Synopsis:
It’s Christmas Eve and Tori just wants to get drunk and party, but when a robotic Santa Clause at a nearby toy store goes haywire and begins a rampant killing spree through her small town, she’s forced into a battle for survival.
Jonah Ray Rodrigues as Jay in the horror film, CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS, a Shudder and RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of Shudder and RLJE Films.
Starring Riley Dandy as Tori Tooms and Sam Delich as Robbie Reynolds with Abraham Benrubi as the twisted, metal Santa, Christmas Bloody Christmas may just be one of the finest Christmas horrors to have ever crossed the silver screen. Written, directed, and produced by Joe Begos, Christmas Bloody Christmas is a surprisingly wicked slasher that cleaves through most of the year’s competition.
Sam Delich as Robbie in the horror film, CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS, a Shudder and RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of Shudder and RLJE Films.
I’ll be frank here, I was not expecting much. Christmas horrors have always been a weird concept for me and although there have been a few that I really loved, like the dystopian indie film I’m Dreading of a White Doomsday (2018), most have left me wanting. Christmas Bloody Christmas was therefore a nice surprise. It’s bloody fantastic.
Riley Dandy as Tori in the horror film, CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS, a Shudder and RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of Shudder and RLJE Films
Firstly, the writing. Rarely do we get treated to such a quick, witty, sententious script for what really amounts to little more than a terminator-esque slasher flick. The dialogue is not only knowledgeable, but I found myself as a horror buff and metal nerd sitting on my couch absolutely captivated by the back-and-forth between Tori and Robbie. The repartee is fantastic and I understood pretty much every reference thrown out. I felt called out. It’s like the dialogue was written for me and those of my ilk.
Abraham Benrubi as Santa in the horror film, CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS, a Shudder and RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of Shudder and RLJE Films.
Secondly, the acting. The on-set chemistry was fire and the characters were (dare I say it) perfection. I felt like I knew these people; I wanted to party with them, grab some drinks and sit in that bar. Not only was the cast likeable, but they were also relatable. Both Dandy and Delich gave outstanding performances and the sexual tension was so real you could smell the hormones. Hell, the supporting cast was flawless too. Awards all around.
Jeff Daniel Phillips as Sheriff Monroe and Jeremy Gardner as Officer Smith in the horror film, CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS, a Shudder and RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of Shudder and RLJE Films
The first act is really more of a metal and horror-themed romcom and, as much as I hate romcoms, it was honestly great. Once Santa starts sleighing though, the film does turn more into a generic slasher but with the adrenaline constantly on 11. The pacing is fast and blood abundant. It’s a really well-done gore-fest with great music and awesome special effects. There was very little to fault.
Riley Dandy as Tori in the horror film, CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS, a Shudder and RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of Shudder and RLJE Films
Christmas Bloody Christmas is ultimately a lot more than the sum of its parts. I’d say that even though it starts off with a goofy intro and a cheesy premise, the elements of the film are done so well that it reaches that level of self-awareness that Planet Terror (2007) does. It turns the tropes on their heads and uses them to make the movie feel elevated if you can even believe such a thing.
I loved every minute of Christmas Bloody Christmas and will be keeping a keen eye on Begos, Dandy, and Delich. I was definitely made a fan of all three. Thanks for reading and as always, stay sordid. Christmas Bloody Christmas will be available to stream exclusively on Shudder on December 9th. The trailer and artwork are below.
