Horror Anthology “Holiday Hell” Kicks off the Season of Jingle Scare!

It’s directed by Jeremy Berg, Davis Burns, Jeff Ferrell, and Jeff Vigil. It stars Jeffrey Combs as shopkeeper “Thaddeus Rosemont,” Meagan Karimi-Nase, Joel Murray (who happens to be Bill Murray’s Brother), Ailsa Marshall, Jeff Bryan Davis, and Forrest Campbell.

Most anthology films are like a gift-wrapped box of chocolates; you never know what you’ll get, until you open the box and have a sample. Each layer at a time. Some you may like and others, not so much. Still, you keep looking until you’re at the end of a much-anticipated treat of satisfaction.

“Holiday Hell” is a tapestry of four loosely woven tales of holiday-themed horror stories with a surprise ending that you won’t see coming. No spoilers here but I can’t say that for most of the film. Surprises in horror throughout the story is not this film’s forte.

Starting with the good points of the film. It’s wonderfully acted by movie great Jeffrey Combs. He’s the shopkeeper of a sinister-looking store full of haunted merchandise. The name of the store is ‘Nevertold Casket Co. Curiosity Shop.’ On the eve of Christmas Eve, just as Thaddeus is preparing to close, a young woman named Amelia rushes into the store. She’s anxious to find a last-minute gift for her sister, who has an eclectic taste of horror-filled things. Thaddeus reluctantly agrees to stay open for Amelia after she shows him a handful of cash. Yes, money talks and keeps the doors of the horror store open for her.

The story of “Holiday Horror” begins with every item she inquiries about as a gift for her sister. Thaddeus begins his tales of horror. “All objects have a story that’s never been told” so he states, as the four tales of horror start to unfold.

Story one begins with Dollface, Directed by Jeff Vigil. It starts with a group of young adults, who go to party overnight in an abandoned house…or so they think. They’re planning on a party filled with crazy sex, booze, rock, and roll. A porcelain masked creature may prove them wrong. Is the party over?

The second story is “The Hand That Rocks the Dreidel.” Directed by Jeff Ferrell. This story begins on the last day of Hanukkah. A young boy named Kevin receives a gift of a vintage Rabbi doll. The boy’s parents leave for a trip to Germany for the weekend. Kevin’s left home with the babysitter from hell who has plans to rob the house with the help of her dysfunctional boyfriend. The Rabbi doll may or may not, come to save the day.

The third story is “Christmas Carnage.” This storyline is directed by David Burn. There’s no holiday horror story without a homicidal Santa. “Chris” is an unassuming family man who’s a recovering alcoholic is pushed off the wagon after he sees his wife in a sexual encounter with the man who happened to take his job promotion. All this, while Chris is wearing his Santa Suit. I must say, things get a little messy here.

The fourth and final horror tale is called “Room to Let.” Directed by Jeremy Berg. Let me tell you, where the complete anthology lacks in the element of unpredictability, it makes up for in this storyline. This time, it’s Amelia who has a story to tell after shopkeeper Thaddeus sees a ring on her finger. Oh yes, Thaddeus wants her ring, at all costs. She explains why she can’t depart with the ring. It’s a story, you didn’t see coming for all those involved.

I am very comfortable with giving “Holiday Hell” three out of five stars. There are too many predictable moments in the storyline. Although, if you are intrigued by tales of holiday slashings and mayhem, then your thirst for blood will be quenched. Want to see a film with a taste of “B” movie nostalgia based in the twenty-first century? Look no further. “Holiday Hell” is here to bring you four gruesome tales of predictability and a surprise at the end.