Reviews
‘The Advent Calendar’ Review: A Horror Film for the Holidays When You’re Sick of the Holidays
At first blush, the idea of a film about a seemingly haunted advent calendar sounds like a set-up for a campy holiday horror; however, this film, directed by Patrick Ridremont, is far from it.
The film follows the story of Eva (Eugénie Derouand), a paraplegic woman whose friend gifted her with a peculiar advent calendar made of wood and sinister artwork. The Advent Calendar opens with an interesting premise: “Obey the rules of the advent calendar, or you will die.” Eagle-eyed viewers may notice the runes carved into it right away. However, even those who don’t notice the ominous drawings are made aware by the message inscribed on the back that this advent calendar has more than candy inside:
“Schmeisst du es weg Töte ich dich!”
(German to English Translation: “Throw me away, and I’ll kill you!”)
The German origin of the advent calendar is especially fitting given that Germany is reportedly where the first-ever advent calendar originated.
This foreign horror film made a piece of iconic horror memorabilia with this advent calendar, which puts all other holiday countdown devices to shame with its intricate complexity. More than that, and the captivating tale of terror that unfolds because of it, meaningful themes of sexism, ableism, and empowerment create a story whose horror’s only rival is the importance of the underlying commentary – commentary that was perhaps two hundred years in the making.
Le Calendrier
Filmed in Brussels, The Advent Calendar is in French with English subtitles. While some may have mixed feelings about films you must read, I find them particularly compelling. Reading the words to understand the dialogue in the film only guarantees you cannot look away. If a movie is immersive enough, at some point, you forget that you don’t hear the words aloud anyway. It’s a creepy little effect I appreciate in foreign films, and it was most certainly present here.
One section of dialogue that worked particularly well deserves attention.
Upon receiving the haunted advent calendar and reading the threatening German inscription on the back, Eva states: “Sounds grim,” to which her friend replies, “Germans are grim.” The significant part of this dialogue is that the famous fairytale creators, the Brothers Grimm, were from Germany. Viewers can draw numerous connections from this piece to their stories, whether it was the director’s intention or not.
Some examples of Brothers Grimm themes exist in the evil stepmother character and the entity that offers things desired for a price. However, closer inspection reveals that much of the film correlates to themes from the Brothers Grimm fairytales. I highly recommend watching the movie, then reading at least the abstract for Megan Mohlke’s “The Grimm Fairy Tales: An Analysis of Family and Society,” found here. Potential spoilers since the report so closely mirror the characters and their choices in the film.
Outside of the themes mirroring the infamous fairytale creators from the 1800s, the film also explored social injustices that are still far too common today.
Powerful Themes
At its core, the film is about objectification, sexism, and ableism. Through Eva, we see that not only do men treat her differently because she’s a woman but additionally, men and women treat her as lesser due to her disability. As the statement of one irredeemable character exemplified it:
“You’re just a half chick on wheels.”
This film deals heavily with the feeling of powerlessness but then doubles down on empowerment. Eva exhibits strength in her torment but is simultaneously human as she is not without her flaws or weakness to temptation. She has to lose everything to gain control of anything, and it’s a beautiful sentiment, though viewers may not realize this beauty if it weren’t for the contrasted ugliness of the world surrounding her. Interestingly, a similar notion applies to the advent calendar itself.
The Best Advent Calendar
Within the first ten minutes, the film revealed that the wooden advent calendar had ornately painted, locked doors, rules to abide by, and a nightmarish creature lurking within. It was apparent that an object of this haunting caliber would be well-placed amongst the likes of horror infamy in Ed and Lorraine Warren’s little room of haunted horrors as made famous by The Conjuring.
This object is the advent calendar that all of the advent calendars of the cheap, cardboard punch-out variety wish they could be, minus all of the evil and supernatural hijinks. However, it’s interesting that the only real tie to Christmas the film makes is the advent calendar itself and the dates involved.
Those looking for a holiday horror film that tells a creepy story with an underlying meaning, without being hit over the head with jingle bells, holiday cheer, Santa, or his elves – look no further. With its powerful ancient and modern themes and the unforgettable curiosity that is the item itself, The Advent Calendar is a captivating tale from start to finish.
Stream The Advent Calendar on Shudder today and look out for connections to the Brothers Grimm.
Most people find that stretching their dollar still barely gets them by in today’s economy. I am very particular about what I spend my spare money on regarding extracurriculars. And no one likes to feel like their money is wasted. Madame Morbid Trolley Tours wasn’t an experience I had been familiar with. Maybe that’s because I’m chronically offline for most of my life. So this leads to the perfect question: in today’s turbulent economy, is Madame Morbid Trolley Tours worth the price? The short answer is unquestionably, yes. But it’s more than just a simple yes.
My wife and I arrived at the designated meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. A handful of minutes later, a gorgeous, e-candle-lit trolley pulled up to the side of the road. We were greeted by impeccably on-brand Allison Chase, our tour guide, and trolley driver ‘Mad’ Matt Zaller. The wonderfully cheery duo invited us on the trolley, and the tour was set to begin.
400 Years of Death, Destruction, and Infrastructure
After a welcoming video intro from someone who knows a thing or two about busting ghosts, we set off on the inaugural Madame Morbid Trolley Tour in its ninth year of operation. From the Brooklyn Naval Yard all the way to Dumbo, and more, this tour magnificently chronicles 400 years of history, the good and the bad, expertly. No matter how much you think you may know about Brooklyn history, I can bet there will be something new learned within the first 15 minutes of the tour. From the first-ever plane crash to one of the worst theater fires in history, this tour covers tragedies that the greatest horror writers couldn’t conceive.
