Anomaly Film Festival Coverage
Scare Value Award Winner – Best Twist
The Sacrifice Game review
Night one of the Anomaly Film Festival wrapped up with a satanic panic movie straight out of, and set in, the 70s. Coming to Shudder in time for the holidays…The Sacrifice Game presents a much darker Christmas horror movie than usual.
Festival movie reviews will not contain spoilers.
The Sacrifice Game
Directed by Jenn Wexler
Written by Sean Redlitz and Jenn Wexler
Starring Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Chloë Levine, Gus Kenworthy, Madison Baines, Georgia Acken and Derek Johns
The Sacrifice Game Review
The second feature presentation at this year’s Anomaly Film Festival was a fitting one for the season. As snow starts to threaten the skies and the bells start to jingle on every station…The Sacrifice Game provided some good old fashioned holiday cheer. Or…dread. Which you may find cheerful. Holiday horror is a reliable staple of the genre. Of course, there are far more bad Christmas horror movies than good ones. I’m happy to report that co-writer/director Jenn Wexler’s satanic panic X-mas feature won’t be getting coal in its stocking this year.
As the days countdown to Christmas in 1971…a group of murderers are making their way towards the Blackvale boarding school for girls. That’s especially bad news for the handful of people left behind for winter break. Samantha (Madison Baines) and Clara (Georgia Acken) have no homes to return to. This is especially devastating for Samantha who is left behind by her stepfather following the death of her mother. Their teacher Rose (Chloë Levine) and her boyfriend Jimmy (Gus Kenworthy) remain behind to watch over them. The Christmas Killers, as they’ve been dubbed by the media, aren’t looking for some run of the mill murder…they intend to raise a demon.
The first surprise in The Sacrifice Game is how much time we spend getting to know the group of hopeful demon raisers. We are presented with fully fleshed out characters in roles traditionally reserved for stereotypes. Jude (Mena Massoud) appears to be calling the shots. He’s as charismatic as he is egotistical. Maisie (Olivia Scott Welch) is the one who they’re really all following though. She has a history with Blackvale and, allegedly, the secret to demon raising. Grant (Derek Johns) is a mountain of a man and a trained killer. His PTSD is only outweighed by his need to follow orders. Doug (Laurent Pitre) had a car. He is in way over his head.
While spending as much time as The Sacrifice Game does asking us to understand its killers could be viewed as an odd choice…it is a necessary one. A choice that pays off. Not only do they provide the film with some much-needed comic relief…they set up the most important part of the movie. They aren’t in the story they think they’re in. To say their plan does not go well would be an understatement. It starts off well enough…all things considered. They take over Blackvale and have full control over their hostages. There’s just the matter of that pesky demon raising.
The Sacrifice Game has, pardon the pun, a killer first act. Watching the Christmas Killers terrorize their way towards the school is some classic slasher movie fun. Getting to know Samantha, Clara and Rose is equally entertaining. When the movie reaches its surprising third act…it ratchets up the fun even more. The middle is more hit or miss. Even it is full of some fun character moments. As well as some surprising moments.
The movie has a lot of moving parts. It’s a home invasion movie. It’s a satanic panic movie. A movie about friendship. And, of course, a movie about a demon. There’s blood and laughs in equal measure. Elevated by a clever script, gorgeous look and excellent cast. Every actor has multiple moments to shine. It’s also a Christmas story. Just…a violent one full of twists and turns. The best kind of Christmas story.
If you’re looking for something a little darker (but oddly sweet?) this Christmas…The Sacrifice Game has you covered. It will arrive on Shudder in time to kick back with a glass of eggnog and enjoy. It’s not the movie you expect it to be…right up to its final moments. But it’s a fun, well made and well performed ride the whole way through.
3.5/5
Scare Value
Satanic panic comes home for the holidays…or, well…to those that don’t have a home to go to. The Sacrifice Game counts down to Christmas like a kid waiting for their present. Which is very much the point. Although it wanders a bit during act 2…a strong opening and unexpected third act make this a Christmas horror movie worth watching.
