An estranged family gathers together for a deadly Christmas in screenwriter Tyler Beveridge and director Sean Cruser’s horror short, Jingle Hell. A very pregnant Margo (Poonam Basu) and her husband, Nathan (Tyler Beveridge), arrive at a secluded cabin in the woods. The place is decked out with a modicum of Christmas decorations but is still homey nonetheless. Getting there just after them are Margo’s sister, Grace (Shalini Bathina), and her partner, Spencer (Murphy Patrick Martin).
After a bit of chit-chat, this reunion quickly becomes a confrontation, and Grace and Spencer storm off angrily. As Margo and Nathan prepare to call it a night, there is a banging on the door, but no one is there. Nathan then spies a mysterious figure off in the distance. Much to Margo’s protest, Nathan goes out to confront the stranger (this is a horror short, right)? With its back to Nathan, the figure turns around, and now we have a horror film. Anything beyond this point of the story would be considered a spoiler.
“…Margo and Nathan prepare to call it a night, there is a banging on the door…”
So what we have with Jingle Hell is a bloody and gory tale of survival for Nathan, Margo, and their unborn child. The film is your typical serial killer situation, with ample amounts of blood streaming from various body parts and a dismemberment or two. It becomes an all-out war using any weapon you’d find in a secluded cabin in the woods. Let’s also not forget a killer with a pretty-cool mask.
Both Beveridge and Cruser do an excellent job of laying the story’s foundation behind the thrills, which is a challenge considering the film’s 30-minute runtime. The cast and other supporting characters hit all the right notes for a horror tale that elevates itself above many low-budget indie horrors we feature at Film Threat.
It may be too early for Christmas, or even Christmas in July, but if you’re looking for a nice tight horror, definitely check out Jingle Hell. This could easily be a feature film.
"…ample amounts of blood..."
