Hide the cookies and milk, you’re on Santa’s naughty list. With the exception of Halloween, Christmas has to be the second most used holiday for settings in horror. Taking the serene, peaceful nature the holiday brings and injecting it with terror creates the perfect backdrop for a fun holiday horror flick. Such is the case for Zac Locke’s latest movie, Santa Isn’t Real. Sort of.
Another Addition to the Already Crowded Killer Santa Sub-Genre
Somewhere between Shudder and Tubi, Santa Isn’t Real embarks on a noble quest to stand out from the onslaught of holiday slasher movies. Its forceful attempt to be something more than what’s on-screen slows the pacing down considerably. In theory, this movie brings an interesting story to the table; though done before, and better. Locke’s script works, even if most of the beats are fairly predictable.
A slasher film must have a compelling antagonist, and if the title wasn’t clear, Santa finds themself at the helm holding the antagonistic reigns. Well, okay, it’s someone wearing a questionably padded Santa suit with a Halloween 5-esque Santa mask. Between you and me, the mask used has some DSL, which makes Santa neither menacing nor intimidating but rather kind of hysterical. From popping up in the background of random scenes to Navy Seal-level knife-throwing skills, Santa’s got it all.
Decent Practical Effects With A Simple Plot
The practical effects, when we get them, are well executed. Focusing on the characters’ tumultuous relationships works for building a story, however, having a mediocre payoff doesn’t help a movie stand out from the thousands of other holiday horror movies. However, a practical effect towards the end of the movie caught me incredibly off guard. This all may sound negative, but many small moments in the film kept me engaged or pulled me back in, at the very least.
Weightless foley work and sparse direction should work against Santa Isn’t Real, but for some reason, it doesn’t. If you want a brain teaser, then this isn’t it. If you want a cooky, oddly acted, possibly partially filmed in an Ikea (or random furniture store), strange-looking killer Santa movie with some fun practicals and a great post-credit scene, then Santa Isn’t Real is the one for you.
Santa Isn’t Real, will be available to stream on VOD services starting December 8, 2023.
