Amityville Christmas Vacation

Yes, filmmaker Steve Rudzinski operates on a low-budget, low-grade level, with simple, bare-faced production standards and transparently false "special effects," and not all his works are equal. The man wants only to entertain, however, and for those who are open to the most wonderfully silly frivolousness of cinema - fare that might sometimes make the average "B-movie" seem high-brow - he very ably does just that. Most consistent are those pictures with his recurring character Wally Griswold, commonly appearing alongside animal companions including cat Whiskers, and thankfully 'Amityville Christmas vacation' counts among that swell company. It's hardly a must-see riot, but it's fabulously funny from start to finish in its abbreviated runtime, and well worth checking out for those who are open to the ridiculousness.

The acting is over the top, pointedly insincere, and unlikely to win any awards, yet perfectly suited for the cheeky, ham-fisted, unrestrained conscious hokeyness that characterizes Rudzinski's films. At the same time, the effort and hard work that went into this are no less sincere than with any average cinematic release, and in turn the cast are a joy, the flick is well done on its chosen level, and Rudzinski and co-writer Bill Murphy whipped up a wonderfully fun little lark. Part of the charm of the man's oeuvre is the honest cheer and good-natured humor that fills each title; the script may speak to modern norms and values, and specifically progressive values, but these are spoken of with keen wit rather than with a mind to mock. Case in point, protagonist Wally isn't just lovably dimwitted, kind, and pure of heart, he's also a cop, but Rudzinski writes and plays him as a cop who is both aware enough to recognize that police are no heroes, and insufficiently self-aware to truly recognize the part he plays in that system. In any event Wally's occupation is mostly beside the point, because the length is filled with a steady stream of situational humor, gags, exaggerated characters and acting, brashly overcooked and cheesy direction, sharp dialogue, and sheer absurdism, and the sum total earns big smiles and laughs all throughout these forty-seven minutes.

Brazenly, purposefully modest or even arguably crude as Rudzinski's style of film-making and storytelling is, 'Amityville Christmas vacation' is everything that it wants and needs to be - a carefree movie of high spirits and amusement where everyone making it was obviously having a blast, and where it's easy as a viewer to get taken in by that same reverie. All those participating here turned in fine contributions to bring this to life in exactly the intended manner, and one has to either dive into amateur horror or take a trip back to the silent era to find features of such a minute length that are as joyful in their craft as in their subsequent viewing experience. By all means, I understand how this won't appeal to all comers; there was certainly a time when I'd have been put off by the unabashedly unsophisticated tenor of this and the director's other works. Be that as it may, if you're receptive to all the wide possibilities that cinema has to offer, and to fare realized with the most humble of production values, then I'm pleased to give 'Amityville Christmas vacation' my hearty recommendation. I had a fantastic time watching, and I can't wait to see what Rudzinski does next!

At Ruthless Reviews, I have been one of the harshest critics of Steve Rudzinski's movies. In my opinion, the criticism has been richly deserved. However, I must give credit to this movie for being engaging till the end, and unique.

The first 4 minutes seemed to confirm my fears as who wants to watch a nitwit pack his bags for a bogus scam trip to Amityville. I will also forgive the glaring lack of continuity as the scene in the park was green summertime, only to morph in a couple of hours into a winter wonderland.

None of this diminished my reluctant respect for what I watched. Unlike the earlier movies, I never paused or became distracted or disinterested.

In spite of my prejudice and preconceived notions, I will recommend this movie that you can watch on Tubi.

Lured into a trap, a man is brought to the fabled Amityville house hoping that the murderous ghost living inside will kill him, but when they start to form a romantic relationship against the wishes of the host she resorts to whatever means she can to break them apart.

This was a spectacular genre effort with a lot to like about it. The main setup here relying on the blissful ignorance on his part to ignore so many obvious signs about something dark and malevolent going on in the house and continue to stay there not realizing the trap is a massively enjoyable one to not only set up the burgeoning romance at play but also delivers some fine comedy throughout here. These interactions are given a fun touch with the clueless naivete he exhibits, meshing nicely with the more overt ghostly antics that take place as everything effectively emulates the type of feel-good romantic comedies it's openly mocking. As this one goes along with their relationship turning into a strange paranormal proving ground as the absurdity continues, the sense of comforting comedy and genuinely enthusiastic heartwarming moments that build to the point that it requires other paranormal interference which is quite oddly handled coming at the end of a saccharine romantic comedy which just so happens to be about a ghost haunting a house. It wears its low-budget inspirations on its sleeve and is so goofy and over-the-top it won't be for everyone but there's still more than enough to make for a fantastic time here.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Mild Violence.

I just finished Amityville Christmas Vacation.

It was fun. Very original. The silly story carried the film and really demonstrates that it doesn't take a huge amount of money to make an entertaining movie. Nice work and Merry Christmas! The story is corny, the characters are silly , the dialogue is funny. I hope that Steve Rudzinski continues making movies like this ( I'm sure a bigger budget would have helped but a bigger budget may have taken away the charm this film has). It's Christmas Eve 2022. It's 7 degrees outside so it was a perfect time to watch this movie. Because my review has to be at least six hundred characters I had to add the last couple of sentences.

If you were wondering what a Christmas horror film made by a hopeless incel with two cats, a couple of his buddies, and the three girls that have friend-zoned him would be like...look no further than Amityville Christmas Vacation.

It tells the story of Wally Griswald (played by writer, director and lead actor Steven Rudzinski), who has won a free vacation to Amityville, from a mysterious contest he never actually entered.

It turns out that the woman who manages the bed & breakfast he will be staying at targets lonely men, around Christmas, in an attempt to lure them in as victims for the ghost that haunts the property.

However, he is so clueless that he doesn't realize she is a ghost.

And they end up falling in love with each other.

However, this upsets the property manager- who expected she would kill him- so she hires a paranormal investigator to "capture" her...in a dog cage...

Leaving Wally to crack the case concerning what has happened to his beloved.

The whole thing is a beyond ultra low budget home made horror, which they seemed to make with little more than what they had lying around the house.

Which is laudable in a sense.

And gives it it's quaint charm.

But that's about all it has going for it.

Though, it doesn't try to be anything more than it actually is.

Making it come off as a fun project between friends, and not a whole lot more.

It is available on TubiTV, but has more of a should be on youtube vibe to it.

So don't expect much...because it is a home made horror in every sense of the term.

1.5 out of 10.