Review: Secret Santa (2018)

Posted on December 22, 2020 by chrishammond54 in Film Reviews // 0 Comments

Reviewed by Chris Hammond

Director: Adam Marcus
Writers: Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan
Stars: Michael Rady, Drew Lynch, Debra Sullivan

Christmas, what better way to celebrate it than with a dark humor horror film by director Adam Marcus and Debra Sullivan (Texas Chainsaw 3D). Many may remember Marcus from a little horror franchise with a masked Jason ( Jason Goes to Hell ).

This time around Marcus has assembled a much more dangerous foe, family. The film takes place as the dysfunctional “Pope” family gathers to celebrate. As with most family outings, things don’t go as planned. Daughter April (A Leslie Kies) sees the outing as a way to bandage old wounds that exist within the “Pope” family. Other members of the family want to dig the knife deeper into the wounds which lead to murderous results.

Secret Santa explores skeletons in the “Pope” family closet to extreme levels. The concept of family tension isn’t a new one but Marcus and the gang turn the vulgarity and violence knob up to eleven and then some.

Makeup artist Robert Kurtzman has laid out a collection of gruesome effects in such a way that viewers won’t soon forget. The gore works hand in hand with the ensemble cast that shines brightly throughout the film. Nathan Hedrick plays Jackson as a sex-crazed, foul-mouthed jerk. Drew Lynch plays the lovable younger brother Kyle, both performances are outstanding. The whole cast summoned their own experiences and had fun with the material. It was a pleasure to watch the cast hurls insults (and more) at each other while they descended into utter insanity.

I laughed, I cried, I hid my eyes in horror, but one thought that remained throughout watching the film, this is a blood-soaked seasonal slasher that horror fans will enjoy for many years to come.