Max (Key Tawn Toothman) is feeling the loss of a friend. The only friends he seem to have work at a roadkill collection company and they’re all there at his friend’s funeral and yet Max seems to have taken it the worst. There’s even talk that Max’s friend was murdered and there’s a rumour that he was killed by a man in a reindeer costume, but nobody knows who was responsible. Try as he might, Max is trying to get over his grief, but his friends aren’t making it easy for him and it gets even worse when the finger of blame is pointed at him.
A Very Flattened Christmas is a horror comedy set around the festive period with a group of quirky characters. Based on creator and co-writer Key Toothman’s TV series, they take their festive hijinks into the world of slasher horror.
However, the low budget and the variety of performances from the subdued to the insane may test some patience.
There are some good performances though and Toothman’s lead character is one to support as he feels the weight on his shoulders. Although, being surrounded by crazy caricatures sometimes doesn’t help, even though some performances make up in enthusiasm what they may lack in talent.
Also, putting the slasher movie into an environment that people may not easily consider is a unique one. Something which may go towards explaining the eccentric cast of characters who may be drawn to such a profession.
However, A Very Flattened Christmas doesn’t really do much to subvert the expectations of a slasher movie and it feels like a lot of the comedy feels forced. Saying that though, it seems unlikely that anybody wanting to watch a horror comedy around the festive period is looking for anything too surprising.
There may even be fans of the show who are looking forward to watching something with their favourite characters in feature length and this is where it pays off well. The finale is just silly enough that it’s enjoyable and although there may not be a sequel, nothing says that they won’t come back from the dead.
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One response to “A Very Flattened Christmas: Review”
[…] Around him, Trevor Vincent Farney, Mark Mannette, and the supporting players lean into deliberately exaggerated, sometimes improv-feeling line deliveries. That choice gives the film its B-movie charm but also flattens its emotional range; grief and guilt are introduced as serious themes, then quickly undercut by winking humor or another weed gag. Reviewers from outlets like Battle Royale With Cheese and Ready Steady Cut note that while the performances are committed and often funny, the emotional beats rarely land with real weight, keeping the film firmly in “goofy hangout slasher” territory rather than anything truly haunting. (battleroyalewithcheese.com) […]