What do you get when you mash up ‘Scream’ with the 1947 Frank Capra holiday classic? Believe it or not—a better-than-expected slasher flick that somehow feels perfect for the holidays. Justin Long and Joel McHale are the headliners in this surprisingly entertaining romp, but Jane Widdop (as the George Bailey-ish forgotten soul) and Jess McLeod (as the local pariah) provide the heart as two teenagers who take it on themselves to stop a psycho killer’s bloody rampage in their small town. Screenwriter Michael Kennedy (who penned 2020’s similarly wicked ‘Freaky’) kept his tongue firmly in his cheek putting this thing together, and the result is a nifty little bit of gory, goofy fun.
3/5 stars