Few people have impacted the genre at such a young age in such quick succession. Aussie filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay slashed her way onto the scene at the age of 17 with her dreamy glam vamp flick So Vam. Just over a year later, Mackay would take her next feature film into the realm of a more serious, but still fun, slasher film, Bad Girl Boogey. Both films would be released on Shudder as Shudder Exclusives. The very next year would see the festival run of her third feature film, T Blockers, which was a well-done take on the zombie subgenre. While I haven’t seen her fourth feature film, Satranic Panic, thanks to the fine folks at the Chattanooga Film Festival, I was able to catch Mackay’s fifth feature film, Carnage For Christmas.
Carnage for Christmas follows Lola (Jeremy Moineau), who has a true crime podcast with their friend Riley (Olivia Deeble). Lola goes back to her hometown after not visiting for quite some time. It also just so happens that Lola has recently transitioned. Shortly after being back in town, a string of murders mirrors the dark history of this town’s past. Can Lola use her true crime knowledge to bring the killer to justice? Or does Lola have a deeper connection to the murders?
Alice Maio Mackay at Her Best
Carnage for Christmas is Alice Maio Mackay at her best. The best filmmakers use each film as a stepping stone. If you don’t learn as you make films, then what’s the point of filmmaking? You’ll never grow as an artist if you don’t learn lessons as you create. Mackay has obviously learned countless lessons along the way, and it’s clear that Carnage for Christmas is a culmination of Mackay’s deep understanding of the craft. One of my criticisms of Mackay’s previous films is that they felt a little too over the top, occasionally affecting my immersion. Carnage is a straightforward slasher/true crime murder mystery with heaping buckets of blood. Gone are the zombies and vampires, what we have here is a by-the-books slasher film with Mackay’s personal flare garishly dusted over.
Simply put, sometimes simpler is better.
Mackay clearly understood the visual aesthetic she wanted from the start. It has taken a few films for her to get to the level of production that makes this style work incredibly well, but it’s impressive to watch her grow as a filmmaker throughout this short period. Part of the charm of Carnage for Christmas comes from The People’s Joker Vera Drew, who steps in for their first collaboration with Mackay as editor and VFX supervisor. Drew implements their comic-y styles in ways that add a whole level of visual entertainment that suits Carnage so well. Mackay and Drew are a filmmaking match made in heaven.
Why Horror Fans Can’t Miss Carnage for Christmas
Whether or not you’ve enjoyed Alice Maio Mackay’s previous films, Carnage for Christmas is a must-watch for every horror fan. Sweet, poignant, and a bloody riot, this film will knock your socks off. If this film tells us anything, it’s that Mackay is here to stay for a long time. It’s only a matter of time until she’s tapped to tackle a bigger project from a genre studio. One can only wonder which studio will be smart enough to sign Mackay before it’s too late.