Being surrounded by your friends and family during Christmas time seems to be something that many people like to do. While you might not see them every day, it is nice to have a time set aside to be with them and just let life pass you by a little bit. While the conversations will involve work, other sides of the family and politics, it is important to remember why you are all together. With nothing being more important than family, make sure you let them understand that as well, even if you are not able to make the venture, a phone call or email will make sure they know that you are thinking about them.
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As Christmas Eve has finally arrived, the girls of the Delta Alpha Kappa house are ready to start opening up their presents and no one is more excited than the house mother, Ms. Mac. Making sure that all of the girls that have stayed in the house over the holiday are downstairs, they are having a hard time in locating Megan, who seems to hate Christmas. Not knowing what is going on with their sorority sister, the girls leave her be for the time being, but as the night draws on, they start to hear disturbing sounds coming from upstairs.

Finding Kyle in Megan’s room, the girls don’t know what to think, but Kelli is very unhappy that her boyfriend has broken into the house. Knowing more about the house than anyone else, Kyle is happy to tell everyone what happened back in 1991 when the legend of Billy Lenz was born under this very roof. Recounting that Billy blinded his little sister Agnes and killed his mother and father and decided to feast on his prize, the young killer and his sister were placed in an asylum. Not knowing what happened to either of the siblings, the group is about to find out that they are not alone in the house.

Getting a visit from Clair’s sister Leigh, the group had no idea that the young woman was missing. Checking under the Christmas tree, Leigh notices that there is a present for Agnes from Billy which is very strange. With a plan in place to not leave the house before she finds out where her little sister is, Leigh and all of the sisters of the house are in for a night to remember as the phone will not stop ringing and the creep on the other end is looking for Agnes. Coming to the conclusion that it has to be Billy, the house starts to be terrorized from the inside and with little to no ways to fight back, the Delta Alpha Kappa legacy will never be the same again.

Following the premise of the first movie, this remake takes things to another level as you get to see the killer along with his methods. Learning more about the house where Billy grew up (and killed his parents in) really added some genuine terror to the story. With a ton of blood hiding the floors all around, it is just a splatter fest and if you are into gore, this might be more of your cup of tea than the original. With fighting sorority sisters, plenty of boozing, a Christmas killer, a father/brother, some cannibalism, eyeballs and a little sister who is sick of being locked away, this is a Christmas slasher that will make you think twice about living in a house that could have so much pain locked inside. Stay Scared.

​One of the best things about Christmas time are the parties that are thrown during the season. Just fun get togethers with friends always makes the season seem a little bit more magical. And parties with friends are just the beginning as many employers like to show their cheer by hosting little events for their employees. With good conversations, tons of laughter and some spirited cheer, Christmas is just that time of year where you can wear a smile that nobody can take from you.
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After the holiday party subsides in the sorority house, the girls are looking to have a little fun and get their house mother Mrs. Mac to open her present. Loving how the night is starting off, a phone call starts to get some of the girls to worry about who might be on the other side of the line. The Moaner usually sticks to the same script when chatting with the college girls, but after being reamed out by the drunken Barb, he deviates and promises to kill her. As everyone retires for the night, they have no idea that one of their own has been taken from the house and there will be more to come.

Arriving at their meeting spot and not seeing his daughter, Mr. Harrison finds his way to the sorority house to find that Mrs. Mac has no idea where Clare could possibly be. Not being too impressed with his daughter’s room, much less the state of the house, Mr. Harrison decides to get the police involved and files a missing person’s report with Barb and Phyl. Promising to look into it, the police set up a search party as the night rolls in and wind up finding the body of a thirteen-year-old girl. With a slight panic around campus starting up, everyone is told to keep their doors and windows locked to make sure they are safe for the holiday.

While everyone is looking for Clare, Jess has a problem of her own as she has just found out that she is pregnant and wants to abort the baby. But her boyfriend Peter does not believe that this should be up to her as the child is his as well and he is looking forward to leaving the town with her. Not knowing what to do next, Jess gets a call from the Moaner as well and decides to get the police involved. As Lieutenant Fuller gets on the case, he taps the phone to find out where the calls are coming from. But little does anyone know who else is hiding in the house and what they are capable of on this holiday eve.

