Seen as part of All the Haunts be Ours vol 2
A fascinating setup of 4 doom-laden men forced together against their will by sheer force of superstition. Their fears and secrets are made manifest on their journey, escalating to a satisfying crescendo. But there's too much focus on a theatrically verbose script, twists served up formulaicly while the cinematography languishes from workhorse-like at best to unintentional silly at worst.
One of the earliest spins on the current Krampus revival wave, it explores a much more elemental take on the season. The Western trappings of Christmas comfort are replaced by the Finnish wilderness (and traps) and in that specificity finds some universality of family and perseverance. The slow build of tension does eventually devolve into silliness without the payoff that it promises but there's enough heart and comedy to make it a worthwhile watch (plus 22% VAT)
Fantastic acting and concepts with odd pacing that really felt like Mike Flanagan struggling not to make a TV show. It's a story that sprawls over time and space in ways that only a Stephen King story could, for better or worse.
