Santa Isn´t Real

Back in the 90´s i used to celebrate Christmas with the whole family, even if there were moments of chaos where people argues or just had to make drama situations out of nothing. But i especially remember one Christmas Eve in 1995 when i was 18 years old i was having drinks with my grandfather. Across the street a neighbor knocked on our door because he needed someone to be Santa Claus. He asked me if i could be their Santa this year and i told him:- I have been drinking maybe not the best idea. But he didn´t care he just needed a Santa right away. So he got me the Santa clothes and i dressed up carrying the presents in an old sack and i told myself to at least try to act as Santa. As i entered the door the children were really happy. I remember that one of the girls wanted to sit on my lap and tell me what she wished for this Christmas and then she said:- Santa you smell strange from your breath. I answered:- Ho ho ho, Santa had a different kind of coffee. I gave the children the presents and everything seemed alright. Until i got up and was about to go out since i was drunk. Another child asked:- Santa why are you walking strange? I answered:- Ho ho ho, Santa have been doing lots of exercise lately and is tired in my legs. As i walked out waving to the children, i slipped on some ice and hit my head. Now, remember i was drunk so it didn´t make things easier but i eventually got up and headed inside the Christmas party. My grandfather asked me how it went and i said:- It went good let´s have another drink. I could have said it went really bad but at least the kids seemed to be pleased. Horror films with Santa Claus is something i have always appreciated ever since i first saw the 1984 horror classic Silent Night, Deadly Night from director Charles E. Sellier Jr. It was this Christmas horror film that really made me feel like they captured Santa Claus as i would like him to be, taking out victims who doesn´t appreciate the magic of Christmas. Silent Night, Deadly Night is a fun slasher horror film especially for you who like the Christmas holidays. I have not seen all the sequels but i have a feeling i will try to watch them all at some point. This year we had some Christmas horror movies released and one of them i did decided to check out is called Santa Isn´t Real. A low budget horror film that looked like fun through the official trailer. Is this the Christmas horror film we all need to end this year of 2023 or should you avoid this one and watch Silent Night, Deadly Night instead?

On Christmas Eve while enjoying her holiday, Nikki ( Kaya Coleman ) is brutally attacked by a masked Santa Claus and pass out. She wakes up almost a year later out of a coma and decides to go with a group of friends to a remoted cabin. Even if she needs time to heal the group try and adjust to make this Christmas enjoyable. The further this weekend goes the more they will realise that everything is not what it seems to be.

In some ways you could say that Santa Isn´t Real does feel inspired by Christmas horror classics such as Silent Night, Deadly Night since you can sense that while watching this film. It is almost as if director Zac Locke ( who is actually one of the executive producers of the great serial killer film Bloodline with Sean William Scott, worth checking out ) have listened to what fans of this genre appreciate, seeing Santa killing victims the old school way. I do have some issues with this film but let´s talk about that later and bring up the positive regarding Santa Isn´t Real. I definetely enjoy the Santa mask and it really fits in with this killer Santa. The mask does look like it´s almost influenced by the Halloween weekend as if Santa didn´t want to wait until Christmas and he needs to do some more killing. I also feel that the Christmas spirit is captured in this film with Christmas decorations, Christmas music and a group of friends gathering to enjoy the holidays. Even though the plot have been done so many times before in a cabin out in the middle of nowhere, i do feel that it works in this film considering that the main character Nikki ( played by wonderful actress Kaya Coleman ) have woken up from a coma and needs to be at a calm location. Speaking of Kaya i do feel that she is a great choice for her character Nikki and she feels natural in her role. So it´s time we talk about the problems with Santa Isn´t Real and i have to start with actor Trey Andersson as Nikki´s boyfriend Nathan. Considering he is supposed to be a boyfriend he acts like he doesn´t feel anything for her at all, and i just can´t buy that he is supposed to love her. I don´t know if Trey thought that this would be a good portrait but it doesn´t work. This film has far too little kills when it is supposed to be a slasher. The few times we do get some kills i enjoy them but we would have needed some more. If you leave some of the problems aside and just look at Santa Isn´t Real for what it is a low budget slasher film, this is the kind of film that fans of B movies would appreciate. Director Zac Locke may not have made a Christmas classic but deliver a low budget horror that´s charming enough to bring out the true joy of Christmas with Santa Isn´t Real. A film for you who especially love lots of snow and a cabin with no neighbors, how can anyone say no to that combination?

Rating: DDD