Aleksander Kirkwood Brown’s screenplay and Martens’ direction take one too many detours from the elements that could have made this movie a classic, ultimately resulting in a fun but forgettable festive romp. There’s Something In The Barn arrives in cinemas and on digital on December 1st.
I love a darkly delicious Christmas comedy horror, but good ones are as rare as catching a glimpse of Father Christmas flying overhead on Christmas Eve night. Over the years, some have become part of our festive calendar—from Gremlins to Better Watch Out, Krampus, and Rare Exports—while others were quickly forgotten. On paper, There’s Something In The Barn has all the ingredients for success, from snow-covered Norwegian landscapes to an angry barn elf seeking revenge and a clueless American family not dissimilar to the Griswalds. But There’s Something In The Barn is so wrapped up in paying homage to National Lampoon’s, Rare Exports, Gremlins, and others that it forgets to carve its own unique path through the snow.
Bill (Martin Starr) inherited his uncle’s house in Norway following a tragic accident that saw his uncle burnt to a crisp. But the opportunity to move his family to the safe, secure and welcoming Norwegian countryside was too good to pass up. So Bill, his wife (Amrita Acharia) and their two kids, Nora (Zoe Winther-Hansen) and Lucas (Townes Bunner), have given up their American life to turn the farm into a profitable guesthouse.
However, as they arrive at the idyllic snow-covered property they are about to call home, Lucas spots two eyes peering out from the barn and soon discovers it is home to a “Nisse,” or barn elf, who will help run the farm as long as strict rules are followed, including no change, no bright lights or noise and a steady supply of food. Of course, nobody believes Lucas as he tries to convince everyone to follow the rules, resulting in an aggrieved barn elf who takes matters into his own hands as he plans to rid his farm of the American intruders.
The opening forty minutes of There’s Something In The Barn joyously blends Nordic mythology with a National Lampoons-inspired story of a family out of their depth, creating moments of beautifully timed comedy, from the family interactions with the local police chief (Henriette Seenstrup) to a series of cultural misunderstandings with local villagers. But in a bid to please horror fans, Magnus Martens’ film soon takes a sharp turn from fantasy-family comedy to horror. It’s a turn that, while occasionally entertaining, creates a confused finale that nails the coffin shut on everything that could have made this film great.
What is clear is that There’s Something In The Barn doesn’t know who its core audience is. Was Martens aiming for a family audience or horror fans? Or, like Gremlins and Rare Exports, was the plan to appeal to both? The thin line between family comedy and horror is difficult to navigate, and few films get it right —but when they do, they embrace a comic-book world of light and dark that adults and kids can both enjoy. There’s Something In The Barn never achieves this as it alienates the kids midway through and doesn’t offer enough gore for your average horror fan. The result is a confused movie that never quite finds its voice. However, that does not mean there aren’t moments where Martens’ film shines.
Performances are engaging and strong, especially from the young Townes Bunner in his first significant role and Kiran Shah as the silent but deadly barn elf. At the same time, the location filming, festive glow and Lasse Enersen’s score all hit the right notes. It’s just a shame these strengths are never seized upon as Aleksander Kirkwood Brown’s screenplay and Martens’ direction take one too many detours from the ingredients that could have made this movie a classic, ultimately leading to a fun but forgettable festive romp.
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