If you are looking for a Christmas classic, especially for horror, this might be the one for you. Even though you do not get all of the holiday gore that other movies have offered through the years, it is the benchmark for a thriller that will keep you guessing who the killer really is. The thing that I like most about this movie is that the killer does not have a motive, he/she just wants its life back, from where? We may never truly know. The sorority sisters are great, and Barb really steals the show with her drunken persona which I don’t ever think anyone can outdo. With a killer in the shadows, messed up phone calls, a police sergeant that does not get it, bodies pilling up in the house and Christmas cheer, if this is not one of your favorite holiday horror movies yet, it soon will be. Stay Scared.

One thing that horror fans everywhere can agree upon, is that the genre is by far, the most intelligent one out there. For there is no other genre of storytelling that takes the time to examine the human condition or modern society and its current woes, the way that horror does, and it is the intelligence present within scary stories, that is helping it to enjoy its sustained success. Since audiences everywhere are eager to see what these movies have to say about us and the future looks bright for these films as well, since they are now breaking into new philosophical territory regarding the human experience.

But while it is wonderful to enjoy horror films that are filled to the brim with commentary and meaningful concepts on a consistent basis, one can never forget… that the genre’s roots are grounded in simplicity. For this is a genre designed to scare us and unsettle us and explore the dark recesses of the human imagination that ponders upon what could possibly be going bump in the night and thankfully, horror hasn’t let that fundamental aspect of its storytelling go the wayside. It just means we have to look a little harder for the stories that are all about the gore and the scares and everything in between and thankfully, the horror streaming service Shudder is aiding in that hunt…. courtesy of its brand-new, commentary free and splatter filled release, Death Valley.

Now in this particular film, we are transported deep beneath the surface of the earth and into the confines of a secret research lab where something horrible has happened. In that, a genetic experiment has broken free of its cell and is wreaking havoc within the facility to the point where there is only one survivor left, a doctor named Chloe, who makes an impassioned plea for rescue. Which means that it will be up to a man named James Beckett and his buddy Marshall to infiltrate this facility with a crackpot team of fellow mercenaries to rescue Chloe before other nefarious parties breach the faculty and its hidden secrets. Which should be a straightforward mission for this pair of war worn veterans, provided of course… they can outwit and outlast the horrors that await them in the dark.

Which is at first glance, a plot that seems more grounded in science fiction and action over horror and that is part of the charm of this motion picture. Because it doesn’t shy away from those elements in the slightest since we are indeed treated to some hints of Schwarzenegger as the mercenaries do their best to get ahead of the local militia trying to break into this facility as well and what makes this so lovely… is that it makes the viewer quite comfortable. Because you’ve seen this kind of stuff before and its fun and entertaining and once, you’re cozy in your chair and enjoying the explosions and wickedly delightful one liners that Marshall fires off as often as he fires off bullets, is when this movie shifts gears and outright surprises you.

Because once we get into the research facility the horror can begin and boy does this movie deliver in regard to that. Because the monsters that lurk in the dark are indeed the stuff of nightmares. In fact, we would be rude to not point out the quality work that went into these gooey and eerie creations, and their desire to accomplish their gory goals, leads to some equally as impressive gore sequences. The kind that makes your stomach turn by way of splatter that is grounded in pure savagery, and the wonder of the horror side of this story doesn’t end there. Since the movie effectively uses shadows and darkness to execute some quality jump scares, allowing for an immersive and terrifying experience, one that is bookended nicely by some serious surprise twists in the plot.

Which… we won’t spoil here in the slightest. Because this is a journey that is best experienced firsthand… or potentially with a friend that is curious about exploring the journey. For this movie really does have something for everyone, since the comedy and the action and adventure will please fans of those genres and suck them into a fun and simple story. One that sticks to the basics of horror, since this is at its core, a good old-fashioned gory creature feature, complete with all the elements you love about stories where science crosses the line a la Frankenstein. So, if you’re looking for a great horror flick to just lose yourself within for a little while, then log into Shudder when you have a chance and give Death Valley a look, you’ll be glad you did.

