A Christmas Horror Story Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "A Christmas Horror Story" showcases a high-quality 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer that effectively maintains the film's visual integrity. Shot digitally with a single cinematographer, Gavin Smith, the Blu-ray captures a clean and sharp image with solid blacks integral to the film's numerous dark scenes, ranging from basements to nighttime forests. The movie starts with a bright and festive palette only to shift to more dim and unsettling tones, reflecting its horror theme. Each setting, particularly Dangerous Dan's studio, is rendered with clear attention to color and lighting, contributing to the film's eerie atmosphere.

The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode ensures razor-sharp detailing across all scenes, making every thread and stitch in costumes, as well as facial complexities, easily discernible. Filmed using high-definition cameras, the digital-to-digital transfer provides clear and stable contrast in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Primaries are vividly rendered, and warm secondary hues add depth to the film's holiday atmosphere. However, the digital photography occasionally reveals its limitations through a slightly sterile look with moments of mild banding and minor crush in the darkest scenes. Overall, black levels remain true and give the image a three-dimensional quality essential for a film reliant on its visual tone.

With an average bitrate of 20.99, the Blu-ray takes full advantage of the digital origination and quiet scenes for efficient compression. While some scenes may appear bland due to the inherent characteristics of digital photography, the presentation ensures that the detailed and festive elements of the narrative are conveyed with clarity. The result is a distinctly visual experience that balances festive holiday aesthetics with grim horror undertones, providing an engaging viewing experience this holiday season.

The Blu Ray of "A Christmas Horror Story" features a robust DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack that transforms the viewing experience into an immersive auditory event. The deep bass extension is used effectively to evoke the supernatural elements, creating an undercurrent of unease throughout the film. The audio mix is dynamic, with well-timed shifts between lively, multi-directional sound effects and periods of intense stillness and suspense. Notably, the segments featuring DJ Dangerous Dan, played by William Shatner, showcase clear and engaging dialogue, highlighting Shatner’s performance while maintaining overall sound clarity.

The film’s sound design excels in its discrete and precise use of surround effects, particularly evident in scenes featuring Krampus. These sequences leverage the rear channels effectively, enabling a seamless, fluid movement of sound that heightens the tension and immersion, making viewers feel as if they are part of the scene. Quieter scenes benefit from subtle atmospheric effects such as rustling leaves and falling snow, enhancing the believability and depth of the environment. The front soundstage is equally impressive, with excellent channel separation ensuring clarity and balance across all sound elements.

The soundtrack's mid-range is exceptionally detailed, reaching into higher frequencies without distortion. Low-end frequencies are powerfully utilized, delivering several intense moments that engage subwoofers deeply and viscerally. Despite the complex soundscape filled with horror elements and a dramatic score by Alex Khaskin, dialogue remains clear and well-prioritized, particularly in the center channel. This careful balance ensures that the chaotic auditory elements do not overshadow speech clarity, contributing to a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable audio experience for this holiday horror delight.

The extras on the Blu-ray of "A Christmas Horror Story" provide a comprehensive and engaging behind-the-scenes look at the film's creation, emphasizing the intricacies of its development and production. The "Behind the Scenes" featurette, presented in HD and lasting approximately 15 minutes, adheres to the Electronic Press Kit (EPK) style, incorporating insightful interviews with key figures such as producer/director Steven Hoban, co-producer Mark Smith, co-directors Grant Harvey and Brett Sullivan, as well as several cast members. Notably, William Shatner is absent from these interviews, though George Buza’s enthusiasm for his unique portrayal of Santa is palpable. Supplementing the behind-the-scenes insights, the disc also includes bonus trailers for "Odd Thomas" and "WolfCop," which play at startup and can be skipped via the chapter forward button.

Extras included in this disc:

• Behind the Scenes: EPK-style featurette with interviews and production footage.
• Bonus Trailers: Trailers for Odd Thomas and WolfCop available at startup.

"A Christmas Horror Story" by Copperheart Entertainment presents a unique amalgamation of horror and festive cheer, reminiscent of "Creepshow" yet distinct in its interconnected narrative structure. Set in the ominously named town of Bailey Downs, the film intertwines four concurrent tales of terror and dark comedy, diverging from traditional anthology formats. This setting, familiar from "Ginger Snaps" and the "Orphan Black" series, underpins the non-linear storytelling, moving fluidly between the grotesque and humorous with adept editing by Brett Sullivan and D. Gillian Truster.

The narrative initiates with Santa Claus (George Buza) preparing for a catastrophic siege in his workshop, immediately establishing a tone of surreal dread. This scene rewinds twelve hours to introduce the primary storyline threads. Local DJ, Dangerous Dan (William Shatner), anchors the film with his infectious holiday cheer broadcast amidst unsettling town secrets. The cop haunted by a previous double homicide spirals further as he takes his family into the cursed woods. Concurrently, a trio of high school students explores their haunted school basement, encountering unnerving supernatural occurrences. The final story portrays a family meeting their stern Aunt Edda, only to unleash the terrifying Krampus through their hubris.

Despite a somewhat slow start, the film finds momentum as each story unfurls with escalating tension and scare tactics, particularly the high school sequence which crafts effective, chilling moments. The Santa subplot evolves into an unexpectedly humorous yet gruesome battle against zombified elves, providing a darkly comedic respite. The intertwining plots eventually coalesce into a cohesive narrative, impressively balancing horror elements with festive motifs.

Achieving a deceptively light-hearted façade, "A Christmas Horror Story" resonates as a festive treat for horror aficionados. It combines inventive scares and seasonal irreverence with precision, making it a must-watch for those seeking unconventional holiday entertainment. With direction split among Grant Harvey, Steven Hoban, and Brett Sullivan, this film successfully melds traditional horror tropes with twisted yuletide merriment.

Blu-ray Review of "A Christmas Horror Story"

"A Christmas Horror Story" begins at a leisurely pace, but it quickly develops into a captivating anthology of horror that deftly intertwines dark comedy and festive carnage. The film cleverly melds genre conventions with Christmas imagery, delivering a blend of laughs, jump-scares, and visceral thrills. Although it may not become a perennial holiday staple, the film's unique take on seasonal horror will charm those who appreciate both horror and the holidays.

Technically, the Blu-ray offers a commendable audio and video presentation that significantly enhances the viewing experience. The high-definition visuals bring out the film’s rich color palette and detailed gore effects effectively, while the audio track provides clear dialogue and immersive soundscapes. However, the disc falls short on supplemental material, which might disappoint hardcore collectors expecting in-depth extras.

While Universal Picture’s upcoming Krampus might aim to become a holiday horror classic, "A Christmas Horror Story" already sets a high bar. The film’s writing is sharp, and it's clear that the creators possess an astute understanding of horror. They skillfully play with audience expectations, blending horror and holiday themes into a satisfying whole. With plenty of deaths, gore, and even an unexpected sex scene, the movie offers everything a horror enthusiast could desire, making its Blu-ray release highly recommendable for genre fans.