Short Horror Reviews: Christmas

After reviewing so many heartwarming and sentimental films revolving around Christmas, the more cynical part of me was practically screaming for something dark and twisted. So with the 25th just a day away, I thought it would be fun to scour the vast field of YouTube for some short films that bring horror to the season of candy canes, mistletoe, and mugs of hot cocoa. If you're in the mood for a good Christmasy scare, try curling up in a dark room lit only by Christmas lights and watching these spooky shorts:

Scary Little Fuckers:

Kicking off the list with an attention-grabbing title is a horror-comedy about an alcoholic father (Rich Tretheway) who attempts to appease his estranged "15-year-old" son Kyle (the decidedly not 15-year-old Josh Fontaine) with a unique Christmas present: a pair of vicious creatures who quickly turn their Christmas into a comedic fight for their lives. Funny and utilizing just enough crude humor to be humorous without going too far, this Gremlins-esque horror-comedy that is sure to be a cynical deviation those tired of maudlin Christmas films.

Josh Fontaine is a riot in his imitation of a angsty, dorky teenager, as is Rich Tretheway as comical drunk Saul. Anna Rizzo rounds out the solid primary cast as Kyle's oversexed crush Peggy, and the storekeepers that Saul gets the "Fookas" from (played by Geoff White and Mary C. Ferrara) make a short but memorable impression for how over-the-top they are. On the downside, the one heartfelt scene between Saul and Kyle (performed well by Tretheway) does not come back into play in a satisfying way, and the film's ending contained both a frustrating cliffhanger and an effect that--even for a low-budget film--was memorably awful. But on terms of being a comedy with a small slice of horror, Scary Little Fuckers is a solidly entertaining creature feature.

Score: 8 out of 10 retainers.

My Silent Night:

Who knew the most peaceful and serene Christmas song out there could become so unnerving? Because that's what happens to the Christmas song that serves as part of this short found footage film's title, which centers around the police responding to a 911 call on Christmas Eve--with a video camera revealing how a young man's lonely Christmas became a night of terror. In addition to a bone-chilling use of classic Christmas carols, My Silent Night opens with an air of ambiguity (so long as you avoid the video description). As you watch Anson bemoan spending Christmas alone and his drunken antics with his brother, you wonder just where the story's going and dread to see the lighthearted fun turn to horror.

Eventually, though, the film's direction becomes clear, and anyone familiar with found footage horror will likely see where the film goes from that point on. But despite the potentially disappointing familiarity, My Silent Night remains an effectively chilling film thanks to its great use of music and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Any fan of found footage scares are sure to eat this one up--and be sure to stick around after the credits for one last spook.

Score: 9 out of 10 cabana payphones.

Jingle Hell:

In what's described by Part6Productions as "a ridiculous no budget horror splatter comedy", Jingle Hell centers around a familiar horror concept: a young woman named Linda (Jowaly Camacho) returns home for Christmas a year after the savage murders of her mother and sister--where she finds herself face to face with a killer looking to finish what he started. While the preceding films on this list were also low-budget, Jingle Hell greatly surpasses the previous films in that arena, having the look and feel of something a group of high school students shot for a class project.

While the no-budget nature of the film can forgive its aesthetic flatness as well as the less-than-stellar cast, the uneven tone and story are harder to overlook. While there are a few nice moments of humor, Jingle Hell alternates between trying to be legitimate horror and being a wacky comedy infused with horror. And even allowing for the fact that this was likely a project done amongst non-actors, the performances at times are just too off-tone to be ignored. The film's story (an aspect that low budget can't forgive) also falls flat in regards to SPOILER ALERT Linda's connection to the "Christmas tragedy" that led to Uncle Milton's spiral into homicidal madness, as the revelation that Linda simply pranked her uncle into believing he received coal from Santa is nowhere near worth the intrigue that the film builds up to it. Spoilers Over The film also ends on a generic catchphrase and an (even for the film's tone) overly nonsensical climax.

But before you admonish me for ragging on a film likely meant to be a harmless little project among friends wanting to have filming fun around the holidays, Jingle Hell has an odd charm to it. Danghoul (from fellow low-budget film company DarkDogFilms) was the highlight of the film as Linda's friend David, and for a no-budget film, some of the film's kills--particularly the two involving head trauma--were done with impressive effects. But in the sea of cheaply done web horror, Jingle Hell is one certain to be drowned out by stronger films.

Score: 3 out of 10 little hot dogs.

Do You See What I See?:

Like Jingle Hell, Do You See What I See? has a basic horror premise: estranged sisters Sloan (Caleigh De Grand) and Jessica (Jorja Cadence) try to put their differences aside to throw a Christmas house party--only for the festivities to be interrupted by a murderous uninvited guest. While the film is mostly a by-the-book slasher that suffers from taking a bit too long to get to the carnage, Caleigh De Grande and Jorja Cadence are well-cast as polar opposite sisters and the film ends on a solid twist you likely won't see coming.

Score: 6 out of 10 vomit-inducing cups of egg nog.

Humbug:

In another work of horror-comedy, Christmas-hating Goth Scarlet (Jessee Foudray) finds herself in for a bizarrely festive night when she confronts her Christmas-obsessed neighbor Betty (Milly Sanders). Foudray and Sanders are perfectly cast in their roles, with Sanders particularly bringing Betty to life as an insistently perky Christmas fanatic--with an uber-festive home to juxtapose the insanity that lurks behind her child-like demeanor.