Getting together with family over Christmas is something that has been a tradition for longer than I have been around. I still remember the days when Christmas break arrived, and my parents and I piled into the car and made our way toward my grandparent’s house. And it wasn’t just us that made the journey, as my aunts and uncles from all over the country would join as well, making the holiday something special for the entire family. With my grandparents gone now, the tradition of making our trek to their house has gone away, but the love for the family has not and while we do not always travel to see each other every year, the phone calls and Skyping have helped to keep the family together, during and after the holidays.
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Taking their first trip in years to visit the grandparents, Will is happy to have his wife Amber and kids, Tommy and Fiona, along for the ride. Arriving at the house, Tommy and his father are blown away by all of the dead animals on the walls, along with Grandpa Dale’s stories about the beasts that roam in the desert. Seeing that his grandpa is a stone-cold killer, Tommy has no idea what the trip will have in store for him, only that he will not only be seeing them, but his perv cousin Troy as well and the two will be forced to share the same room once again.

Dave is not entirely sure what this trip will have in store for him, but he reluctantly accepts the invitation from his parents to come and visit for Christmas. With his wife Vivian and son Troy coming along, Dave has made it very clear that he does not value his brother’s and parent’s choices, but he will try to keep his mouth shut. Seeing his complete family again, Dave wants little to do with sticking around in the house of death that his father created and gets the boys to head with him down to the local creek to try and pan for gold. Not being able to get Troy to participate, Dave hands the pan over to little Tommy who is able to find something strange in the water, and nobody knows what it is.

Bringing the strange rock back to the house, Tommy becomes very attached to it and Troy notices this and takes it away. Dropping a cigarette next to the old stone, Troy has no idea what he has unleashed upon the folks of the small town. As night falls on the community and neighbor Bonnie hears something strange outside of her window, she sees firsthand the horror that is Krampus. Fleeing to Dale’s house with a story that nobody will believe, the men head out to see if they can find the creature but have no idea what they are up against. As Dave is the only man to make it back to the house in one piece, he knows that not even the police can help them and tries to get everyone to leave as soon as possible. Yet Krampus cannot be stopped as he quickly finds out and Bonnie is left to try and take the kids to safety and she might know someone that can help them, but will she be able to find them quickly enough?

This is just your average look at Krampus over the holiday season, said no one! This beast is looking to feed until his appetite for blood has been fulfilled and I will just say wow, because that is a lot of blood. I liked the group as it got smaller as Krampus continued to feast, it seemed like you got to know everybody better. The dysfunctional family storyline was great, not being able to get everyone on the same page is just something that you see on the daily. With a summoning stone, Bigfoot hunters, a frightened neighbor, a treasure, some blood, some guts, some missing limbs and a Krampus, this movie takes you to places you might not want to venture. While I always like to say that family comes first, this movie just goes a step further in making sure that you understand that and that the Krampus really likes blood. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Ragdoll’.
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When one thinks of stories that revolve around mental health and the road to recovery stemming from a break in that health… we think of inspiration. After all, those types of stories speak to the power of the human condition and how we are resilient and strong and unyielding in our quest to be better and those underlying themes, allow for wonders to take place. Wherein the character suffering from that break, stands tall in the face of adversity and despite some minor stumbles and setbacks, conquers their mental health and demons within before looking toward a hopeful future, one where they finally find peace and fulfillment. Which is a wonderful way to end those stories since you feel great when you put the book down or turn off the television. But alas, that type of story is outright fluff.

Because in reality, the battle to recover from a mental break is no different than coming back from a major physical injury. Which means there is serious recovery involved. The kind that requires all kinds of therapy and retraining of the mind and a concerted effort to not let the brain slip back into old and negative habits and that is at times, no easy task. Since negative thoughts are powerful and traumatic triggers can come about on a moment’s notice and this aspect of recovery is perhaps the scariest part of the process. Because when it occurs, it seems as though one isn’t making progress and one definitely worries that perhaps… one bad day might break them completely. If anything, this more realistic side to mental health recovery is top of mind today, simply because it served as the focal struggle for Detective Sergeant Nathan Rose in the next episode of Ragdoll.

