‘Dinner is served’
Mercy Christmas is a 2017 comedy horror film directed by Ryan Nelson from a screenplay co-written with Beth Levy Nelson. The movie stars Steven Hubbell, Casey O’Keefe, Gwen Van Dam and David Ruprecht.
Plot:
When Michael Briskett meets the perfect woman, his ideal Christmas dream comes true when she invites him to her family’s holiday celebration. Dreams shattered, Michael struggles to survive once he realizes HE will be Christmas dinner…
Reviews:
“Mercy Christmas also offers a healthy dose of social commentary. The Robillard family are also devout churchgoing Christians who always remember to say their prayers, despite have no compunctions when it comes to murder and cannibalism…” Dread Central
“Mercy Christmas won’t be for everyone, but it’s difficult to deny its entertainment value. What happens and the way it’s presented as everyday occurrence will at the very least invest your attention to see how it’ll all play out. And no matter how stupid things might get, just know the climactic battle between good and evil is a physical one that proves as hilariously ludicrous as it is punishingly brutal.” The Film Stage
“It’s well thought out, the chills are there, the gore is peppered in and the final result is pretty darn impressive […] It switches from humour to horror in the blink of an eye so many times over that you do feel impressed with its slick direction and coupled with a majestic cast…” The Horror Asylum
“With a strong ensemble cast – headed by a brilliant and nuanced performance from Steven Hubbell, wonderfully over-the-top, “punny” dialogue and a “raise your hands up and cheer” climax – Mercy Christmas can’t help but make all of its various tones gel and work together.” Horrorfreak News
“It might’ve been the most I laughed during a horror movie. Or maybe the most revolted I’ve been during a comedy. From the start, it establishes its own bizarre tone and fully commits to it for the rest of the film. It is thoroughly surreal as it oscillates from gut-busting laughs to wince-inducing violence.” The Ink & Code
“It’s a sort of comedic yuletide take on the finale of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, with a winning lead performance from Steven Hubbell and an endearingly cheerful tone despite all the carnage.” Las Vegas Weekly
” …you may have seen the Anthony Perkins-directed Lucky Stiff (aka Mr. Christmas Dinner) […] This one is much better. Along with a fair share of gore and slapstick gags, director Ryan Nelson contrasts the banality of this apparently typical suburban families holiday celebration with the brutality of what they’re doing to their “guests”. The Public
Cast and characters:
Cole Gleason … Andy Robillard
David Ruprecht … Abe Robillard
Casey O’Keefe … Cindy Robillard
Gwen Van Dam … Granny
Whitney Nielsen … Katherine
Rhoda Pell … Caroler
Steven T. Bartlett … Clark
LaVon Wageman … Christmas Caroler
Dakota Shepard … Denise
Jenni Wilson … Caroler
Joseph Keane … Phillip
Steven Hubbell … Michael Briskett
Regan Talleh … Caroler
D.J. Hale … Eddie
Filming locations:
Los Angeles, California
Release:
Mercy Christmas was the opening film at Shriekfest on Friday, October 6, 2017.
It was released on VOD on November 28, 2017, via Gravitas Ventures.
In the UK, High Fliers Films released Mercy Christmas on DVD on 5 November 2018.
Related:
Ho, Ho, Horror! Christmas Festive Fright Films – article
Trailer:
MOVIES & MANIA says:
Mercy Christmas is an enjoyable cannibal-themed dark comedy that effortlessly switches from laughs to cringe-inducing violence. The social commentary is somewhat unsubtle, however, the excellent performances from the whole cast more than compensates for it.
