PopHorror Let's Get Scared
What’s worse than spending Christmas with your family when they’re a bunch of assholes? How about when that asshole family starts killing each other? Welcome to Secret Santa.
I had the pleasure of attending a screening of this new horror/comedy. The film was directed by Adam Marcus (Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday) and was co-written by Marcus and Debra Sullivan (Texas Chainsaw 3D). The film follows a toxic family meeting for their traditional Christmas Eve together, but this year, someone has given the gift of spiking the punch with drugs that makes anyone who drinks it extremely honest and super murdery.
Even with the film’s fantastic, over the top gore, some of the most brutal moments came from the insults hurled between the family members. The humor in this film is totally unapologetic and completely satisfying. This goes hand in hand with the incredible work of the brilliant make-up artist, Robert Kurtzman (Wishmaster 1997). I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a decapitation in a film before this one that was both disturbing and hilarious. Secret Santa was definitely not written with the easily offended in mind.
What really pulls this film together is the wonderful performances by the ensemble cast. Every actor shines in this film. From Drew Lynch’s sweet but quiet Kyle to Nathan Hendrick’s sex-crazed Jackson to Sullivan’s cruel matriarch Shari, it was a joy watching them lose their minds and turn on each other. I really enjoyed the nuanced Penny (Ryan Leigh Seaton) as she dealt with her terrible family and her own decisions, and it was easy to root for April (A Leslie Kies) as she tried to get through this horrible holiday evening.
I had a bloody good time watching Secret Santa. With its wonderful cast, well-written comedy, and glorious, over the top violence, I can’t recommend this film enough. Once I get my hands on a copy I’ll be watching it every Christmas season. Watch the trailer here.
