Unholy Night

Unholy Night is a truly unique holiday horror film with plenty of oregano, as it is based on Italian family Christmas traditions. It had never occurred to me that Italian-Canadians would be very similar to Italian-Americans, but Gabriele says they are. My life goal now is to visit an Italian-Canadian neighborhood, and eat until I stop breathing. The level of Italian family intensity in the story moves the needle past Moonstruck, all the way over to the red part of the Italio-gauge, where we have Saturday Night Fever. I still think Gabriele intentionally made a direct reference to that latter film by having Gino work in a paint store, just like Travolta’s character. This focus on those that came from the boot is not seen enough in regular Christmas films nearly enough, and nearly never in Christmas horror movies. The only titles that come to mind are Feast of the Seven Fishes and now Unholy Night.

Lucia (Toni Ellwand) battles an axe-wielding attacker in the rain-soaked yard in Unholy Night.

“Unholy Night is a truly unique holiday horror film with plenty of oregano, as it is based on Italian family Christmas traditions.”

Gabriele develops his cursed Christmas concept as far as possible, world building to an impressive degree. There are twists worked in, as well as a clever expansion into apocalyptic territory. This keeps the horror lively, as Unholy Night, comedy-wise, is essentially a one-joke movie about zombie Italian families. The joke is very funny, and it works repeatedly, like when AC/DC plays the same power chord repeatedly. Italian family interactions heat up in the flammable way, which is entertaining enough, but adding decomposition to the mix results in a lot of good material. However, the film ends up acting a lot like a pizza: while it is delicious, it tastes the same with each bite. Even with all the supreme toppings, Gabriele gets trapped by a ring of crust of his own making.

However, all is forgiven, as this a a Christmas movie, so it is measured by a different candy striped yardstick. While the laser focus on undead Italians limits the potential in the horror comedy arena, it is that focus where Unholy Night outpaces many other comedy horror Christmas films. Maybe that doesn’t seem fair that Christmas movies get the preferential Santa’s glove treatment, but that’s the way the milk, and cookies, spill, and crumble. This is a fang toothed holiday joy that will eat that pesky elf off the shelf. The repetition of theme fits well with seasonal viewing, as it remains the same enough to follow while hanging decorations and wrapping presents. So make a list and check it twice, as Unholy Night isn’t too naughty for the whole family and goes down as nice as infused nog.