‘Have yourself a scary little Christmas’
Santa Isn’t Real is a 2023 American horror slasher film about a young woman who is seemingly attacked by Father Christmas himself.
Written, directed and co-produced by Zac Locke (Decibel; producer of Frogman; #float; The Voyeurs; The Wind; Black Christmas 2019). Also produced by Justin Anderson, Jordan Michaud-Scorza and Mikey Bill Taylor. Executive produced by Nate Bolotin, Bryan Carmel, James Emanuel Shapiro and Matt Wise.
The Rotting Press-The Straits production stars Scarlett Sperduto (Those Who Walk Away;#float), Dana Millican, Kaya Coleman (#float; The Sinners), Michelle Damis, Cissy Ly, David Mitchum Brown, William Earl Ray and Trey Anderson.
Plot:
After suffering a brutal attack on Christmas Eve, a young woman, Nikki (Kaya Coleman), struggles to convince her friends that the assailant was none other than kindly old Santa Claus.
When Santa returns to terrorise the group in their remote cabin the following Yuletide, Nikki and her friends must overcome disbelief as they fight to stay alive…
Reviews:
“It’s the wrong kind of holiday nightmare, barely held together by hateable characters and subpar filmmaking features (not the memorable ha-ha horror kind) […] I’ve seen over one hundred Christmas Horror movies, so I can confidently make that claim (trust me). Santa Isn’t Real doesn’t do anything to elevate the subgenre, and fails even to have the decency to come with a return receipt.” ★★ Bloody Disgusting
“Don’t go in expecting a bloodbath, as that’s not what you’ll receive here. Instead what is offered is a suspenseful film that requires perseverance to fully appreciate. Zac Locke’s Santa Isn’t Real is an impactful holiday horror that exchanges out the traditional cheer of the holiday spirit for the terror hidden within.” Cinefied
“Some performances are stronger than others, some of the effects work doesn’t quite land, and there are some pacing issues in the third act […] Santa Isn’t Real offers up reliable snowbound thrills with some striking imagery, a chilling Christmas score, and one creepy Santa.” Dread Central
“Bringing absolutely nothing new to the table, Santa Isn’t Real wraps itself up in a garland of slasher tropes and presents one of the most predictable and trite films I’ve seen in quite a while. Bad writing and suspect spatial awareness are more than enough to pull you out of the proceedings (which might be a good thing).” The Good, The Bad and the Verdict
“It’s the kind of movie where you can see potential, but it is still quite far from being ready for actual audiences. The effects are fine, but not impressive […] Christmas is kitsch and campy in itself, so any horror movie taking place during the Holidays can get away with a lot. It cannot, however, get away with terrible dialogue…” ★ Heaven of Horror
” …while not revolutionizing the slasher genre, presents an engaging mix of holiday horror and psychological thriller […] The exploration of trauma, interwoven with classic horror elements, creates a familiar cinematic experience. Despite its narrative and technical constraints, it is still a noteworthy watch for slasher and holiday-themed horror fans, showcasing Locke’s burgeoning talent.” ★★ Overly Honest Movie Reviews
“The film’s effects are quite good, although due to the small cast, there aren’t that many of them, and they all come in the last few minutes. The killer’s identity is painfully obvious, though, and an attempt at a final scene surprise is just as obvious. There is a post-credits scene, but it’s nothing special, just a weak joke.” ★ Voices from the Balcony
Our verdict
Despite a short running time, the movie takes a while to get going and the identity of the killer is startlingly obvious. The dialogue is not engaging and poor pacing is also an issue. Santa Isn’t Real seems to have been conceived and filmed without enough consideration of what might have made it work overall.
Release:
In the US, Santa Isn’t Real was released theatrically in Los Angeles and on VOD and Digital by XYZ Films on December 8, 2023.
Trailer:
Related:
Cast and characters:
Scarlett Sperduto … Jess
Dana Millican … Doctor
Kaya Coleman … Nikki
Michelle Damis … Mom
Cissy Ly … MJ
David Mitchum Brown … Reverend
William Earl Ray … Sheriff Ray
Trey Anderson … Nathan
#SantaIsn’tReal #ScarlettSperduto #DanaMillican #KayaColeman #ZacLocke #ChristmasHorror #SlasherHorror #NewHorror #HolidaysHorror
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