For when we catch up with Rose here, he is embroiled in a powerful cat and mouse game with the Ragdoll Killer/The Faust, the kind that forces Rose to face so much and well… having the burden of the case upon him and his own mortality on the line, combined with the survival related mistakes he’s made over the past few weeks, puts him in quite the dark place. One where his confidence in shot, and where his friendships and relationships are in tatters, and this was just stunning to watch. For this is the struggle in the raw, these are the hardships that come with the road to recovery from a break and that made this sequence both powerful and brilliant all at once. In large part because it finally put a taboo aspect of recovery on display, and also because this helped us to genuinely care about Rose like never before.

However, while this exploration was quite incredible in its own right… we would be foolish to not discuss the fact that this episode also takes the case in a new direction. Because there was a bright side to be found in Rose’s missteps in this tale, in that, it prompted Baxter to push the chaos aside and look at the fundamentals of the case and work to understand the clues that were already in front of the task force. And for her efforts, some serious surprises and revelations came to light, the kind that might change everything for the better, provided of course that terrifying ending doesn’t take the story to darker places. Which we will not spoil here, because it is that epic and that stunning and you need to experience it, and all the other surprises present in this tale firsthand. 

But we can in the meantime, celebrate one powerful tale, one that took its central theme to a whole new level by giving Rose one of the most realistic struggles regarding mental health to ever grace the small screen and this show deserves a standing ovation for going that route. Because it is brave and bold for certain, and it does also set the stage for the finale as well. Because in order to beat the Ragdoll Killer and find the sense of closure he so desperately craves, Rose is going to have to figure out how to cope with his mental state and conquer it just long enough to do his thing and that is going to make the wait for said finale, as brutal as it gets. Until next time.  

Christmas is the best time of the year to spend with your family, but there are folks out there that do not have a family and what should they do to celebrate? Over my years, I have met many of these people and while I feel bad for them, I know there is something that I can do to help brighten their spirits. Hanging out on Christmas Eve at a local watering hole and having fun conversations with them and talking about life gives many people a smile that they would not usually have. Even taking it a step further and inviting them over for dinner has happened and it becomes a very entertaining evening. This is not a way to take pity on people that don’t have a family, but rather a nice way to convey Christmas cheer to those who may not have it otherwise and a great thing to do to celebrate the holiday. 
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Getting another drink in him, Tom is just happy to have his friendly bartender Eddie with him. After losing his parents years ago, Christmas is a rough time for Tom and it usually results in a failed suicide attempt, but tonight will be different. Seeing a man entering the bar, covered in blood, who only wants to use the restroom, Eddie calls the police since he knows that there is something up. As the Janitor comes out of the restroom, the two men urge him to stay until the police arrive and find out that he has a story to tell.

Running into the bar after being attacked by some crazed people in the parking lot, Sam is next to himself and wants to know what is happening around town. With the promise of taking the group to the station, the group heads outside to see a group of zombies surrounding the officer’s car. Beating them down with a shovel, the Janitor takes the lead, only to find out that Sam is taking him back to where it all started. Not wanting to return to the university where the zombies came from, the Janitor has no choice in the matter as Sam has his gun and is not afraid to use it, even on the innocent.

Making their way upstairs, Sam, Eddie, Tom, a Perp and the Janitor come across the hall where the Janitor was first attacked. Seeing that the bodies have somehow moved away after they were re-killed, the Janitor urges the group to find some weapons, but Sam is having none of it. As a power struggle commences between the two men, they find that the group has separated, but more importantly they discover that the cadavers in the school have come back to life. Listening to the Janitor’s story about what he saw before fleeing the school, the group know that there is one person that might have answers, but when reading the professor’s notes, they find out that they will be in for a fight of lifetime, one that not everyone will walk away from.

Being shot in Grindhouse fashion, this is just a great zombie movie that revolves around Christmas. You cannot help but to like all of the characters, especially when the cadavers start to make a run at them. While you have two headstrong characters facing off for power over the group, you find that they both have their motives for fighting off the undead. This movie also gives you plenty of laughs to go along with the gore that fills the halls of the school and even in the face of danger, you still find a laugh or two to keep you from shying away from the screen. With cadavers returning to life, plenty of blood, zombies, bits, separated limbs, a Perp, a Janitor, an Officer, a Bartender, a campus security guard and the truth behind reanimation being revealed, this is just a fun zombie movie that will keep you intrigued throughout, mostly because when you see Christmas decorations being used as weapons, it is hard to look away. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 408 of ‘The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the modern world has quite the complicated relationship with the clown. Because these trickers and goofballs that are supposed to entertain us and make us laugh, tend to terrify people more often than not and it is fascinating that they are able to strike fear in our hearts. Because no one really has a solid answer as to why the clown terrifies them so. Sure, they can cite Tim Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 It TV miniseries as a good and solid reason as to why they fear the clown, but beyond that… people just deem them creepy and this has become such a universal fear, that the clown has now become a fixture of the horror genre. 

