Adult Swim Yule Log review.
Adult Swim had a special holiday surprise for horror fans this season. A feature length film called The Fireplace was hidden inside of a traditional yule log video. But is it any good?
New movie reviews will not contain spoilers.
Adult Swim Yule Log (The Fireplace)
Directed by Casper Kelly
Written by Casper Kelly
Starring Andrea Laing, Justin Miles, Tordy Clark and Brendan Patrick Connor
Adult Swim Yule Log (The Fireplace) Review
Adult Swim dropped a holiday present for horror fans with their unique take on the yule log video phenomenon. For those that aren’t familiar with yule log videos…they are exactly what they sound like. Usually. Hours of a crackling fireplace to view on your television during winter. Each entity that makes one puts their own stamp on the concept, of course. Sets are decorated with paraphernalia of meaning to whatever venue you’re choosing to watch through. For Adult Swim…this obviously meant madness. And you can rest assured…their yule log is the maddest of them all.
If you’re asking yourself why anyone would watch a fireplace on their tv set for hours…Adult Swim clearly asked themselves the same question. Their yule log only makes it about three minutes until it reveals something unexpected and spectacular. There is a full feature length horror movie hidden inside of the Adult Swim Yule Log.
Now…that already feels like a spoiler, but we waited to write this review until it had been out for a bit. Also, we don’t know why anyone would purposefully put on a video that they think is just a burning log anyway. We’ll do our best to avoid any specifics about what Adult Swim Yule Log becomes. Of course, that makes discussing the movie within basically impossible to address
The main thing you need to know about Adult Swim Yule Log is that it is a full-fledged horror movie and that it is completely insane. The concept of stashing a horror film inside of a gimmick accepted as a thing where nothing happens is brilliant. The fact that writer/director Casper Kelly made a movie well worth watching takes it to a whole new level. And this is a horror film worth watching.
Every time you think you’ve got a handle on what Adult Swim Yule Log is doing it radically changes course. At first it presents a story framed in the background as we watch the fireplace. Then it pulls back into a wider shot so we can see actions play out in front of it. Just when you’re sure it’s going to be viewed as kind of a play happening in front of you…it changes again. This time into a full film production.
Once Adult Swim Yule Log finishes its evolution into a film it starts to make crazier and crazier decisions with the narrative. We wouldn’t dare spoil any of what you’ll find inside of it…but we can tell you that it contains wild swings in every direction. It plays with horror tropes in both fun and violent ways. There are some truly inspired ideas combined with the pure joy of madness.
A fully committed cast led by Andrea Laing as Zoe bring the heightened ridiculousness to life. You’ll never be quite sure where Adult Swim Yule Tide will take you next…but the cast is up for every twist and turn. They’re all appropriately over the top as required but never in a way that detracts from the movie…only to add to it.
Adult Swim Yule Log is a must watch for fans of horror and fans of just batshit crazy. It’s nuts in the most delightful ways imaginable. There are more fun, good ideas contained in this unadvertised film than you could possibly hope for. One day we’ll have to do a full deep dive breaking down why it works so well. Hopefully next year when Adult Swim throws another log on the fire.
Scare Value
A true and unexpected treat, Adult Swim Yule Log delivers a wild and unpredictable time. Intentional ridiculousness only adds to the appeal of this completely off the rails holiday horror film. There are moments of pure brilliance sprinkled on top of a story intended to entertain at any cost. Entertain it does. Not having to tether itself to any convention and reinventing itself throughout, The Fireplace is a great place to wrap yourself up in front of on a cold winter’s night.
3.5/5
Adult Swim Yule Log Link
Streaming on HBO Max
Adult Swim Yule Log Trailer
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