‘Traditions die hard!’
There’s Something in the Barn is a 2023 Norwegian comedy horror film about an American family terrorised by a nasty killer elf.
Directed by Magnus Martens (The Walking Dead: World Beyond; Fear the Walking Dead; 12 Monkeys TV series) from a screenplay written by Aleksander Kirkwood Brown.
The 74 Entertainment-Charades-Don Films co-production stars Martin Starr, Amrita Acharia, Henriette Steenstrup, Jeppe Beck Laursen, Kiran Shah, Zoe Winther-Hansen, Calle Hellevang Larsen, Townes Bunner, Alexander Karlsen El Younoussi and Paul Monaghan.
Plot:
An American family fulfils their dream of returning to their roots after inheriting a remote cabin in the mountains of Norway.
However, they are in for a big surprise. An elf with a nasty temper lives in the house’s barn. When the family starts to infuriate the creature, a raw and bloody struggle for survival ensues…
Release:
There’s Something in the Barn premiered at Fantastic Fest before being shown at Sitges and will be released in the US on November 10, 2023.
Reviews:
“Magnus Martens is no stranger to horror, having worked on two Walking Dead spin-offs, and he brings those skills here, crafting visually interesting, gory, and very entertaining horror set pieces. The only problem is that the film goes a bit too long once it goes full Gremlins, and loses a bit of steam. Still, seeing the family fight their way through Christmas elves, killing and maiming the bearded fellows, makes for a bloody fun time.” 7 out of 10, /Film
“The actors playing the elves deserve a lot of credit. Without dialogue, they create a pack of lunatics who are comically malicious. Outstanding make-up effects give them a distinctly nasty look that befits the chaos they create. Everyone else is good, as well […] There’s Something in the Barn made me laugh a lot, and one scene even made me jump.” 3 out of 4, The Aisle Seat
“There’s Something in the Barn does tend to go for two of the most obvious; Americans are loud and all have guns, and Norwegians are reserved and like to drink lots of alcohol. Again, these jokes are made with love and go both ways so they serve their purpose very well here. Especially in getting us to care for the various characters before the craziness begins.” ★★★ Heaven of Horror
” …it’s the absurdist delivery and humor that ultimately rise above the film’s climactic events, bringing with it a sense of satisfaction and entertainment the ending doesn’t entirely bring on its own. Despite the loss in momentum at the very end, There’s Something in the Barn is a horror comedy that seems destined to be a cult classic.” ★★★½ Screen Rant
Despite struggles with greenscreens and some of the screenplay, There’s Something in the Barn makes for an exciting new Christmas horror flick. It’s fun, light, and, most importantly, hilarious. The actors know exactly what kind of movie they’ve signed up for, and Martens ensures the film commits to its premise. With fun gore effects and great characters, There’s Something in the Barn will earn perennial holiday viewing status for horror fans.” 7 out of 10, Sunshine State Cineplex
“While not as bloody as the advance word had me expecting, There’s Something in the Barn does have some decently horrific moments. The elves themselves thankfully are costumed actors, not CGI. Looking like angry garden gnomes and growling menacingly in Norwegian they’re like a dwarven black metal band minus the corpse paint. And that is a rather scary image.” ★★★½ Voices from the Balcony
For the teaser trailer plus more movies featuring killer elves click the page 2 link below
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