To the point where Pennywise received his own two-part movie series starting in 2017 and where John Carroll Lynch played one that was designed to prey upon our darkest fears in American Horror Story, and even cult classics like Killer Klowns from Outer Space are finding new life among fans because of the terror they now invoke. But while we may not have a precise reason as to why they scare us so, that doesn’t mean the chills they send down our spines shouldn’t be celebrated and that is precisely why the Boulet Brothers opted to spotlight them in the next episode of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula. For the final four monsters are the best the show has to offer, and their skill set would allow for them to create some terrifying clowns and they did indeed do so… after dealing with more unique challenges. 

For ‘Killer Clowns’ also saw the final four, reunite with Merrie Cherry for a hot minute to take part in a dunk tank battle royale. One that would help the winner choose the best ride possible. For in addition to putting on a clown-themed floor show this week, the monsters would also take part in a horrifying go kart race in full clown costume and once Dahli won the dunk tank fight and assigned the rides, the group got down to business and created their clown costumes and well… the preparation sequence, definitely built up some serious excitement for the floor show. Because each and every one of them, understood the assignment and what the Boulet Brothers wanted from their costumes going forward and that allowed for quite the powerhouse floor show to take place when the time finally arrived, one that undoubtedly sent anyone with a fear of clowns, out of the room.

Because everyone gave life to some mortifying clowns. The kind that absolutely evoked a sense of terror. In fact, on a side note, this writer has no problem with clowns in the slightest, but some of the looks… specifically Dahli and Sigourney’s… left me uncomfortable for certain with the unsettling nature of their costumes and well, it’s a good thing they delivered. Because the judges had a lot of good things to say, and the wonder of this competition didn’t end there. For the go kart race in question, was the stuff of nightmares. One where all kinds of clowns rose from the grave to terrorize our beloved monsters and throw pies into their faces and once this creepy race came to a close… the elimination round was able to get underway and we are going to talk about that in some detail today. Simply because… it was both stunning and compelling. For not only did the Boulet Brothers opt to handle the elimination in another surreal manner, by using puppet versions of the monsters to tell an uncomfortable, carnival style tale, but they also… dropped a cliffhanger our way.

Because we simply don't know who was eliminated this week, despite seeing blood and guts on the screen and that’s brilliant to say the least. Because it gives us hope that the final four will stay intact for one more week since the costumes were so killer this week and it just plain adds drama to an episode that was utterly top notch. Because the Boulet Brothers didn’t try and explain away our newfound collective fear of the clown, they just embraced it and took us on a terrifying ride and that’s no small feat. Since a drag competition shouldn’t be an outright emotional experience. But that’s what happened here, and it was wonderful and now that this incredible episode has come to an end… we’re left waiting with bated breath for the beginning of the end. For the final leg of the competition awaits us and if it is anything akin to this episode, we are in for quite the terrifying treat. Until next time.

One thing that horror fans can agree upon, is that the Shudder series, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, has been incredibly good for the genre. Because not only has this show helped to reach the masses by way of relatable and wonderful competitors who let their imaginations run wild with their terrifying creations, but it has also done a wonderful job of introducing long forgotten corners of the genre to its fans by way of educational episodes, and it even provides the audience with mini horror movies. Which outright tell a complete story week in and week out and to top it all off, season four of this trailblazing series has become the most streamed program on Shudder.
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Which means Drac and Swan deserve a round of applause and our congratulations for putting together one of the most dynamic horror shows of the year and for cementing their standing as a staple of the network. For earlier today, Shudder announced that The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula will be returning for a fifth season on the network and well, here are all the details on this momentous announcement, courtesy of Shudder, and we here at Nerds That Geek cannot wait to see what new horrors await us when The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula returns for season five.

