31 Days of Horror: Day 22

Dismembering Christmas is the latest horror slasher release from the independent studio Slasher Studios. This is the second feature film from the team that produced the 80s inspired slasher Don’t Go to the Reunion. Although I haven’t yet seen that film, it received a lot of buzz and seems to be well received among fans of low budget, indie horror. As a huge fan of DIY passion projects made on micro budgets, I have been looking forward to seeing this film for some time following its successful crowdfunding campaign. I picked up a blu ray copy of the film as soon as it was released on the Slasher Studios website.

The film was produced and written by Kevin Sommerfield and co-written by Steve Goltz. It was directed by Austin Bosley, making his full length feature directorial debut. Bosley also stars in the film, along side Baker Chase Powell, Nina Kova, Jonathon Krautkramer, Leah Wiseman, Danielle Doetsch, Shannon McInnis, Jennifer Lenius, Maria Van Lanen and Scott Seagren. The movie was made with an estimated budget of only $16,000 and shot over a period of just 12 days.

Dismembering Christmas is about a group of high school friends (although I was sure they were college aged) who head out to a posh vacation lake house to celebrate Christmas together. Shortly after arriving, they receive an ominous warning from a local urging them to leave as soon as possible, followed by a story regarding the terrible things that supposedly happened at their cabin several years earlier. Kids being kids, they are quick to dismiss the warning as nothing more than the ramblings of a crazy man. But, as the body count continues to rise, they discover the bloody truth behind the tragic tale.

There’s always something delightfully sinister and fun about a Christmas themed horror movie. Perhaps it’s the great juxtaposition of the festive, joyful time of year with the dark horror elements. The gorgeous winter setting also helps enhance the feelings of isolation and desperation. The filmmakers call Dismembering Christmas “Friday the 13^th meets Black Christmas.” For the most part, I think they hit the nail on the head with that description.

For such a low budget production, the film actually looks quite good. The filmmakers do a great job keeping everything simple and not trying to do too much. What we get here is a very straightforward and competently filmed slasher that moves along at a rapid pace, takes advantage of its short run time, and focuses on giving us some really fun and creative kills. It’s shot entirely in one location, allowing the filmmakers to make the most of their limited budget. And the setting is actually quite beautiful, from the gorgeous interior of the cabin to the lovely snow covered grounds outside.

Bosley really makes the most of his setting, giving us some gorgeous tracking and overhead shots that show off his technical expertise as a young director. The film also makes great use of holiday theme music, and I enjoyed the interesting bells and chimes that build throughout the climactic scenes. Dylan Curzon‘s score is inspired, blending classic Christmas melodies with traditional slasher sound effects to create something truly unique and unsettling that really helps enhance the mood and creepy atmosphere.

Considering the cast is made up of relatively inexperienced young actors, they do a solid job for the most part. There are definitely some in the cast whose performances shine a little brighter than others and, conversely, one or two who aren’t quite as strong. But the actors play nicely off each other, the chemistry is believable, and the characters are all pretty likable. This really helps to add to the enjoyment of the film.

The film starts off a little slow and awkward (although we do get a nice early kill to help get the audience engaged early on). But, once it gets going, it moves along at a great pace. Once the first main kill happens, the rest of the kills happen in quick succession. I actually thought the kills themselves were very well done. There were some definite homages to classic slashers combined with at least a couple of really inventive and interesting kills. Obviously with such a low budget all the effects are practical. It’s not overly gory, but what is done looks really good.

The killer was effectively creepy, and there appeared to be a not so subtle reference to the movie Curtains. That’s actually one of my favorite slashers, so I appreciated the homage (which I have to assume was intentional).

One thing I feel compelled to point out is how well done the marketing and packaging for this film was. The stunning poster and blu ray art does a great job making this film look like a much more expensive production than what it actually was. It harkens back to the VHS days when cover art was so critical to standing out on the shelves of Blockbuster and selling the film, before the days of Internet trailers and social media. It seems like a little thing, but it really helps underscore the amount of passion and genre love that went into making this film.

I wholeheartedly recommend this one with some caveats. If you’re only used to watching slick Hollywood productions, this one may not be your cup of tea. These low budget indie productions have a very different feel from the typical mainstream fare. What you’re watching, instead, is a training ground for the future of the genre. It’s like auditing a film school classroom. This is the breeding ground for the genre’s best and brightest, and it’s impressive seeing what these talented young filmmakers can do with so few resources. It makes you excited to see just how great they could be with real time and money at their disposal.

MORBID MINI

Dismembering Christmas is a surprisingly well made, ultra low budget Christmas horror. A modern slasher with a great 80s feel, this movie is fast paced, full of creative kills and ultimately a great deal of fun.