After watching Carnage for Christmas, some fans may want to delve into the world of horror podcasts, sharing real-life encounters.
Carnage for Christmas, playing at Fantasia Festival, is a jaunty holiday slasher that’s a fun wish-fulfillment for true-crime podcasters or podcast listeners. While the performances and dialogue occasionally falter, and hearing some of the audio sound quality is challenging, it’s still an enjoyable watch. But it’s still a seasonal horror gem achieved without the blockbuster budget. After watching Carnage for Christmas, some fans may want to delve into the world of horror podcasts, sharing real-life encounters.
Directed by Alice Maio Mackay, who also directed Satranic Panic and T Blockers, and penned by Mackay and Benjamin Pahl Robinson (who co-wrote those two movies), the duo returns with a festive horror film a cut above many other low-budget flicks. The movie starts with a fictional true-crime podcaster, Lola, played by Jeremy Moineau (Tales of NYC), who relays a tale about a Santa suit-wearing killer from her childhood. When she returns for the holidays after years away, those around her start dying. With indifferent local cops doing nothing, Lola dons her true-crime detective skills to solve the case before she winds up the next victim.
Carnage for Christmas Is a Welcome Tale With a Unique Lens
While there are plenty of Christmas horror movies with a Santa-costumed killer, this one still stands out. It has a true-crime podcast element. Even though I’m not a hardcore true-crime listener who doesn’t fantasize about Sherlocking their way through a murder case? It’s why series like Only Murders in the Building are so popular. Plus, as Lola is trans, it plays a role in how she navigates the case and her narrow-minded town. Because it’s a small town filled with vile, prejudicial small-town jerks. Although it feels slightly far-fetched, monstrous people do target those whose identities fall outside the heternormative or rigid binary gender. It’s all too familiar. Yet, it is still not talked about enough.
Amazing True-Crime Style Fun With a Terrific Lead
Jeremy Moineau is impressive as Lola. Plus, her voice feels perfectly at home in true-crime podcasts. So, it adds an increased believability to her character. Her performance keeps viewers’ attention as she’s inarguably the glue that pulls the story together. Hopefully, she will get other roles, including in more horror films, in the future. Thanks to Moineau’s acting, Carnage for Christmas remains fun as she Nancy Drews her way to solve the murders.
Audio Quality Makes Listening Difficult
You’ll get the gist of what’s happening in the film. However, there are certain key moments where the audio quality is too low. This is not an issue solely with this movie. It’s just more apparent here. Still, too many pictures and theaters have impressive sound effects for action and jump scares.
Meanwhile, the conversations remain challenging to make out. In some moments, although brief, the conversation and audio do not sync up, and the ADR is egregiously obvious. Still, with the LGBTQ+ representation in this delightful slasher, it’s easy to overlook the missteps in Carnage for Christmas.
The gore is not over the top in every scene. So, when it does occur, it’s a shock each time. And who doesn’t love a rampaging Santa? There’s always room for more, and it’s lovely to see horror films with LGBTQ+ representation front and center rather than on the periphery. She isn’t struggling with her identity. Lola and those around her are fully and proudly out. Carnage for Christmas is worthwhile popcorn fun, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel where Lola moves on to solve the next slasher case.