‘Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today the renewal of the hit drag competition series The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula for a fifth season. The renewal comes ahead of the final two episodes of season four, with the finale, which will crown the world’s next drag supermonster and award the season’s $100,000 grand prize, debuting Tuesday, December 21.  In the seven weeks since it premiered, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula season 4 has been the most watched program on Shudder.

“We are so thrilled to be celebrating the monumental success of season 4 with our new partners at Shudder. It has been a roller coaster ride of a season, and we’re still overwhelmed with how engaged and passionate fans and critics have been all season long,” said The Boulet Brothers. “Season 4 is a real triumph for our team, but it’s only the beginning, and we can’t wait to share what we have planned next. We have such sights to show you!”

“We believed this new season would be something special, and The Boulet Brothers did not disappoint, delivering  a wildly entertaining show that solidifies its hit status among a passionate and growing global fanbase,” said Craig Engler, Shudder’s General Manager. “We look forward to sharing these final season four episodes with audiences, as we crown a winner from a diverse roster of talented contestants and are delighted to continue our collaboration with The Boulet Brothers on a fifth season next year.”

Created, written and produced by series’ hosts the Boulet Brothers, the fourth season featured drag artists from around the world for the first time competing in challenges ranging from costume creation and makeup artistry to live performance and acting with the winner taking home a $100,000 grand prize, the largest in the show’s history. Season four followed a successful launch for the Shudder Original The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Resurrection, the innovative, two-hour film – part horror movie, part documentary and part reality competition – which was one of the service’s most watched premieres of 2020.

The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula is written, produced and co-directed by the Boulet Brothers, directed by Nathan Noyes and executive produced by David Sigurani. On behalf of Shudder, Executive Producers Craig Engler and Emily Gotto; Executive in Charge Nick Lazo and Producer Samuel Zimmerman. Season 4 is produced in association with OUTtv.’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of ‘Midnight Mass’.
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While it is always wonderful to enjoy a horror story that is filled to the brim with deep commentary and dramatic moments and incredible meaning, there comes a point in that story’s life cycle where it has to abandon all of those elements and lean hard into the scares. Simply because, that is what the audience wants and why they settled in to watch this story in the first place and also because… to do otherwise… wouldn’t make said story, a horror story at all. It would in fact, make it a strange hybrid tale with horror elements and that is likely why Mike Flanagan and his creative team, opted to put their intelligent commentary on religion out of sight for the majority of the final episode of Midnight Mass. All so this series could display the terror expected of it and wow, did this decision pay off in spades.
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For ‘Book VII: Revelation’ is an outright masterclass in horror since it provides the viewer with an unyielding assault on their senses and it accomplished this feat, courtesy of Bev Keane’s selfish and idiotic decision to open the doors to the church. For those that were now vampires, hadn’t a clue they were vampires and didn’t understand their hunger. They just knew they needed to feed and did so with impunity in the dead of night, allowing for a Romero-esque sequence to take place where people were pulled from their homes and feasted upon in the darkness and the bedlam that came out of this, prompted some hard decisions to be made by Erin and her friends. For they realized that if left unchecked, these monsters would reach the mainland and that in turn… would be the end of everything. 

A revelation that motivated them to sacrifice themselves to keep the whole of humanity safe and one by one… they fell to either Bev Keane’s mob or the head vampire himself. But their end was not in vain. For they set fire to the boats, trapping everyone on the island and the Rec Center that Bev planned to use for daylight shelter… burned with the rest of island. Making her a grand fool at last since it was her decision to burn everything but the shelter and well… that action also made her a doomed fool. For she and the majority of the island’s inhabitants, would now suffer the same fate as Riley once the sun arrived and that led to a mostly bleak finale. In fact, the only real joy to come out of this end, came about from Erin’s decision to keep the master of these vampires close to her veins. Since she was able to wound its wings badly enough that it couldn’t escape the sunlight when it finally arrived.

