With Christmas only nine months away, it’s never too early to find the next great Christmas horror anthology…and 13 Slays Till X-Mas is filled with gifts for genre fans.
Produced by P.J. Starks (creator of Volumes of Blood), 13 Slays Till X-Mas features several short horror segments that cover all variations of horror. There’s dark humor aplenty, festive yuletide murders, and enough blood to fill a swimming pool.
The wraparound story pertains to five men gathered at a dive bar on Christmas Eve after receiving a mysterious email. To pass the time, they take turns telling scary stories, and the person with the weakest story has to cover the bar tab.
One of my favorite parts of this anthology is the various homages to horror icons and classic macabre films we all know and love. Eagle-eyed viewers with a true passion for the genre will find a lot of re-watch value in spotting all the hidden Easter eggs (rather, “Christmas treats,” I suppose.)
13 Slays Till X-Mas is a real treat. Each segment is well-shot, and the acting is surprisingly good for a low-budget movie featuring all levels of talent.
The anthology features the directorial talents of Brittany Blanton (Don’t Fuck in the Woods), Jed Brian (Unlisted Owner), Shawn Burkett (Don’t Fuck in the Woods), William Capps (After the Slasher), Alexander Clark (Recompense), John Hale III (10/31 Part 2), Blair Hoyle (Happy Ending), Robert Kern III (Puppet Master: Axis Termination), Drew Marvick (Pool Party Massacre), John Mason (Stay), Sean Blevins (Volumes of Blood), Julie Streble (One Must Fall), Eric Huskisson (Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories), and Carlos Omar De Leon (For We Are Many), and P.J. Starks himself.
Killer Christmas trees, possessed dolls, bloodthirsty Santas, and a guardian angel reminiscent of It’s A Wonderful Life, are just a few of the anthology’s high points, and it’s a movie I’ll be recommending to all my gore-loving friends this holiday season.
13 Slays Till X-Mas is currently available on Blu-ray via Scream Team Releasing. If you’re a fan of short form horror and searching for a hidden gem, be sure to grab a copy…and get a head start on baking those cookies for Santa.