In a downplayed variation on what My Silent Night does, Humbug utilizes Christmas music to strengthen the film's black comedy, as well as the brief moments of body horror that might otherwise just turn stomachs. While it may not be spine-tingling like some of the other films on this list, Humbug is made a darkly funny gem thanks to the efforts of its two talented stars and an ending that allows them both to end the film on a high note.

Score: 10 out of 10 peppermint icebox pies.

Christmas Presence:

In another basic horror plot given the tinsel treatment, Christmas Presence is about how Mary's (Julia Gomez) night of babysitting takes a turn for the worst. While the initial premise of a young woman babysitting for a family she's never met whose defining character trait is their devotion to decorating their home for Christmas holds a lot of potential, Christmas Presence instead takes a more generic route that is especially predictable if (like me) you're well-versed on urban legends. Julia Gomez is a strong lead actress, the Christmas decoration imagery is pretty to look at, and there are moments where the film seems to be trying to go a different route with a familiar tale. But ultimately, any potential is left on the cutting room floor and Christmas Presence doesn't do enough to distinguish itself from the fray of online short horror.

Score: 5 out of 10 nutcracker collections.

Santa:

After Christmas Presence took a simple concept and played it in the most basic way possible, Santa takes its simple premise of a young boy named Tyler (Dylan Curtis) having a horrifying night before Christmas and makes it a spooky good time by playing around with the idea. As the film goes on, you'll find yourself continuously thinking you know where the story will lead, only for the film to go another direction. While the film ultimately ends on a standard note, Santa's sense of misdirection and strong cast (particularly that of its young lead) make it a winner.

Score: 7 out of 10 "monster killers".

On a Christmas Night:

A suspenseful feel and good creative utilization of a low concept horror bring On a Christmas Night to the same levels as My Silent Night in terms of terror. Centering around a young private investigator (Jessica Crandall) who becomes plagued by strange activity after a mysterious box shows up at her front door, the film maintains a slow but consistent feel throughout its runtime, leaving the audience just as on their toes as the film's protagonist. Add to that effectively chilling sound design and imagery, as well as the understatedly chilling irony of a private eye becoming the victim of an unwanted presence, and you have a low stakes but nonetheless effective horror short to enjoy on a dark Christmas night.

Score: 7 out of 10 camera flashes.

A Gift For The One Who Has Everything:

With commercialism having always been accused of destroying Christmas, A Gift For The One Who Has Everything is a Glasgow-based horror short that tackles the materialism and self-absorption that people have often said is overriding the holiday season. As we see a vain and narcissistic woman (played with over-the-top gusto by Zoë Wilson) go about her shopping spree and cruelly refuse to help a man in need, we wait in anticipation for her to receive her well-earned comeuppance. Unfortunately, despite boasting a solid premise, the film drops the ball with an unsatisfying ending that comes across as more silly than scary. Worth a watch for Wilson's performance and the solid build-up to the fumbled ending, but A Gift For The One Who Has Everything is a gift that could've used some re-wrapping.

Score: 5 out of 10 cancelled coffee dates.

Eve of the Nutcracker:

When Olivia (Stephanie Moran) first unwrapped a nutcracker on a quiet Christmas Eve, she didn't think much of it. But as strange things begin to happen as she waits for a friend to arrive to keep her company, Olivia might find that she didn't receive any ordinary gift. While the film initially sets itself up as a standard "Possessed Toy" plot, Eve of the Nutcracker has a trick up its sleeve that gives this otherwise routine film a splash of identity (the moment this trick is revealed was a definite moment of surprise).

Stephanie Moran gives a solid lead performance as Olivia, though it would've been nice if Olivia's implied relationship problems were elaborated on better--thus allowing us to sympathize with her more when she became a victim of nutcracker-based terror. While the reveal might take a bit of time to decipher, it's a reveal that's sure to take you by surprise.

Score: 6 out of 10 Christmas goodies from Clark.

Santa Claus Abduction:

YouTube personality "Sir Spooks" gets a little meta in this holiday horror short, which centers around a naughty boy who finds himself on the Naughty List for disliking one of the YouTube creator's videos. While having a standard "Evil Santa" plot, a sudden change in scenery for the short's climax makes for a different conclusion than expected. Unfortunately, this change of scenery only segues into an anti-climatic ending, making Santa Claus Abduction a harmlessly forgettable short from a solid horror YouTuber.

Score: 5 out of 10 Audition movie posters.

Elf on the Shelf:

Capping off this list is a short feature from revered horror entertainment company CryptTV, we have a Christmas Eve set story about Clayton (Connor McGee), whose Christmas wish comes true in a grisly way. While it follows the standard beats of "Evil Toy" plots, Elf on the Shelf is made entertaining due to a solid cast and brutal gore that is sure to satisfy many a horror gore hound's Christmas Eve appetite for blood and guts.

Ryan Barton is memorably creepy as the deadpan-expressioned Elf, and Whitney Moore and David Rispoli utilize their brief screentime to make Stephanie and Kit nasty characters you'll cheer to see get their bloody just desserts. Based off a Christmas novelty that's already creepy enough in its own right, Elf on the Shelf is a strong horror short that might have you avoiding candy canes next Christmas.

Score: 8 out of 10 weaponized candy canes.

Overall:

While there are a handful of coal lumps among this collection of Christmas short films that try to bring screams to this most special time of year, there are many here that prove to be effectively scary (or funny) horror shorts that will do for some nice unwinding after a long day of presents and caroling--or for a return to form for those who might've deemed it appropriate to go on a horror cleanse for the holiday season. Give them all a Look-See (CryptTV shout-out intended) and have a very spooky Christmas Eve!