The Advent Calendar (2021)
Directed By: Patrick Ridremont
Starring: Eugénie Derouand, Honorine Magnier, Clément Olivieri
Plot Summary: Eva (Eugénie Derouand, Paris Police 1900), an ex-dancer, is now living in a wheelchair, unable to walk. When her friend Sophie (Honorine Magnier, Tomorrow is Ours) gives her an old wooden antique advent calendar before Christmas, she realizes each window contains a surprise that triggers repercussions in real life. Some of them are good, but most of them are bad, really bad. Now Eva will have to choose between getting rid of the calendar or walking again – even if it causes death and destruction to everyone, she holds dear around her. The film was produced by Alain Benguigui, Virginie Ogouz, Jean-Yves Roubin and Cassandre Warnauts.
When thinking of things that are scary to you, a holiday advent calendar isn’t exactly something that springs to one’s mind. However, when you consider a new horrible fate awaiting you each and every day, then it starts to actually sound like a twisted and kind of genius premise. It’s also been a very long time since I have seen a totally new concept for a horror film. Especially one centered around the holidays. After watching it, I think the movie is, shall we say, a mixed bag. As I mentioned above, the big selling point for me is the set up which is vastly original and takes a completely harmless and absurdly mundane object like an old wooden advent calendar and turns it into something sinister. In the wrong hands, I think this could come off silly. However, it works really well, for the most part.
Working for it is moody and atmospheric photography, one detailed and creepy cursed calendar, not to mention showcasing one hell of a creative looking boogeyman. Ridremont takes no prisoners with a delightfully nihilistic and at times darkly humorous spin, and he fully embraces the films lore. This latter point is where I think the movie loses its way. I think that more time should have been focused on refining and establishing certain critical aspects. This might be unpopular to say, but I think a re-tooled remake could actually serve this movie quite well. Is this enough to derail the entire film? No. The filmmakers do a good enough job keeping you caught up with the mechanics and rules of the calendar. Wisely, Ridremont balances the more fantastical elements with a solid emotional core embodied by Eva and her tragic situation.
The Advent Calendar takes a weird premise and runs with it. Though elements feel rushed, it’s overall a clever and engaging horror film.
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Big film nerd and TCM Obsessed. Author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema from Schiffer Publishing. Resume includes: AMC’s The Bite, Scream Magazine etc. Love all kinds of movies and television and have interviewed a wide range of actors, writers, producers and directors. I currently am a regular co-host on the podcast The Humanoids from the Deep Dive and have a second book in the works from Bear Manor.
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