‘The Killing Tree’ VOD Review
Stars: Sarah Alexandra Marks, Marcus Massey, Judy Tcherniak, Sarah T. Cohen, Kelly Rian Sanson, Ella Starbuck, Lauren Staerck, May Kelly, Nikolai Leon, Richard Harfst, Gillian Broderick | Written by Craig McLearie | Directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield
I will continue to champion Christmas horror probably until the day I die. There’s honestly not much more to it than I love Christmas and I love horror but there is something about a film that mixes the two together nicely. Nicely might not be the word I’d use with The Killing Tree, ridiculously would be much more apt.
Where do I start with The Killing Tree?! Originally known as what I think is a better title, Demonic Christmas Tree. Not dissimilar to the classic Christmas horror B-movie Jack Frost, where a serial killer returns as a snowman, this time, on Christmas Eve, the widow of a murderer who has been executed, casts a spell to resurrect him. Unfortunately for her, it doesn’t go quite to plan and he comes back to life as a Christmas tree. The whole thing is just as ridiculous as you’d expect, don’t go in expecting any different.
One thing I always want to know about Christmas movies is how Christmassy they feel and The Killing Tree is pretty good at that for the most part. Disappointingly, there’s no snow but that is pretty difficult if you live/film in the wrong place and have a small budget. But, this is set on Christmas Eve, features a Christmas party, with some fun fancy dress – a Christmas Cracker, while the story obviously revolves around a (sometimes giant) Christmas tree, baubles, lights and all. The best scene of the whole movie also plays out with a rendition of Silent Night playing through it. Christmas fans that don’t mind silly comedy will get the most out of this.
What will horror fans get out of this though? Well, it’s all about the death scenes really and they’re not too bad. That doesn’t seem like a glowing recommendation but there’s still plenty to enjoy. I would have liked a bit more use of any ornaments or baubles, but the Christmas lights are at least used quite a lot when it comes to killing people. There are also a couple of bodies literally ripped in half, which while bloody, kind of loses any shock factor with the poor CGI. As do most of the scenes when the tree transforms into a giant tree – kinda like a really rubbish Incredible Hulk – and unless I somehow missed it, I don’t think there’s any explanation as to why the tree is occasionally giant (with long branches for arms) and then occasionally small. Not that it is particularly important, it’s just used for these comedy gore-filled deaths.
I actually preferred the scenes when the tree is normal size and clearly just a man in a highly amusing Christmas tree costume. For the comedy, and this film can’t be anything but, it’s a lot funnier. A simple fall to the ground got a laugh from me, while that ‘Silent Night’ scene involves the tree walking up the stairs like it is drunk and then moving in slow motion while wielding a knife. There’s also a moment, which I wish they played out a little longer, which simply shows the tree struggling to walk through a doorway.
Although I have complained about the CGI, it was almost worth it for the CGI-filled final fight scene, which could have saved things if it lasted a bit longer.
The acting is as expected in a B-movie and some of the dialogue is pretty terrible but it’s the type of movie where you can get away with both. This is no classic but as expected there’s plenty of fun to be had. If I had to recommend just one Christmas horror film involving a killer Christmas tree, then it would have to be the short Treevenge. But there’s no reason not to make it a double bill with The Killing Tree.
The Killing Tree will be released November 1st on Digital, courtesy of Uncork’d Entertainment.
