There's Something in the Barn

A watchable piece of escapist nonsense, suitable for Christmas viewing if you really can't find anything better to watch. The plot is daft in the extreme, the comedy rather mild and the horror weak. The elves looked like they had just stepped out of a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs production. It really fails at just about every level, except for huge dollops of sentimentality which got more and more difficult to digest as the film went along. It certainly won't be making it into the league of Christmas films that regularly get screened over the Christmas period. I'd be surprised it if resurfaces next Christmas.

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.

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.

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!

If I'm honest I was just bored. I loathe Christmas holidays so I saw that as an opportunity to hate them more. It was actually rather cute and it works perfectly. Balanced comedy and horror. It's not horror actually it's as scary as gremlins. I don't get the R rating.

Everything works out perfectly except the father. He is Gad in every single way possible. Both the character and the actor who doesn't work.

I enjoyed it and usually I hate everything.

The kid was amazing and the step mom. The police officer is a dream.

Give it a try. It's like the best Christmas movie since die hard. It's a Christmas nightmare but cute.