This film comes with trigger warnings, sexual themes, violence, abuse, horror, gore, incest, attempted rape, and copious amounts of blood!
It's a hack and slash film with several different scenarios and themes threaded throughout.
Right from the get-go, this movie is bonkers and very intriguing! It's about a troubled man escaping into the woods from his stressful life. He comes across 4 pinecones, each revealing a Christmas terror which escalates into a real-life horror.
With a lively arthouse horror dark erotica effect, this one is sure to make you wonder what the heck is going on, but it will become clear eventually. I promise. The deliberate B movie vibes are loud and very clear. The structure of this film is well put together, as we see individual Christmas eve horror stories play out with each pinecone (which is a significant object and plays a major character role. Interesting concept!) The film is broken up into chapters, which helps to interconnect the plot and intwine similar themes throughout the story, sex on the first date, murder and serial killers running amok, loads of twists and turns to keep you transfixed and confused, domineering sadistic characters to give you the creeps. Where the hunter becomes the hunted. The murderer is murdered. Where revenge is best served cold!
Don't sin on Christmas eve, because you won't go to hell, you will remain in the forest for an eternity, with the crazy Jesus looking dude who narrates the scenes with Joseph in the woods. I think I would rather go to hell than be stuck with that guy for an eternity. He did play his character very well, in a cheesy way. To me, this feels like an Ebenezer Scrooge like format, with the ghost coming in as the narrator, taking Joseph, who is the main protagonist character (until he isn't) on a journey through Christmas eve horror stories. I really enjoyed this aspect. With each new story, the intensity is ramped up, with horrifying imagery of darkly disturbing human behaviour on full display.
There are many ghastly characters to carry the film through. There is George in the first chapter, ALL CHOPPED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO, as we see a trailer trash family in disarray, with a domineering dad who abuses his wife and deaf child. Then he tries it on with his wife's friend. Followed by terrific gore scenes to please all you gore fans. The nasty man in THE BEST COMPANY who is stitching together the perfect woman to please his overbearing, domineering mother. The twist in this is great when Claudia enters the scene after such mayhem happening in this story. There is a lot going on in this chapter, from a news report of serial killers in South America, and female body parts washing up on the beach. Then to Suzette in RE GIFTING trying to find the perfect gift for her man Donald, that ends up being anything but, when it is used against her. A nasty turn of events. Then we meet the antagonist character, Curtis, who has childhood trauma about Christmas, after catching mummy kissing Santa Claus in CHRISTMAS REVENGE. So, he decides to kidnap and torture poor old Nick. This is a great gory story, however there is a detail of incestuous connections, but it's a blink and you miss and isn't at all graphic, thankfully!
Then as we wrap up the film, a couple of more significant events take place. We learn the truth about Joseph and his wife Mary (I know, hilarious reference to Christmas.) We have a satisfactory ending, once the story of Joseph is revealed. An evangelistic preacher is harping on about some good issues actually and some topics make a lot of sense. It is relatable to the audience. It's a good way to end the film. Then the story carries on with another person finding pinecones.
There are different artistic ways these stories are delivered. We see news reports, broadcasts, phone calls, visual effects, and sound effects that add to the scenes. The Narrator in the woods breaks the stories up adding depth to the scenes, storyline and overall plot. The musical changes from thrash metal to classical ensembles mash together very well, enhancing the disturbing scenes and action sequences. Considering there is a lot going on in the film I believe the film is well contained, we know what is going on and the plot is easy enough to grasp. The switches from 1st person point of view into 3rd person point of view makes for an interesting watch!
I recommend this film to any horror gore fan or filmmaker who wants to see something different in the independent film sphere.
Reviewed by Del Gibson 😊
