Arriving for a family holiday, a group of people in a remote mansion for a get-together find themselves stalked by a homicidal madman intent on punishing them for their beliefs against abortion and must fight to save their Christmas from the deluded psychopath.
This was a solid if slightly flawed effort. One of the better aspects here is the film's rather strong and enjoyable concept of the holidays where this one finds plenty to like here. Taking place in Australia instead of out in the countryside has plenty of somewhat familiar celebrations to focus on, from the way the food preparations are given to the way the house holds up under the decorations and lights which manages to really let the holiday flavor really sink in here. That also helps with the later slashing antics here, with the film featuring some solid scenes here with the opening ambush on the hospital carrying out the service which allows for a more action-oriented start, the initial appearance on the house which manages to feature some rather decent stalking with the killer moving through the various areas of the house which makes for some tense confrontations out in the backyard or through the kitchen. Once it gets to the killer chopping through the family members this one gets incredibly fast and frantic with plenty of nice scenes featuring the family continually trying to avoid his advances as the brawling throughout the house and outside generates the kind of solid action that makes for a solid and enjoyable time here as well as letting the excessively brutal and graphic kills generate some solid enjoyment here. These here manage to hold this one up over it's few but somewhat significant flaws on display. The main disadvantage is the fact that the film has way too many connections to the abortion theme which is incredibly hackneyed and doesn't really generate the impact it could've. The fact that this one ties that into the reasoning and motivation make no sense as the people said to have that condition are far and away completely different from that mindset and wouldn't have any kind of impetus to go on this rampage as that gives this the kind of cheesy feel that goes against the important message it's trying to make with that storyline. Not only that, but the killer himself is a joke with his hobbled and bent-over appearance not in the slightest invoking any kind of fear due to the fragile nature of his physical form, and that large number gathered together with weapons would have no problem ganging up to overpower and subdue him, especially in his physical state which doesn't in the slightest look capable of inflicting that type of intense trauma on people. The last issue is the rather awkward finale that goes on way too long and seems like it lasts too long to get it up to a respectable length, rather than flowing naturally. These here are all that really hold it back.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, a mild sex scene and themes of abortion.
This was a solid if slightly flawed effort. One of the better aspects here is the film's rather strong and enjoyable concept of the holidays where this one finds plenty to like here. Taking place in Australia instead of out in the countryside has plenty of somewhat familiar celebrations to focus on, from the way the food preparations are given to the way the house holds up under the decorations and lights which manages to really let the holiday flavor really sink in here. That also helps with the later slashing antics here, with the film featuring some solid scenes here with the opening ambush on the hospital carrying out the service which allows for a more action-oriented start, the initial appearance on the house which manages to feature some rather decent stalking with the killer moving through the various areas of the house which makes for some tense confrontations out in the backyard or through the kitchen. Once it gets to the killer chopping through the family members this one gets incredibly fast and frantic with plenty of nice scenes featuring the family continually trying to avoid his advances as the brawling throughout the house and outside generates the kind of solid action that makes for a solid and enjoyable time here as well as letting the excessively brutal and graphic kills generate some solid enjoyment here. These here manage to hold this one up over it's few but somewhat significant flaws on display. The main disadvantage is the fact that the film has way too many connections to the abortion theme which is incredibly hackneyed and doesn't really generate the impact it could've. The fact that this one ties that into the reasoning and motivation make no sense as the people said to have that condition are far and away completely different from that mindset and wouldn't have any kind of impetus to go on this rampage as that gives this the kind of cheesy feel that goes against the important message it's trying to make with that storyline. Not only that, but the killer himself is a joke with his hobbled and bent-over appearance not in the slightest invoking any kind of fear due to the fragile nature of his physical form, and that large number gathered together with weapons would have no problem ganging up to overpower and subdue him, especially in his physical state which doesn't in the slightest look capable of inflicting that type of intense trauma on people. The last issue is the rather awkward finale that goes on way too long and seems like it lasts too long to get it up to a respectable length, rather than flowing naturally. These here are all that really hold it back.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, a mild sex scene and themes of abortion.