Christmas Bloody Christmas Review with Carl Swan

Horror Movie Talk

Horror Movie Talk: Horror Movie Review

Tv & Film, After Shows, Film Reviews

4.4 • 640 Ratings

🗓️ 20 December 2023

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Will robo-santa win you over? Only if you believe. Synopsis CBC pits off-brand lead character Tori (Riley Dandy) against a malfunctioning, homicidal robot-Santa manufactured by Uncle Sam. Tori runs a shop next door to a toy store with one of the killer Kriss Kringles and … mayhem ensues. Review of Christmas Bloody Christmas Review: This flick takes the concept of intelligent tech (a concept popularized by 80s slashics like Maximum Overdrive, Deadly Friend, Chopping Mall, RoboCop, and Terminator) and Frankensteins it onto another favorite 80s concept: the killer Santa. Of course, the gold standard for killer Santas was set by Charles Sellier’s ‘Silent Night Deadly Night’ in 1984, but that doesn’t stop modern directors from trying to put their own special spin on the ax-wielding punisher of naughty boys and girls. Last year alone, we got three new entries in the category: Violent Night, The Mean One, and Joe Begos’s Xmas Bloody Xmas. I can easily say that Begos’s option is my favorite. Not because it’s a perfect film. The top half is talk-heavy. The lead character is somewhat annoying. And with Begos aiming for a Rob Zombie aesthetic - lots of neon light and oversaturated primary colors - much of the action is muddy and hard to discern, which is a bummer since some of the gore looks really good. Heads get stomped and split down the middle; eyes get poked with the ass-end of Santa’s ax, multiple cops gets shotgunned in the facial. This grindhouse gruesomeness isn’t helped by the cinematography, but I still appreciate that Begos shot the movie in 16mm and included plenty of gore for his core audience. There’s also lots of references to iconic horror properties; and, I like the cast. Riley Dandy delivers an effective final girl with Tori - the smart-mouthed and strong-minded record store owner caught in the middle of robo-SantApocalypse with a bunch of dimwitted men who refuse to listen to her advice. The exception is Robbie (played by Sam Delich), her equally saucy and opinionated employee whose Xmas wish (tho unstated) is to get into Tori’s pants. He gets his wish, and lasts longer than any of the other dudes because he actually listens to Tor. And that’s largely what this flick is about. But also, it’s a mindless blood-and-guts movie about a killer Santa that slices and dices without rhyme or reason. If taken with a big heaping boulder of salt, it can be plenty of fun. Score 6/10

Transcript

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0:00.0	every year americans celebrate the birth of lord baby jesus with the sacred holiday of christmas a time of giving of caring of kindness and love some folks make contributions to their favorite charities
0:15.1	other stuff a few bucks in the red kettle of their local salvation army of course, most of us buy gifts for friends and loved ones.
0:24.9	That's really what the holiday is about, getting together with loved ones,
0:29.3	maybe snuggling up with a big mug of eggnog in front of a crackling fire in a house decked out
0:35.1	and breathes, blinking lights, candy canes, a nativity, maybe even a
0:40.1	mistletoe or two. Did Dad go overboard with the decorations again, or what? He can be such a
0:46.5	Griswold. Let's just hope he dons that suit and reads us some soul-warming stories. Hark! Do you hear it?
0:54.6	The sound of reindeer hooves on the roof.
0:57.2	Carolos at the door.
0:59.3	It's hard to make out over the excited chatter of our guests.
1:02.9	Everyone's so excited for the big day.
1:05.3	Ready to rip into presents as the buttery tones of Bing Crosby issue from the hi-fi
1:10.5	and the smell of lovingly baked pies and cookies fills the air. I'm sorry. as the buttery tones of Bing Crosby issue from the hi-fi,
1:14.3	and the smell of lovingly baked pies and cookies fills the air.
1:16.4	Ah, yes, Christmas.
1:20.9	Uh, uh, who, who is that?
1:22.2	Is that dad?
1:25.1	It's a bit early to be dressed as Santa, isn't it?
1:27.1	What's he doing with that chainsaw?
1:27.7	No, no,aw? No!
1:28.6	No!
1:29.6	No! No!
	...

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