Though it delivers on the promise of a killer Santa robot terrorizing, it didn’t pack enough “Ho! Ho!”s along with its “Holy Sh*t!”s.
The first half, which is mostly character heavy dialogue, was engaging but a bit personally grating as it approached moments of hanging out with my friends. I feel like I have been around these characters a lot, which was a little too close to home even though the actors did a good job (especially Riley Dandy). Then the killing kicks off, and tends to be proper parts ramped-up ridiculous, garishly gory, and tenaciously Terminating. Unfortunately the eyes-widdening and guffaw causing moments aren’t enough to drive this murder sleigh through the night. Fun at times, it gets a little monotonous over its short life.
Though not as slick as some of the V/H/S and Robocop satirical commercials, the in-world ads are fun, but lacking. I appreciate what they meant to add with their inclusion but I can’t say the same about the juxtaposition in editing head-based trauma & titillation. Perhaps it was only to be a surface level gag, but any deeper satisfying connection between the two either wasn’t picked up or appreciated by me.
This is my 3rd Joe Begos film and unfortunately, this was my least favorite of the trio. It’s some schlocky horror fun, but just didn’t hit like I hoped.
