Family isn’t supposed to be like this.
There’s something special about colorful holiday lights and festive music serving as a backdrop to a Christmas Eve bloodbath. It’s why films like Silent Night, Deadly Night or Krampus are at the top of most Christmas horror watchlists each year. And there’s not nearly enough Christmas horror out there. Writer-director Michael Gabriele is tackling that problem with his debut feature horror comedy, Unholy Night.
It’s All About the Family
Gino (Marc Bendavid) is celebrating Christmas with his family. Like any traditional Italian family, it’s loud, the table is full of food, and everyone is happy to harp on Gino’s not so celebrated life decisions. All that changes when Nonna (Jacqueline Robbins) returns from the dead, wreaking havoc on their holiday plans. And she’s not alone. Gino and his family face off with deceased relatives on a mission, one connected to a decades-old Italian curse.
Lacking on the Laughs
Gabriele is clearly having fun with this one. While the dialogue stumbles at times, its over-the-top energy and commitment to the chaos that ensues helps to smooth out the film’s rough edges. After seeing his award-winning short film, Room Tone, at another film festival a couple of years ago, I know Gabriele is capable of crafting a more effective balance between horror and comedy. Unfortunately, Unholy Night never quite finds that same rhythm. Instead, it leans into a more serious tone, leaving the comedy element underdeveloped.
However, if you’re down to see plenty of blood, broken bones, and some fun kills, Gabriele gives us plenty to enjoy on that front. Nonna and her clan of dead relatives do not hold back from doing the most damage possible. But isn’t that what families are for?
It’s The Visuals for Me
While not fully flushed out, Gabriele throws in some themes around family dynamics, especially those of immigrant families and their traditions. Gino’s ex, Rene (Shailene Garnett), a Black woman who lived across the street, joins the fold to help Gino survive the night. We find out just how much Gino’s family was involved with their breakup and how his brother, Franky (Olivier Renaud), is devoted to the old ways, for the family. While an intriguing approach, much of it takes a backseat to surviving the night. So by the time Gino has to fight to save Rene from something she can’t escape from, the emotional payoff doesn’t fully land. It feels like a bookend tacked on that doesn’t quite fit with the rest of the film.
Where Gabriele shines here is with his visual storytelling. His deceased are creepy, and there is a scene near the end that is art in motion. They are the glue holding this film together. He’s confident behind the camera and has an eye for imagery. A moment that stands out is Rene fighting one of the dead with a blow mold Santa, and it’s pretty epic.
Unholy Night doesn’t always find that horror comedy balance it needs. However, it does have some fun kills and ambitious creativity worth the hype.
Unholy Night will be released in December 2026.
