Home for X-Mas

Derivative, awkward, all the hallmarks of people who don't know what they're doing but think they do. Don't waste your time on it. Dialogue is stilted and amateurish, with throwaway lines suggesting some sort of statement but never following through in any way that matters. The fight scenes are laughably bad. I'm an avid lover of bad cinema, but this also suffers from something completely irredeemable: being super boring. It's nothing. It's clear it's meant to be a pastiche, but lacks the creativity or talent to become anything more than a sad, limp copy of successful movies. There's a lot wrong with this movie but to put it plainly: what's the point? So what?

This is the kind of film I would imagine me and my friends would have made in high school for fun, and for that's why I find this so charming. While the film's love for the horror genre shines through, I feel like it's holding back. There are moments in the film where it seems like we are going to go somewhere, only to not really go anywhere. This could be due to its short runtime, which I feel is too short. If it was a little longer, then there would have been more time to explore what the film is trying to say. I could see that there were themes of sibling rivalry, toxic masculinity, etc. However, while seen, they didn't quite feel heard. I feel like the film spoke in whispers. Don't be afraid to shout. It was still a very fun watch. It has a great score, a good sense of humor, and an enjoyable energy which reminded me of 1980's horror films.