The Deadly [Charming] Docent
Allison Chase led the fascinating tour in character from the moment we stepped on the trolley until our departure. But Allison’s character was not forced or fake; you could feel Allison’s passion for not just morbid history, but the accuracy of it. Some of the stories we heard were steeped in historical context, and it was not boring for a single second. The Madame Morbid Trolley Tour is not your standard full-talking tour. It’s a mixed-media adventure of some of Brooklyn’s darkest moments.
During “downtime” (the times between locations), we were edutained by mini documentaries (that were quite funny). Some of the “downtime” was filled with traffic trivia (I won a needle pen!). And other times were show-and-tell-like, with objects passed around for us to examine. But there was never a moment of silence that wasn’t purposeful. All in all, Allison’s knowledge and passion shone like the luminosity of a full moon.
Is Madame Morbid Trolley Tours Worth It?
The Madame Morbid Trolley Tour was not just a fun night out for my wife and me, but it was a delightfully dark night of edutainment. It should also be noted that ‘Mad’ Matt’s driving skills were fantastic. There was a time when I had become enamored with how Matt handled the narrow streets of Brooklyn before realizing that I needed to refocus my attention on Allison. The Madame Morbid Trolley Tour is an exceptionally fun evening of horror and history that will make you think twice next time you walk down the streets of Brooklyn. It is worth the money, and then some. There’s no better activity for a cold, dark October night than the Madame Morbid Trolley Tour.
For more information on Madame Morbid Trolley Tours, and to get your tickets, click here!
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I should have watched the Stephen King adaptation Cujo a million years ago. First of all, I was a voracious King reader in middle school. The other thing I was obsessed with during those years was Friends. You know, the show that hinges a major episode’s subplot on Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) watching Cujo for the first time. Whatever the reason was, I never got around to it, but I’m rectifying that oversight now.
What is Cujo About?
Cujo tells a relatively simple story. Donna Trenton’s (Dee Wallace) a housewife who’s cheating on her husband Vic (Daniel Hugh-Kelly) with local handyman Steve (Christopher Stone). There’s no accounting for taste, because Vic is 10 times hotter and Steve doesn’t own a bed frame. Look, Donna. I know Vic has that awful David Hasselhoff hair, but I promise the 1980s will end sooner or later. It’ll be OK.
Donna’s attempted termination of this affair ultimately leads to its discovery. Amid this drama, her car breaks down at a mechanic’s isolated farmhouse, trapping her and her son, Tad (Danny Pintauro). You see, the mechanic’s dog, Cujo, freshly christened with rabies, is patrolling the area and attacking everything in sight.
Dee Wallace Is Cujo’s Not-So-Secret Weapon
It would be impossible to start a worthwhile review of Cujo without praising Dee Wallace. The woman is a genre icon, naturally. Think about this: She had only appeared in seven theatrical movies before starring in Cujo. Four of those movies are The Stepford Wives, The Hills Have Eyes, E.T., and The Howling. But this woman didn’t become an icon simply by accidentally stumbling into some iconic titles. She is simply terrific as Donna, using her darting eyes and taut expression to deliver oodles of subtext. You instantly get the sense of how trapped she feels by marriage and motherhood without her uttering a single word.
A good performance is vital, here. Because there’s a hell of a lot of drama to get through before she’s trapped in that damn car. But Wallace instantly shoves you into Donna’s perspective, whether you like it or not. This makes it all the more potent when she is menaced by Cujo. Her desperate attempts for survival, also impeccably performed, have true weight because she seems like a real person. She is also given an incredible scene partner in Danny Pintauro. The future Who’s the Boss? star, who was only six when shooting Cujo, has a perfect everychild quality. His innocence heightens the peril. But so does that fact that he is just as irritating as every six-year-old you’ve ever met.
This movie truly captures how annoying it must be to be stuck in a life-and-death situation with a child. This is a compliment, I swear! Donna is worn down by every aspect of the situation, including her own son’s inability to cope with it. And this ratchets up the tension even further, to an almost unbearable degree.
Cujo Is a Mixed Bag, But Worthwhile Overall
The movie doesn’t work if Cujo himself doesn’t work, and at first I was real worried that he wouldn’t. In the first half, the St. Bernards that play Cujo onscreen are often shown to be wagging their tails in delight. Which kind of undercuts the reality of the situation, I’d say. But the editing and the special effects step in to fix what animal training couldn’t. The attack scenes in the second half are constructed with quick cuts that never let you get too much purchase. It’s a good approach for keeping viewers off-kilter.
Also, Cujo becomes less and less recognizable as a cuddly canine the further the movie gets. It’s a simple trick, really. He ends up getting coated with more and more slime. Saliva, pus, blood, and what have you. This is good for making him feel like a true movie monster. Plus, it’s a good mirror for the sliminess inside the car as it gets covered in sweat, blood, and grime.
The second half of the movie ultimately works like gangbusters. It’s a shame that Cujo is too cowardly to get Donna and Tad in the car before the halfway point. This decision is somewhat faithful to the book’s structure as I remember it. However, it diminishes the weight of the long days that they spend in the car. We really need to feel that crushing stretch of time, and we don’t. When Tad is suffering from dehydration, it’s not a gut punch. Honestly, I just found myself asking, “Already?” It’s good that they gave the movie a happier ending, because the classic grimdark Stephen King finale wouldn’t have landed.
Is Cujo Worth Watching in 2026?
At the end of the day, Cujo is a solid movie and I’m glad I finally watched it. However, it’s not such a stone-cold classic that I’m not at least a little intrigued by that upcoming Netflix remake…
