Genre: Horror
Director: Aaron Mento
Cast: Charles Chudabala, Hunter Johnson, Lara Jean, Marv Blauvelt, Jody Barton, and Felissa Rose
Studio: Ocular Migraine
Runtime: 81 minutes
Release Date: On video on demand Nov. 23, 2018
Rated: Not rated

Reviewer Rating: ★★★★★

Ugly Sweater Party is one of the most unique viewing experiences I’ve had this year to say the least. The micro-budget horror comedy, written and directed by Aaron Mento, starts out very simply. Best friends Cliff (Charles Chudabala) and Jody (Hunter Johnson) are on their way to an ugly sweater Christmas party in the hopes they’ll get “lucky.” Unbeknownst to them, the winter wear Cliff decided to sport is possessed by notorious serial killer Declan Rains (Sean Whalen). Rains was killed exactly 10 years prior, and his ghost is ready to unleash a Yuletide bloodbath on whoever decides to wear his sweater.

It’s hard to review Ugly Sweater Party in the traditional sense. Is the film good? Not exactly. There’s a myriad of technical issues plaguing the movie, such as inconsistent audio quality between scenes and sequences lacking proper white-balancing, not to mention the complete illogical leaps the story makes to move forward. However, is Ugly Sweater Party a fun time? Yes, it certainly is.

Sean Whalen as Declan Rains

Mento’s script revels in its juvenile humor as almost every joke relies on bodily functions, sexuality, or foul language. A few gags earn a cheap laugh, such as the campsite where the party is held is a Christian one named “Camp Mandix;” however, most of the jokes fall flat due to being too low-brow. But what his script lacks in maturity, it makes up for in pure insanity. Mento constantly takes the story in new and increasingly baffling directions. It’s not enough that there’s a killer possessed sweater on the loose; what about crazed, former groundskeeper Ernie (Jody Barton), who’s being influenced by a Satanic heavy metal band, or clairvoyant witch Hanna (Lara Jean), who can alter events before they transpire? Mento throws everything and the kitchen sink in and the result is so over the top, it becomes worth watching, especially for the crazy final act alone.

Felissa Rose as Mrs. Mandix

There’s a lighthearted nature to all the performances. The cast has a blast hamming it up for the camera and in turn, you have a fun time watching them. Marv Blauvelt,m who plays Counselor Mandix, is a scene-stealer due to the way he portrays a Christian counselor who’s harboring some repressed homosexual urges. It’s not the most politically correct role but his performance warrants a few laughs. And Felissa Rose, who plays his wife Mrs. Mandix, is a nice addition to the cast. Having starred in the 1983 cult classic Sleepaway Camp, it was pleasantly surprising when she appears in Ugly Sweater Party as a liquored up housewife on the prowl for a younger man. It’s not the most unique writing but her dedication earns some guffaws.

The low-budget look to the film is hard to ignore though. While director of photography Paul Stephen Edwards manages to pull off some creative looking sequences, Ugly Sweater Party looks like something a few friends filmed over a weekend on their smartphone. This is most apparent in the outside scenes where the lighting looks washed and blown out. And yet there’s something endearing about it. The film never takes itself seriously, giving the amateur production a certain charm. That, and the practical effects, that are surprisingly well-done, lead to some fun gory moments sprinkled throughout. There are some CGI blood effects, however, that would have been better had they gone the practical route instead. And, I wish the production designer had amped up his use of the holiday theme. After a flashback that details Rains’ Christmas massacre, there’s nary a holiday decoration or music besides characters wearing Christmas sweaters. It’s a nitpick, I know, but the visual aesthetic of Ugly Sweater Party might have benefited from it.

Hanna, Cliff and Jody try to figure out what to do

Ugly Sweater Party is not for everyone, especially with its emphasis on rude humor, as well as its crude production value. But for those who want to gather some friends and have an ugly sweater party of their own, having this film on might help the mood.

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All Photos: ©2018 Ocular Migraine. All Rights Reserved.