to see, that would fulfill the fantasy part, then they slowly grade down to children in costumes moving slow and ultimately incapable of putting up a fight. That makes the whole thing kind of pointless and nonsense. I felt deeply diving into the "if only the remote was by the couch..." state.

Can't say it's bad either. It's a nicely shot flick, with nice landscapes and good pace. But still fails being horror, fails being comic, just...a regular Sunday afternoon nothing else to see and it's already on kind of movie.

The Nordheim family is moving from California to a remote farm in Norway. Bill Nordheim (Martin Starr) had inherited the place from his uncle. Carol (Amrita Acharia) is his new wife and stepmother to his children. Teen daughter Nora is angry with the move away from her friends. Young son Lucas discovers an elf infesting the barn.

This is a horror comedy. The horror part is ok although they may have shown the elf a little too soon. I would have kept him in the dark for longer. The comedy is mostly Martin Starr being Martin Starr. Initially, the casting of the kids didn't make sense. I don't see them as Martin Starr's kids. The stepmother part helps a little, but I still don't buy them as Starr's kids. The daughter is a drag until she starts using the bat. There are some fun kills and the multitude of elfs is chaotic fun. In the end, this is not that good, but it has a few fun moments.

Plot

An American family fulfills their dream of moving back to their roots after inheriting a remote cabin in the mountains of Norway, but there's a surprise waiting for them.

Cast

A few vaguely familiar faces but only Martin Starr I could actually name.

Verdict

When the credits rolled on There's Something in the Barn myself and the wifey looked at one another with a smile and a head nod. The universal sign of, meh it was watchable and this we both agreed.

A multi nation collaboration the film has a sufficient budget to pull of what was intended and really does look the part. Great cinematography, solid visual effects and the sheer beauty of Norway.

Now let me be clear, this is considerably more a comedy than a horror. It does have elements granted, but this is borderline a family film. It has charm, it has laughs, it has great visuals. It does also have a lot of questionable writing, doesn't flow very well and Starr is simply not a leading man.

There's Something in the Barn is absolutely worth your time. You'll forget it within moments of watching it, but it's passable stuff.

Rants

Martin Starr is that guy who pops up a few times throughout the movie, delivers some memorable one liners and vanishes. You know what he's not? A leading man. Too much of him feels weird and just doesn't work. He's a secondary character, he's a bit character, he's most certainly not to be placed front and centre for 90 minutes. I like the guy, but he's just not lead material.

The Good

Fantastic visuals Martin Starr (For the most part) Some decent ideas

The Bad

Some weak writing Odd pacing Weak lead Too many Christmas songs!

When a new age, nuclear, family pull up their American roots to relocate to Norway- after inheriting a "devil house" from the man's extended family- they try to fit in...but things don't exactly go as planned.

Because there is something living in their barn.

Their adolescent son quickly figures out what it is...and makes friends with it.

But no one believes him.

So when he tries to teach them the rules (on how not to piss it off).

They don't listen...and break every one of them.

However, it is one act that pushes things over the edge...

Thus turning this festive comedy into a complete horror show.

Albeit one made for children.

Is it the most innovative Christmas horror film ever?

No.

Is it the most gory Christmas horror film alltime?

Surely not.

Hell...it's not even the scariest Christmas horror film to come out of Norway.

But it's great fun!

With a decent amount of gore.

And a whole lot of laughs.

Though, not so much to make it unfit for kids.

So, if you are the type of family to watch an annual Christmas horror...and you got some kids you want to scare the "niceness" into.

This film is a great choice.

Norway definitely knows how to do it.

Except in the case of lutefisk.

Everyone hates that crap.

6 out of 10.

I've watched this today at Sitges Film Festival and I had a good time, but it was probably thanks to the crowd, who were doing jokes and clapping all the time.

Now let's see. The photography is really good, mostly because Norway is a beautiful country.

The film in general is really funny, and their comedy style is really enjoyable (even more if you aren't neither American or Norway).

You could call this a familiar Christmas movie, but adding it a sadistic side in the last part of the film.

About the plot, it's kind of predictable most of the time, but I've never seen a movie with an evil norway elf, i don't know if you did, but it's not exactly common (which makes it better).

One last thing, the acting was really bad, like probably the little kid was the only one who did a kind of good acting, and the Santa guy.

I recomend this movie? Yes, if you have nothing else to do.