Deck the Halls

Director - Josh Suire (Happy Helladays)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Every December I go out of my way to watch as many Christmas horror movies I could find.  I absolutely love Christmas, maybe even more than Halloween, but this year I'm not feeling it.  I put on my fake smile and unenthused excitement for my children but 2020 has drained me of the holiday spirit.  I'm saving some of my Christmas horror films for next year but there was one DVD I couldn't put off for another year.  Last month I bought the Josh Suire's double feature from SOV Horror.  This DVD contained two shorts from Chris Seaver's frequent collaborator Josh Suire who also directed Warlock Home Video's Happy Helladays.  I decided it was time to dig into the DVD with the first film Deck the Halls.

     The film follows a young man who is the center of the jokes from kids his age and his home life is not much better.  His mother is verbally abusive and he is forced to do things he does not want to.  When Christmas arrives he finds himself pushed to the limit and decides to kill those that makes his life so miserable.  

     I wasn't expecting much when I bought this one.  In fact, I didn't think I would actually watch it considering it was just a couple kids making a movie while their parents were out of the house.  However, Suire's has a similar type of humor that I do so I was genuinely curious about the film.  Curiosity killed the cat they say but I enjoyed.  Sure, it's painfully rough but it had some moments and a lot of charm.  The acting in this one is pretty bad.  I don't want to rip on them but there is some serious inexperience and awkward moments.  The movie would be a lot better if the cast would have slowed down and tried to get into their roles.  The story for this one is simple, short and sweet.  It's not really that good of a Christmas movie but if you are in the mood for a cheap slasher like SOV horror tale then this one would suffice.  It's nothing we haven't seen before but it had it's moments.  Finally, the film has several kills that made me laugh.  The humor in this one is rather unintentional but it works with the cheap ass kills.  Overall, Deck the Halls is not going to reshape horror for you.  However, if you want a cheap and entertaining short then let this one be it.