‘Deck the halls …with blood!’
The Killing Tree is a 2022 British horror film about an ancient spell that brings an executed man as a demonic Christmas tree!
Directed, co-produced and co-edited by Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare; Dinosaur Prison; Rise of the Loch Ness; Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey; Sky Monster; Firenado) from a screenplay co-written with Craig McLearie (Medusa’s Venom; Conjuring the Genie 2; Jack Frost; Pterodactyl; Dragon Fury 2; Amityville Scarecrow 2).
Also produced by co-editor Scott Jeffrey (Spider in the Attic; The Mutation; Bats; Bad Nun: Deadly Vows; Cupid; ClownDoll and many, others).
The Dark Abyss Productions movie stars Sarah Alexandra Marks (Sky Monster; The Caller 2022; Pterodactyl), Marcus Massey, Judy Tcherniak, Sarah T. Cohen (Jurassic Island; Hellkat; Clowndoll), Kelly Rian Sanson, Ella Starbuck, Lauren Staerck, May Kelly, Nikolai Leon, Richard Harfst, Gillian Broderick, Simon Ellis, Mike Kelson and Steve Bates.
Plot:
On Christmas Eve, a scorn widow casts an ancient spell to resurrect her executed husband. However, when the spell goes wrong, the husband is brought back as an evil Christmas tree. Hell-bent on getting revenge on the one who caused his execution, the body count keeps rising as the tree hunts her down. Can anyone stop this killer Christmas tree before he gets to his target?
Reviews:
“the film’s script gives a strong impression that it was written with an American setting in mind […] Saying that, the film can’t help but be entertaining at times. Some of the dialogue is genuinely side-splitting in its badness and a couple of scenes of the man-tree bumbling about are also good for a laugh.” All Ones That Got Away
” …the tongue in cheek opening may raise a smile and there’s nothing funnier than a Christmas tree holding a map trying to decide where to go. However, on the other hand, the human characters are so dull that it makes the otherwise inanimate Christmas tree the best actor in the movie. On paper, The Killing Tree sounds like a great idea, but in reality, it should have been made by more experienced filmmakers…” Battle Royale with Cheese
“The Killing Tree has the foundation for a camp classic spotlighting a wonderfully bizarre screen menace, but the production strangely avoids any sort of spirited engagement, lumbering along as a half-speed chiller that’s weirdly focused on characterization, and not the engrossing kind. Tree activity almost becomes an afterthought for the feature…” 1.5 out of 5, Blu-ray.com
“Marcus Massey’s performance as a homicidal Xmas tree is an absolutely delightful spectacle to behold and you can’t help but laugh as he wobbles up the driveway and preys upon his victims. Every good horror needs victims, and whilst Faith and her friends make an ideal target for Clayton, the killings sometimes feel rushed.” Horror Cult Films
“Marcus Massey mutters morbid threats and chuckles when pulverizing fresh corpses, adding that layer of demented investment The Killing Tree so desperately needs. Special effects are undoubtedly lacking, yet bloody splatters onto the camera and mauled visitors aren’t wasted on audiences. Production roughness adds to the fever-dream element of Frake-Waterfield’s tonally self-roasting sincerity…” 6 out of 10, IGN
“This is a movie that understands the tone perfectly, never taking anything too seriously and using the tree decorations as added weapons. It creates laughs and fun slasher kills that feel more unique to the movie we are seeing. Child’s Play looks like a clear inspiration for this movie, which you can see with the concept of a serial killer in an everyday object.” 4 stars out of 5, Movie Reviews 101
” …it’s all about the death scenes really and they’re not too bad. That doesn’t seem like a glowing recommendation but there’s still plenty to enjoy. I would have liked a bit more use of any ornaments or baubles, but the Christmas lights are at least used quite a lot when it comes to killing people. There are also a couple of bodies literally ripped in half, which while bloody, kind of loses any shock factor with the poor CGI.” Nerdly
“Bad taste knows no bounds and that’s why The Killing Tree works as well as it does […] Trust me, you’ve not seen anything more hilarious than a Christmas tree who chases his victims, throwing bulbs at them and strangling them with its string of lights.” Reel Reviews
“Basically, this is a slasher, only the killer is … a Christmas tree!!! And this concept is silly as can be, but the film actually works thanks to clever writing, a genre-savvy direction that goes for the gruesome over the cheap joke, and a pretty solid ensemble, bringing it all to life very beautifully…” Search My Trash
“A very uneven film, The Killing Tree has some good ideas and amusing deaths. Watching the tree stalking Faith while holding a knife in its branches like it was Michael Myers is quite funny. But, along with better effects, the script needed another pruning to root out all the sappy domestic drama grafted onto an otherwise comedic film.” 2.5 out of 5, Voices from the Balcony
For YouTube reviews, the trailer and more movie info click the page 2 link below
