[Yuletide Terrors] Day 1: THE PACT

Throughout the month of December, we will be highlighting a film a day that has some tie into the holiday somehow. Some titles will be obvious, others won’t be. Some films will be good and, again, others won’t be. However, we think all titles are worth your time whether to give you chills inside your home or to make you drink more eggnog until you puke laughing. We also tried not to go with the more popular titles as well.

The Holidays are supposed to be full of joy and merriment. Lights on timers, trees and garland hanging as far as the eye can see.  There are more Horror movies set during Christmas than any other time of year. It’s about time someone told which titles you should want waiting under the Christmas tree.

After the death of her mother, Nicole (Agnes Bruckner) goes missing a few days before the funeral. Annie (Caity Lotz), her younger sister returns to the home in search of Nicole. She is soon confronted with a presence in her home that demands resolution.

I didn’t know much about this movie before watching it and I was surprised. Writer/director Nicholas McCarthy earns the scares without relying on cheap gags or loud noises. This movie is all about secrets that families keep and the destruction they cause when kept. I can’t recommend this movie enough. Skip the trailer and just watch.

Set in California, there are no snowy landscapes or ice skating. Christmas is at the edges of this film, mentioned and seen but never felt. With the family revelations that lie within it makes sense. The holidays are hard for a lot of people. When you come from a broken family sometimes there’s nothing more alienating than being told Merry Christmas.