Once Upon a Time at Christmas

I do not know Jeff Ellenberger (who played Deputy Fullard). I have never seen him in any other film, nor even heard of him. But I know this about him: He deserved better than this film. He seems like a good actor trapped in a bad film and it saddened me. In fact, his presence just highlighted for me how bad everyone (and everything) else was in the film. I hope he has better luck in future films.

I am still puzzling over the sheriff talking to a coroner with a VERY heavy British accent who uses an unfamiliar British slang word that causes the sheriff to say, "Oh, right, I keeping forgetting you're a Brit." Of all the many hard to believe things in this film, THAT one really knocked me for a loop.

Unsure if this was meant to be a deliberate so bad it's good B Movie but it's mostly just bad. Awkward dialogue full of cliches. Inconsistent performances with some actors trying hard for a serious tone and some trying to wink at the camera.

Someone clearly wanted to make a serial killer Santa Claus and then added a Mrs Claus in the style of Harley Quinn. It's hard to get the tone right for a B Movie but even harder to do a decent Harley Quinn impression.

Even those with a high tolerance for cheap horror films will find this hard to love. Perhaps save yourself the time watching this and seek out a better Xmas horror like Anna and the Apocalypse or Krampus.

Horrible acting paired with a predictable plot and unnatural dialog makes this movie very unpleasant. Don't waste your time with this one, you could probably figure out exactly whats gonna happen in the first 10 minutes and I have never heard so many clunky and uncomfortable conversations in one movie before. Absolutely awful in every way.

The casting director of this film didn't put in any effort, nor did the producers when it came to selecting actors who could truly act. The level of mediocrity in the performances is beyond terrible. Despite its potential to be a good Christmas slasher, the film falls apart entirely due to the dreadful work of its cast. But the biggest thing about this and what kept me from loving it at a "so bad it's good" level is that this is a British production filmed overseas with everybody straining to use American accents and CLEARLY British locations that are supposed to pass for Woodridge, USA (that's the actual super generic American name they give the town) and WHY? Why would you make that choice when your actors can barely talk let alone do an accent why would you do that. And why is Santa using a regular British accent why does he get a pass?! Maybe they worked him being British into the story and I missed it but whatever I don't care.

I am not going to write a in depth long review of this movie because a few words will sum it all up, it sucks. im glad it was free on VUDU because I would really hate to spend any on it, even a penny....it was that awful. The story was horrible. The acting was really horrible. it was not scary at all....so do yourself a big favor, pass on this...i wouldn't even watch this garbage even if i didnt have anything to do, I rather sit and look at a wall for 2 hours than watch 15 minutes of this pile of poop.