What do you get when you cross Elves (1989) and Puppet Master (1989)? You get Justin Price’s new horror film, The Elf, which is scheduled to hit VOD this November and DVD just in time for Christmas. I think it’s smart that Uncork’d Entertainment is getting the promotional ball rolling in regards to The Elf, especially when there are so many similar movies and holiday themed titled already in the market. Justin Price’s entry into the holiday horror catalogue succeeds where most modern movies fail because he kept it marginally old-school except for some CGI shots of the pint-sized villain. The Elf is gritty, dramatic and filled with nostalgic practical effects and story-telling elements. It’s a movie that’s not going to blow you away in terms of content, but it’s going to take you back to better days when Chucky, Puppet Master, even Black Christmas reigned supreme at the VHS store. And I’m all for that.
I’m also a sucker for a film that deals with revenge and a dark entity sealed away, only to be unleashed years later. While revenge is only slightly a theme in The Elf, the re-release of unspeakable evil is very much a part of the central plot. Uncork’d Entertainment lists the film’s synopsis as: “Nick is haunted by night terrors stemming from a tragic murder he saw when he was young. After inheriting an old toy shop, he discovers a cursed elf doll sealed inside an ancient chest with a naughty list of his family’s names written on it. He soon discovers that the elf was an evil conduit meant to unleash a supernatural killing spree during the Christmas Holidays by whomever set it free.” The Elf is written, directed and produced by Justin Price with producer, cinematographer and editor Khu, and producers Deanna Grace Congo and Jennifer George Hall. Natassia Halabi, Gabriel Miller, Lisa May, Lassiter Holmes, Les Best, Viviana Ozuna, Joseph Ellis and Loren Haskins star.
A lot of people are going to consider streaming The Elf due to its villain, a tiny puppet elf who comes alive and kills people. So, it’s important that I elaborate on him and whether his appearances are worthwhile. The murderous menace is lovable and creepy at the same time, a contrast that’s also explored through his appearances as an inactive doll and a stalking CGI mini-monster. For the most part, Justin Price kept the killer almost as a secondary character in the same way that Don Mancini kept Chucky on the side-lines for most of the movie, or how John R. Leonetti kept Annabelle out of sight. It’s an effective story-telling tool that allows the story to grow in a suspenseful way and the characters to develop all on screen before throwing in the brutality and horror near the end. The first half of the movie is kind of a wash in terms of enjoyment, but the second half is an enjoyable and slightly gory Christmas adventure. Plus, the CGI Elf was actually quite good for a movie of this caliber!
Besides sometimes being more drama than horror, this is my only big complaint with The Elf. The only area where it fails is… atmosphere. Obviously, this movie is supposed to take place during the month of December, but it never quite feels that way. Snow and festive decorations are good starts to establishing the time of the year, but you need a little more to really make a movie feel like a specific day. Add in festive clothing, add in more music, experiment with filters and lighting. Look at the magical experience Craig Anderson and Dee Wallace painted with Red Christmas. Christmas is one of those times of the years that are so precise, so heartfelt that you need to go the extra mile to ensure the audience feels that mood and the emotions it evokes. All things considered, though, I thoroughly enjoyed The Elf and equate it to Leprechaun in the winter.
Final Score: 7 out of 10.
