‘Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2’ Is the Superb Horror Hallmark Mash-Up You By no means Knew You Wanted [Review]

Grownup Swim as soon as once more defies expectations with a daring, good style experiment that transforms a xmas log video right into a horror/Hallmark hybrid about second possibilities.

“I simply really feel like I’m trapped in a horror film I can’t get out of.”

Horror and Christmas have been a robust mixture for over 50 years. It was initially a disturbing shock to the system to see sacred Christmas iconography get perverted into darkish instruments of dread. This shock has worn off after many years of meditations on killer Santas and Krampus. Even Artwork the Clown has invaded Christmas at this level. That being mentioned, there’s nonetheless nothing like an excellent, real shock in a horror film and Grownup Swim accomplishes this tall activity in its newest vacation providing. 

Casper Kelly is at all times one to creatively experiment with construction, kind, and style. Too Many Cooks, Remaining Deployment 4: Queen Battle Walkthrough, and to a lesser extent, Your Fairly Face is Going to Hell, are all daring, subversive style workouts that mix construction and storytelling to create one thing actually particular. That is precisely what made the unique Grownup Swim Yuletide Log such a rewarding and shocking expertise. Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2: Branchin’ Out retains this pattern going, albeit in a completely totally different means, that sees the characters caught in a poisonous style tug-of-war that pulls them between an ultra-violent horror film and a sugary candy Hallmark vacation movie.

Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2 actively makes use of the subtext of horror sequels to inform a narrative about second possibilities. This ridiculous, foolish experiment turns into a harrowing meditation on PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and reclaim energy and manifest a contented ending that’s a must-watch horror film. It’s the right vacation reward from Grownup Swim. 

The unique Grownup Swim Yuletide Log – also called The Fire – was a bewildering filmmaking experiment the place an innocuous Yuletide Log video morphs right into a supernatural slasher extravaganza. Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2 follows one of many survivors of this bloodbath, Zoe (Andrea Laing), however understands that it could actually’t simply replicate its predecessor’s method now that the cat is out of the bag. There are such a lot of angles to soak up a sequel of this nature. Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2 does one thing that’s fully unique and sudden, but additionally finds a approach to recapture the avant-garde punk rock vitality of the primary movie. This sequel is greater than the unique in each regard and it achieves a robust feeling the place the viewers has no thought the place it’s going. There’s a reflexive, meta high quality that’s akin to Human Centipede 2 or E book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 the place the sequel acknowledges – and even immediately watches – the unique film.

Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2’s central “Hallmark versus horror” idea instantly comes collectively. There’s sufficient mileage to this idea that it by no means seems like Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2 is simply repeating the identical joke…besides when that’s the purpose. This concept works so effectively, particularly when Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2 performs with lighting, music, efficiency, and dialogue because it fluctuates between the extremes of horror and Hallmark. One of many film’s most intelligent scenes entails two characters having dinner, however their respective halves of the body appear to be they’re from fully totally different motion pictures. There’s a literal style dividing line that splits the display in half, all of which fantastically encapsulates Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2. It’s such a intelligent visible and a extremely efficient approach to evolve past what made the unique work. It turns the Hallmark style right into a constricting horror movie of its personal. Nobody has actually subverted a Hallmark film to this diploma earlier than. It’s a mission that completely exudes Kelly’s modern vitality.

The primary Grownup Swim Yuletide Log resulted in such a heightened, absurdist means. It builds to a broad place in its closing act the place it doesn’t have to fret about maintain this nonsense for the complete size of a film. It’s extremely liberating for this sequel to begin on the similar degree of exaggeration and push it to even wilder extremes. It’s so liberating and spectacular that Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2 rises to the event and reaches a heightened tone the place a floating, sentient Homicide Log is the film’s baseline and the least ridiculous factor that occurs. It permits the film to open up in stunning, ludicrous methods. It’s Texas Chainsaw Bloodbath Half 2 to Texas Chain Noticed Bloodbath. 

Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2’s surreal story and horror subversions are what’s going to impress most audiences. Nonetheless, this movie is greater than only a curious style experiment. It boasts completely unbelievable sensible results. There’s a gory set-piece that ushers within the closing act that’s actually in a league of its personal. This sequel crafts a charming creature design that’s paying homage to some lo-fi Stan Winston monster. Identical to in its predecessor, there’s extra Lynchian Black Lodge detours. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless enjoyable to see this universe develop extra of an eccentric lore and pocket dimension insanity. There’s truthfully a little bit of a Terrifier mentality with regards to the film’s extra fantastical story parts.

On prime of all the pieces else, that is additionally a horror film that’s simply stupidly humorous. The script is so intelligent with the way it lampoons each horror and Hallmark movies. This can be a film the place its closing woman, Zoe, is so traumatized by the primary movie’s occasions that she carries an axe along with her all through your entire film. In a single scene, the city’s unending parade of meet-cutes turns into an energetic impediment. Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2 is simply as profitable as an absurdist comedy as it’s as an excessive slasher sequel.

Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2: Branchin’ Out is a real delight that’s strange. It’s actually one in every of 2024’s weirdest horror motion pictures, however it’s a powerful accomplishment and stylistic masterpiece. The movie leans into comedy greater than its predecessor and there are prolonged stretches the place it’s simple to neglect that you just’re watching a horror film, not a Hallmark film. It stays a perpetually fascinating expertise. Hopefully Casper Kelly will have the ability to deliver his groundbreaking and genre-bending sensibilities to extra characteristic movies going ahead.

‘Grownup Swim Yuletide Log 2: Branchin’ Out’ is now accessible to stream on Grownup Swim and Max.