In 1974, director/producer Bob Clark set the standard for holiday horror films with his immortal classic, Black Christmas. Krampus, Gremlins, Evil Elves, Serial Killer Snowmen, Sinister Santas, and many other Christmas creatures have kept the Horror Nation filled with yuletide terror. This holiday season, director James Dean teams with writer Louis Otero in an attempt to bring a new horror hallmark classic to fright fans.
Adult film director Johnny Duckett (Chris Ruppert) is shooting a holiday themed film with ambitions to return the porn industry to the glory days of cinematic wonder. Though his reputation in the business is off putting, Johnny is able to assemble an all-star erotic ensemble. As stars, Black Mamba (Jonathan May,) Pearl (Jessa Flux,) Kristy Kreme (Morrigan Thompson,) and Julie Treats (Dolly Leigh,) kick off the festivities, Santa drops in for a killer cameo. The only reason St. Nick has come to pound town is to punish the naughty heathens. The cast and crew desperately attempt to flee the set while unraveling the mystery as to why Santa has begun a slaying spree.
XXX-Mas is exactly what you think it is. A no holds barred holiday horror flick, filled with buckets of eye candy and blood. Dean and Otero present a good script that gives an otherwise basic romp around the mistletoe some depth. The special effects team of Wesley Curtis and Deryk Wehrley litter the film with several tremendously creative kills that put studio productions to shame. Drew Marvick stands out with a magnificently malevolent performance as a sadistic Santa Claus. Marvick puts in a physically intimidating and hysterically funny shift as he decks the halls with crimson. Joe Hammerstone compliments Marvick’s performance portraying the kind of elf that you will never leave sitting on your shelf. Indie star Jessa Flux, along with costars Morrigan Thompson and Dolly Leigh will keep the audience’s eyes glued to the screen with their erotic and professional takes as adult film stars that are flung into a fear filled festive night. XXX-Mas will stand along other holiday fun fright flicks such as, Santa’s Slay and Jack Frost. When the nights grow longer and the temperatures drop, these are the films that keep fans well-fed after the Halloween hangover.
Scream Score: 7.6/10