Bloody Christmas in the Barn: Unleashing the Malevolence of Sinister Elves

A new Christmas movie blends humor and terror with Scandinavian elves, but despite the brutal nature of the creatures in There’s Something in the Barn, the comedy and horror fall short in delivering the desired impact.

Elves have had a notable presence this year, with Irish monsters known as Red Caps causing chaos in the impressive Unwelcome in January. As December nears, a barn is host to what appears to be a vicious Norwegian elf.

Although Unwelcome began with a serious tone and maintained it throughout much of the film, There’s Something in the Barn takes a lighter approach, blending the chaos and body count of Gremlins with the comedic style of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. However, despite its imitation of these holiday favorites and occasional mimicry, There’s Something in the Barn falls short of reaching the same level of success as either Christmas classic.

What is There’s Something in the Barn about?

The action begins with a brief prologue in which a man tries to kill whatever’s in his barn. But he quickly finds the tables turned, with the target killing him.

The story kicks off "one year later" with an American family relocating to the Norwegian house next to the barn. Their plan to convert the property into an eco-friendly hotel doesn't sit well with the locals. Dad Bill, played by Silicon Valley actor Martin Star, sees this new project as a means to help his children recover from their mother's death and bond with his new partner. However, the odds of success are slim, especially with a mysterious presence lurking in the barn.

Learning the rules

Named fittingly as the Barn Elf, this creature is encountered by Bill's son Lucas. He is also the first to learn the rules, which either pay homage to or outright copy from the movie Gremlins, depending on your point of view.

The first rule is that Barn Elves dislike change, so renovating their home for guests is not a good idea. The second rule is that they despise artificial light, making flashy decorations a bad idea. Finally, the third rule is that Barn Elves detest loud noises, so constant arguing is not a good idea. However, Bill's family can't seem to help themselves.

Colorful locals save the day

Despite Lucas's attempt to make a truce with their diminutive neighbor, it almost succeeds until some bad fish ruins everything. The elf quickly turns on the family, and he is not alone. A pint-sized army soon descends on the house, leading to an action-packed home invasion that includes death by mallet, icicle, and snow-plow.

These entertaining moments, especially when the creatures indulge in "fun-water" and acquire a gun, lack true menace, making them less of a threat. However, many of their jokes and the overarching script, which often mocks Norwegian customs and cuisine in a mean-spirited manner, fall flat.

Is There’s Something in the Barn good?

Thankfully, the harshness is softened by vibrant locals who play important supporting roles in the film, injecting much-needed energy into the story. Notable characters include a historian who provides insight into the hostile antagonists, and a local policewoman more preoccupied with her pork dinner than rescuing the foreigners. Portrayed by Henriette Steenstrup, she consistently steals the spotlight and delivers the film's most entertaining lines.

The film 'There’s Something in the Barn' doesn't overstay its welcome and moves along at a brisk pace, unlike the antagonists in the movie. Despite the decent Christmas message buried within the film, which brings the family together through all the death and destruction, it falls short in comparison to the likes of 'Gremlins' and 'Christmas Vacation'. Similarly, other festive fright flicks like 'Rare Exports' and 'Krampus' manage to strike the right balance between humor and horror, while 'There’s Something in the Barn' just misses the mark.

There’s Something in the Barn score: 3/5

An imitation of other, better Christmas comedy-horrors, There’s Something in the Barn is nevertheless an amusing and diverting way to spend 100 minutes this festive season.

There’s Something In The Barn hits UK cinemas and digital download on December 1. For more reviews, head here.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the movie "There's Something in the Barn." On the one hand, I appreciate the attempt to blend humor and horror in a Christmas setting. The idea of mischievous Norwegian elves causing chaos in a barn is certainly an intriguing one. On the other hand, I feel that the movie falls short in delivering the desired impact.

The comedy in the movie often feels forced and relies heavily on stereotypes and cliches. The horror elements are also not particularly effective, as the elves are not as menacing as they could have been. The film also suffers from a lack of character development, making it difficult to care about the characters or their fates.