PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Epic Pictures/Dread Central Presents has killed it this year with their films proving that they’re a force to be reckoned with and that we will see great things from them in 2019. Until then, I had the privilege of watching one of their newest releases, Slay Belles, and it’s sure to put you in the Holiday spirit.
This new holiday horror was directed by Spooky Dan Walker as well as co-written by himself and Jessica Luhrssen. The cast includes Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Spin City TV series), Kristina Klebe (2019’s Hellboy, Tales of Halloween 2015) Susan Slaughter (Alleluia!, The Devil’s Carnival 2012), Diane Salinger (Carnivale TV series, Batman Returns), Richard Moll (House, Night Court TV series) and YouTube celebrity Hannah Wagner (Miss Hannah Minx).
Official Synopsis for Slay Belles:
It’s Christmas Eve, and three cosplaying women are breaking into Santa Land for some partying and fun. What they didn’t expect was to come across the malevolent Christmas demon Krampus! The girls must team up with Santa Claus himself (Barry Bostwick: The Rocky Horror Picture Show) to battle the creature and save the world!
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Slay Belles, but it was definitely a deliciously bloody treat. It’s a unique Christmas horror comedy that delivers plenty of laughs, mayhem, and bloody goodness to tickle your dark fantasies. I watch a lot of holiday horror movies, and this one stands out from the rest, which was refreshing.
The beginning of the film is super fun with three kick ass cosplayers who are just looking for some Christmas excitement, and in doing so, find themselves in a yuletide hell of epic proportions. About half way in, the story goes in a completely different tone. At first, this direction seems a bit strange, but once you figure out what’s going on, you learn to love it. Let’s just say you’ve never seen a Krampus like this before!
The casting was perfection. The legendary Barry Bostwick kills it as Santa Claus, and you’ll absolutely adore him in this role. Kristina Klebe, Susan Slaughter and Hannah Wagner worked beautifully together as the ultimate badasses… swinging a candy cane weapon never looked so sexy! These girls gave Santa’s Little Helpers a whole new meaning. Diane Salinger’s character was also deliciously wicked, and her laugh still haunts me.
I really enjoyed the set and costume design. It gave Slay Belles that extra Christmas-y feel, yet didn’t take away from all of the horror and mayhem going on. Plus, Krampus is a beast, and we get to see a whole new side of him.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a film with talented eye candy, hilarious commentary, oodles of mayhem and buckets of blood, then Slay Belles is the one for you! This film will slay its way into your horror-loving heart. It’s undoubtedly one that I will be adding to my Christmas horror collection and is the perfect stocking stuffer. Experience this ridiculously fun horror comedy via Blu-ray and VOD on December 4, 2018.
