ELVES

(2018)

When a group of friends discovers ancient elves locked in a cursed chest, they unknowingly unleash their wrath on the world.

In this sequel to the 2017 film The Elf, Chance (Norma Mendiola) tricks her friends into writing down their “deepest, darkest secrets” and adding their names to the naughty list by telling them that it’s part of a fun, Christmas-themed game. However, the friends soon discover that they’ll have to keep doing those naughty things if they want to stay alive. As Monica (Chelsea Bella) puts it, Elves is “like that movie Truth or Dare, except with Snapchat filters.”

Movie Details

Running Time:

80 min

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Unrated

Release Date:

19 November 2018 (USA)

Director:

Jamaal Burden

Writer:

Deanna Grace Congo

Cast:

Stephanie Marie Baggett

Deanna Grace Congo

Amy Jo Guthrie

Chelsea Bella

Lori Bocanegro 

 N.C.  Review:

I watched this film twice, and I have to admit… it isn’t great.

There are several undeveloped plot points, and some of the dialogue is difficult to understand. In fact, there are times when the actors seem to be delivering lines from two completely different scripts.
but while it’s easy to focus on the negatives, there are also a couple of things that Elves gets right.

First, the cast is largely Hispanic, and the film features at least one LGBT character whose sexual orientation isn’t being played simply for laughs. I would love to see more of this kind of diversity within the horror genre. Next, the use of filters for low-cost visual effects is actually pretty brilliant. I can’t believe more people aren’t doing this.
I’m not sure that I’d go so far as to recommend it, but I certainly wouldn’t discourage fans of holiday horror from giving this film a shot.

Reviewed by: Brandi