Holidays (2016)
HOLIDAYS is an anthology feature film that puts a
uniquely dark and original spin on some of the most iconic and beloved
holidays of all time by challenging our folklore, traditions and
assumptions.
Directors: Anthony Scott Burns,
Kevin Kolsch
Writers: Anthony Scott Burns,
Kevin Kolsch
Stars: Lorenza Izzo,
Kevin Smith,
Seth Green
Story line
HOLIDAYS is an anthology feature film that puts a uniquely dark and
original spin on some of the most iconic and beloved holidays of all
time. The film challenges our folklore, traditions and assumptions,
making HOLIDAYS a celebration of the horror on those same special days'
year after year. A collaboration of some of Hollywood's most distinct
voices, the directors include Kevin Smith (Tusk), Gary Shore (Dracula
Untold), Scott Stewart (Dark Skies), Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer
(Starry Eyes), Sarah Adina Smith (The Midnight Swim), Nicholas McCarthy
(The Pact), Adam Egypt Mortimer (Some Kind of Hate), and Anthony Scott
Burns (Darknet).
User Reviews
Father's Day - BEST segment, hands down!
I went into this with
high expectations, and while "Halloween" and "Christmas" (the ones I
expected the most from) proved to be disappointments, I found the
"Father's Day" segment brilliant, touching and also terrifying. The
manner in which the story builds thru the playback of a childhood
recording, how she drives out to the middle of nowhere, and the suspense
leading to where she was headed, all great elements rounding out a
truly unique segment. I found myself on the edge of my seat from the
time she started the tape to the very end.
"Easter" was bizarre and interesting and "St. Patty's Day" was pretty unexpected but cool. "St. Patty's Day" felt like classic British horror or something. Very elegant, artistic and suspenseful. The little girl did a fantastic job. "Christmas" suffered from what many shot-in-LA indie productions experience which was the total lack of snow, thus creating a true "Christmas" atmosphere. It was an OK concept, but overall not really scary or exciting. And I feel like the gadget the story focuses on will really date it in 10-15 years and seem silly. And I felt like "Halloween" was a total wasted opportunity. With the "Halloween" setting they could have done so much, but other than it being centered around 3 girls stuck inside on Halloween, you wouldn't know it was set on Halloween. No pumpkins, no trick-r-treaters, no atmosphere what-so-ever. Seemed more like that story could have been molded into any of the "Holidays" and I wish that segment went to someone who really cared to do something cool with it, as that segment alone could have really brought this indie anthology into "classic" territory. "Valentine's Day" was a classic style shocker and "Mother's Day" was pretty creepy, but had a weak ending. I was really hoping for a cool "Independence Day" story or "Thanksgiving", but maybe it was for the best since there was really only a couple standout segments. Overall, well worth the watch, even if a handful of the stories are throwaway. I'd compare it to "ABCs of Death", with about the same ratio of good stories.
"Easter" was bizarre and interesting and "St. Patty's Day" was pretty unexpected but cool. "St. Patty's Day" felt like classic British horror or something. Very elegant, artistic and suspenseful. The little girl did a fantastic job. "Christmas" suffered from what many shot-in-LA indie productions experience which was the total lack of snow, thus creating a true "Christmas" atmosphere. It was an OK concept, but overall not really scary or exciting. And I feel like the gadget the story focuses on will really date it in 10-15 years and seem silly. And I felt like "Halloween" was a total wasted opportunity. With the "Halloween" setting they could have done so much, but other than it being centered around 3 girls stuck inside on Halloween, you wouldn't know it was set on Halloween. No pumpkins, no trick-r-treaters, no atmosphere what-so-ever. Seemed more like that story could have been molded into any of the "Holidays" and I wish that segment went to someone who really cared to do something cool with it, as that segment alone could have really brought this indie anthology into "classic" territory. "Valentine's Day" was a classic style shocker and "Mother's Day" was pretty creepy, but had a weak ending. I was really hoping for a cool "Independence Day" story or "Thanksgiving", but maybe it was for the best since there was really only a couple standout segments. Overall, well worth the watch, even if a handful of the stories are throwaway. I'd compare it to "ABCs of Death", with about the same ratio of good stories.
