SYNOPSIS:
Christmas at a roadkill assortment firm will get bloody as workers are killed off one after the other by an evil reindeer who’s lifeless set on killing all of them. Will they work out who’s the killer? Or will all of them be Flattened?
REVIEW:
A Very Flattened Christmas, is a brand new impartial characteristic created by Director Shane Wallace and Co-writer Key Tawn Toothman (additionally essential character “Max Peters”)
Whereas being horror-centric, “A Very Flattened Christmas” approaches its supply with a agency slice of B-movie humor and dynamic forged that out-of-the field are characters unto themselves. It doesn’t fairly achieve making “cult” standing, nevertheless it actually borrows its method from a smattering of like-influences. Most notably, the odd overacting that by default is fairly entertaining. I used to be extra reminded of an early day Troma-esque sort of presentation (aka Poisonous Avenger or others).
Seemingly well-edited and shot on a good funds, it’s maybe the restrictions that add an fascinating dose of contemporary humor in presentation alone (or lack of seriousness).
One particularly, is the antagonist creature that begins the film underneath an enigma of “creep or creature” out within the woods lurking about (the highway kill scene was quirky!). I discovered the concept of centering an organization specializing in highway kill cleanup fairly humorous, however most actually the method of this creature in odd circumstances, much more charming. At first, I assumed an supposed monster which then later was revealed extra as deer-masked killer with an agency agenda.
There’s an supposed white-trash supply that echoes small city people with huge native issues creating domestically…. however extra particular to the focal Wichita firm of the film. Now if any doubts, then the mock red-neck funeral or the oddly uncomfortable firm Christmas celebration will definitely convey that concept dwelling. Dick Puncher was amusing in his over-the-tope narcissism and inflated ego that reeked of….”let’s kill him off first” narrative.
Now most tackling this piece will acknowledge it for what it’s, a domestically acted do-it-yourself manufacturing. Nonetheless placing that every one except for the droll of massive studios who cater to huge names and repeated idea motion scenes, “A Very Flattened Christmas (2024)” presents b-style horror with a contact of hillbilly persona woven in and an authentic aptitude. In actual fact you may even anticipate these characters to indicate up in David Lee Roth video. The shock right here was some effectively down animation woven all through that served because the manufacturing counterpoint of the movie known as “Dick Puncher Saves Christmas”.
Attending to the premise at hand, the locals collect to pay homage to Jay, a buddy who was not too long ago taken out and left for lifeless by an unknown assailant. This offers a path to fulfill the characters of the movie, who use the funeral as a introduction to their weird personalities. The film evolves with a annoyed Max Peters (Key Tawn Toothman) attempting to resolve issues, Dan (Trevor Vincent Farney) the bed room serial profiler, and Maddie (Kaemie McCanless) the needy rejected love curiosity of the film.
Kudos to Wallace and workforce for what I assume to be their first horror effort. I might like to see the character builds evolve in future efforts from this workforce possibly exploiting the side of sensible results in additional fascinating methods (Ref movies like “Necrostorm” creates).
I’ll say I nonetheless didn’t perceive what was meant by “flattened Christmas”, or possibly I simply missed that side within the script. I might solely assume it was a reference to highway kill. Once more, in case you are a Troma fan, then you need to really feel proper at dwelling with this effort.
