A man joins a shapeshifter support group when he fears that he is transforming into a werewolf.

Shudder’s TV anthology series based on the 1982 George A Romero and Stephen King portmanteau horror movie wasn’t able to film its second season this year, but managed to sneak in both a Halloween and now a Holiday special. And it’s fair to say you’re unlikely to see a more bonkers and self-aware piece of television this year.

Right from the outset, writer/director Greg Nicotero peppers his story with on-the-nose references – the Church of St Argento, a password of Landis, characters named after popular lycanthropes – and it’s in this playful manner that you should approach this crazy confection.

Robert Weston (Adam Pally) joins Shapeshifters Anonymous, concerned that the bones and fabric in his stools mean that he’s been eating humans. As it turns out, he is indeed a werewolf, much to the envy of the werecheetah, werehog and wereturtle in the group! The first half is a lot of talking about curses and how to live as a shapeshifter, and then Santa is mentioned. Yes, Santa is a killer of shapeshifters, and all street corner bell-ringing helpers are with him on this crusade.

What follows is the slaughter of multiple Santas, some bizarre transformations and a finale between a horrific Kris Kringle (complete with razor Santa Claws) and an uber werewolf with more than a passing resemblance to Fluffy from the original movie. And that’s pretty much it, with some forced non-pc humour between the characters.

Verdict: Possibly best viewed after the consumption of your favourite festive tipple, this Holiday Special is gory, daft fun, albeit forced and juvenile. 7/10