There's Something in the Barn

When a new age, nuclear, family pull up their American roots to relocate to Norway- after inheriting a "devil house" from the man's extended family- they try to fit in...but things don't exactly go as planned.

Because there is something living in their barn.

Their adolescent son quickly figures out what it is...and makes friends with it.

But no one believes him.

So when he tries to teach them the rules (on how not to piss it off).

They don't listen...and break every one of them.

However, it is one act that pushes things over the edge...

Thus turning this festive comedy into a complete horror show.

Albeit one made for children.

Is it the most innovative Christmas horror film ever?

No.

Is it the most gory Christmas horror film alltime?

Surely not.

Hell...it's not even the scariest Christmas horror film to come out of Norway.

But it's great fun!

With a decent amount of gore.

And a whole lot of laughs.

Though, not so much to make it unfit for kids.

So, if you are the type of family to watch an annual Christmas horror...and you got some kids you want to scare the "niceness" into.

This film is a great choice.

Norway definitely knows how to do it.

Except in the case of lutefisk.

Everyone hates that crap.

6 out of 10.

Can't say it's bad.

The plot is very flawed, the acting makes no sense in most parts. It was classified as a dark comedy, horror and fantasy film. Only the fantasy part was kind of right, and even there is mostly due to the elfs reference than any fantasy at all. In the first half of the movie you get the feeling that the elf's are fast and hard to see, that would fulfill the fantasy part, then they slowly grade down to children in costumes moving slow and ultimately incapable of putting up a fight. That makes the whole thing kind of pointless and nonsense. I felt deeply diving into the "if only the remote was by the couch..." state.

Can't say it's bad either. It's a nicely shot flick, with nice landscapes and good pace. But still fails being horror, fails being comic, just...a regular Sunday afternoon nothing else to see and it's already on kind of movie.

The Nordheim family is moving from California to a remote farm in Norway. Bill Nordheim (Martin Starr) had inherited the place from his uncle. Carol (Amrita Acharia) is his new wife and stepmother to his children. Teen daughter Nora is angry with the move away from her friends. Young son Lucas discovers an elf infesting the barn.

This is a horror comedy. The horror part is ok although they may have shown the elf a little too soon. I would have kept him in the dark for longer. The comedy is mostly Martin Starr being Martin Starr. Initially, the casting of the kids didn't make sense. I don't see them as Martin Starr's kids. The stepmother part helps a little, but I still don't buy them as Starr's kids. The daughter is a drag until she starts using the bat. There are some fun kills and the multitude of elfs is chaotic fun. In the end, this is not that good, but it has a few fun moments.

An American family head to Norway, to move into a home that they've inherited. They find life very different, and discover something very strange and very dangerous living in the barn.

It's better than the score on here would suggest, compared to most of the Christmas films I've seen recently, this is way better. This was a fun film, an adventure that's suitable for most of the family.

There are several fun scenes, the first big attack was nicely done, and the elves looked really good.

It's very corny, and they really did go overboard with the loud, over the top American family, who of course are into self help and garish Christmas decorations, that syrupy mother and daughter moment was so naff.

I chuckled at that scene where the dad says that Norway is the most friendly place on Earth, I've been twice, even many Norwegians will admit, many Norwegians are very reserved.

7/10.

I've watched this today at Sitges Film Festival and I had a good time, but it was probably thanks to the crowd, who were doing jokes and clapping all the time.

Now let's see. The photography is really good, mostly because Norway is a beautiful country.

The film in general is really funny, and their comedy style is really enjoyable (even more if you aren't neither American or Norway).

You could call this a familiar Christmas movie, but adding it a sadistic side in the last part of the film.

About the plot, it's kind of predictable most of the time, but I've never seen a movie with an evil norway elf, i don't know if you did, but it's not exactly common (which makes it better).

One last thing, the acting was really bad, like probably the little kid was the only one who did a kind of good acting, and the Santa guy.

I recomend this movie? Yes, if you have nothing else to do.