But outside of that, just about everyone we came to know on this island over the past few weeks, turned to ash once daybreak arrived… leaving the island devoid of life and structures and this ending also left Warren Flynn and Leeza Scarborough in a tenuous place. Since they were of course, floating on a boat and watching their home burn, leaving all of us to wonder… what would have been if Monsignor Pruitt had left well enough alone and accepted his fate and well, what’s surprising about that ending… outside of the terror it instills, is that this is where the commentary comes back into play. For this is the kind of finale that forces you to sit in silence and think about all the horrors untold you just experienced and the meaning of the story and well, what that silence has to say about the dangers of religion and what needs to change is powerful and impactful for certain. 
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Since it basically tasks the audience to demand that we reform religion through and through. For its false promises and dedication to stories that are unproven, makes it dangerous. Which means that in order for it to survive and in order for it to be impactful going forward… religion needs to focus heavily on how it can help people, and how it can use stories to inspire. Which means it can no longer worship deities and concepts, it must celebrate the human condition, and how we share in the same sorrow and joy, and it must preach for a need for all of us to come together and lift one another up and above all else, it must teach everyone how they can improve their lives through their actions instead of through blind faith. And if by chance religion can do all that, then it will indeed make the world a better place.

But as this finale points out, we are a long way from that. For right now, religion is embraced by the wicked and the broken and they use its purity to offer comfort and absolution for vengeful acts and twisted lessons and well… while we wait for that day when religion becomes less about the unjust and how it can serve them better and more about humanity and the wonderful things we can accomplish as a people if we set aside our differences and embrace the wonder of love, we can bask in the wonder of one powerful and horrifying tale. One that truly offered up a sobering look at modern religion and scared the hell out of us in doing so, by putting the worst parts of religion and our psyche on display.  

​Ever since I was a little kid, I have always been a little leery about those Santa Claus’ at the mall. It had nothing to do with the stranger danger aspect, I was afraid of his beard since nobody I knew had one. Now that I have one, I am over my fears of the Santa’s that live in the mall, I mean it used to be great to see kids with big smiles on their faces getting their picture taken. Even though times have changed, and Santa is now hidden in his house in the mall, I wonder why he does not just stay their year-round, I mean he has a house and kids have wishes 365 days a year, but I digress. The point is, Santa is not creepy anymore.
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With another Christmas coming around, Harry Stadling is keeping an eye on his neighbor’s kids to see who is naughty and who is nice. Keeping a list of everything that they do, he is looking to make it a great year for them yet again. With only one outlier, all of the kids are on his good side, and he will make something special for them this year at the toy factory, and at his home workshop. Nothing will keep Harry from making this Christmas as special as can be, but he is starting to see the rotten underbelly of what Christmas really means.

Getting taken advantage of at work, Harry has added another person to the Naughty list. But this is not enough to keep him out of the holiday spirit. Because shortly after he watches the Thanksgiving Day Parade, he is ready to embody the holiday like never before. Fashioning himself a Santa outfit, Harry is full of cheer and will make this an event to remember. Talking to a couple co-workers at the Christmas Party however, he finds out that the Christmas cheer they are advertising to give toys to a hospital full of sick kids is a publicity scheme and no toys will be donated from the company. Not allowing the kids to go without a gift this year, Harry grabs his bags and makes his way to the factory and fills them all up.

After wrapping all of the presents, even the home-made ones, Harry is ready to embody the persona of Santa himself. Putting on his suit and beard, Harry heads out in the night and starts to load up a couple of houses with plenty of presents, but there is still something looming in the back of his mind. Remembering what the execs said at the Christmas party, Harry wants to educate them in what real Christmas cheer is. Arriving at the local church and being heckled by a couple of guys, Harry snaps and the spirit of giving is replaced with the spirit of wrath. With a body count slowly starting to pile up, this Christmas will be like no other as Santa Claus is considered armed and dangerous.

Sometimes I used to wonder who was under the beard when sitting on Santa’s lap and now I know it could have been a crazy killer. The breakdown that Harry goes through is something that we all have had to deal with from time to time, but he takes it to the next level. Not feeling bad about punishing the Naughty, Harry still has time to spend with the Nice people and is more than willing to keep up his Christmas cheer. With a Santa suit, a fake beard, plenty of toys, plenty of cheer, a HO-HO-HO, a sleigh painted van, smiles, cries and a body count, you may want to think twice about mouthing off to Santa, because if you do, you might find that his Christmas cheer is something made of nightmares. Stay Scared.