Watch Once Upon a Time at Christmas

Once Upon a Time at Christmas is an indie horror movie from 2017 that takes place in a small town in upstate New York. The film follows a deeply disturbed, unidentified couple (played by Simon Phillips and Yana Gold) who terrorize the town during the Christmas season. The couple, who dress as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, gruesomely murder residents in their town, each murder more gruesome than the last. The couple's motives are unclear, but it's clear that they revel in the carnage they've caused.

The film starts off with the couple riding into town on a Harley Davidson, accompanied by a moody rock soundtrack. Right away, you sense that this is a different kind of Christmas movie. The visual style of the movie is gritty and dark, with muted colors and lots of shadows. It's a far cry from the bright colors and wholesome cheer of a traditional holiday movie.

The plot of the movie centers on the police's efforts to stop the murderous couple, led by Sheriff Cooper (played by Justin Gordon). Cooper is a stereotypical small-town sheriff, rough around the edges and with a chip on his shoulder. He's supported by his fellow officers and his wife, who is a middle school teacher. As the killings continue, the police become increasingly desperate, and their efforts to catch the couple grow more and more drastic.

The bulk of the film is focused on the murders themselves, which are graphic and brutal. The couple typically targets couples and kills them in a variety of creative ways, such as drowning them in eggnog or setting them on fire with Christmas lights. The scenes are shot in a way that makes them suspenseful, but also allows the audience to see the full extent of the violence. It's not for the faint of heart.

The performances in the movie are decent, but not exceptional. Simon Phillips and Yana Gold play the murderous couple with a very creepy intensity, but their characters are thinly written and underdeveloped. Justin Gordon does a solid job as the primary law enforcement officer, but his character doesn't offer much beyond the usual trope of the scrappy underdog cop.

As the movie progresses, there are a few twists that keep the story interesting. Without giving too much away, there are revelations about the couple's past and motives that are revealed through flashbacks and conversations with the police. These twists don't necessarily redeem the movie, but they do keep things interesting and keep the audience guessing.

All in all, Once Upon a Time at Christmas isn't a must-see movie by any means. It's a graphic, violent horror movie that doesn't reinvent the wheel in any particular way. But for fans of the genre, it's a decent way to quench your thirst for blood and gore during the Christmas season. Just be warned: it's not for the faint of heart.

Once Upon a Time at Christmas is a 2017 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.5.