Kaleidoscope Entertainment, out now

 ‘What’s my name?’

I was a fair way into this one before I realised it was actually a sequel – to Once Upon a Time at Christmas (2017), which I hadn’t heard of – so it’s a testament to the makers that you don’t really have to have seen that one to enjoy The Nights Before Christmas as a sort of standalone…

Beginning with a flashback to when Nick Conway/Santa Claus (Simon Phillips, who also co-wrote, reprising his role) and Michelle Weaver/Mrs Claus (Sayla de Goede doing the same) set fire to and escaped from the asylum they were patients in, we soon move on to the present day for more mayhem. Still desperate to be reunited with his family, Santa is trying to lure them out of hiding whilst at the same time ticking people off his list who’ve been ‘NAUGHTY’ – even writing this in blood in the snow after one kill.

It isn’t long before the FBI are involved in the form of relentless Agent Natalie Parker (Kate Schroder), who begins to piece things together – visiting the old asylum and the ex-Sheriff who dealt with these lunatics before (played by Barry Kennedy). But will even she be able to stop this pair on their festive rampage, and is there more to the list this time than just ‘playing games’?

The Nights Before Christmas is an effective throwback to the kind of ’80s slashers fans of the genre all remember fondly. With his one white eye and metal teeth (he pulled his originals out so he wouldn’t be identified in the fire), Santa here might sound for all the world like Christian Bale’s growly Batman but is more like the Joker in his MO. Similarly, Mrs Claus is definitely channelling Harley Quinn, and together they do make a formidable horror duo. The kills are appropriately imaginative, gory and fun – bonus points for the use of a cross as a murder weapon – while an extra dimension is added when we find out why the psychos are actually doing all this.

Verdict: It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but Christmas-themed horrors are few and far between and this one definitely fights for its place in the ranks. ‘Who’m I gonna sleigh first?’            7/10                                                   

Paul Kane

The Nights Before Christmas is released on DVD and all online platforms on November 2nd by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.