Red Christmas and Returning from the Dead: A Film Review

*full disclosure: a Blu-ray screener of this film was provided by Artsploitation Films.

Director/writer: Craig Anderson.

Cast: Dee Wallace, Sarah Bishop, Geoff Morrell, Janis McGavin and David Collins.

Red Christmas is a no-budget horror feature from first time feature film director Craig Anderson. Anderson even admits that most actors were not even paid for their roles, in the film's commentary. Just released by Artsploitation Films, Anderson brings a family tragedy to the screen, with his interesting characters. All of the characters are multi-dimensional here. Though, the film's plot plods slowly along through the film's mid-point. Here, the focus is on dispatching a few of the characters, in gruesome ways. The film tackles a difficult subject, abortion. The message is convoluted thanks to the dark humour. But, the film does show that abortion does have consequences as seen in the film's high body count and disturbing images. Overall, Red Christmas is a bloody good time spent with an intriguing cast of characters.

All of the characters are part of one big Australian family. And, there are no character cliches here. Actress Dee Wallace plays Diane, the film's protagonist. She has a bit of a sordid past. In an early scene, at an abortion centre, viewers get to see one of Diane's worst decisions. That poor decision comes back from the dead, twenty years later. He is there to both haunt her and to try and kill her. There are other complex characters here. A pastor, Peter (David Collins), is not able to repress his homosexual proclivities. His white collar is only really for show. Other family members are dealing with pregnancy or potential pregnancy. And, all of these characters make the film's story interesting and watchable.

The Grim Reaper has an appointment to keep.

There is only one or two negatives, in the film. This viewer thought that the main plot moved forward a bit too slowly. Once the antagonist is introduced, there is a showdown with the protagonist. But, nothing is really resolved between these two characters, until late in the picture. In the meantime, some of the more minor characters struggle to stay alive. The visual effects department keeps the screen alive and full of reds. Still, the story meanders a bit. The antagonist could have questioned his mother and her decisions a little more, to keep things interesting. As it is, Acts II and III are mostly focused on the bloody spectacle.

Red Christmas is one of the few films to bring a moral play - to the screen. Anderson asks a question: what are the consequences to abortion? The answer is hyperbolized in the Grim Reaper look-a-like. His mutated face shows one consequence. There are more detriments to child-killing, though. An entire family finds this out, throughout the film. Few survive to the credits. Director and writer Anderson does not really confront the viewer with morality. But, there is this underlining message, that abortion is wrong. Or, at the very least, there are consequences to abortion. One of those consequences emerges from a bloody bucket, after the abortion clinic is bombed. A late hanging scene leaves another pivotal character hung out to dry. The film ends on a sad and tragic note as it should, based on the difficult material.

Red Christmas is an Australian film, which was just released in the United States. Released on DVD and Blu-ray by Artsploitation Films, this indie horror film tackles a difficult topic. Meanwhile, characters are thankfully developed before their inevitable deaths. The villain is a sympathetic character, thought hard to look at (when unmasked). The film softens the edge of its anti-abortion message, with the inclusion of dark humour. Though, the jokes are a bit hit-and-miss. This viewer laughed at a few of the lines and scenarios delivered by the character Jerry (Gerard Odwyer). Jerry can hardly get his shoes on, during one pivotal scene. Still, this is a mostly serious horror film, which challenges viewers to look at their own views on abortion as the body count builds.

Overall: 7 out of 10.

Red Christmas at Artsploitation Films: Red Christmas Release Details at Artsploitation


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