BoardChiri Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

mraculeated The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Beulah Bram A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Horst in Translation ([email protected]) There's probably a hundred (short) films out there that get you in the spirit for the holidays, but really funny ones are a rarity. This one is definitely a decent Christmas comedy. It runs for slightly over 7 minutes, which is fine, but also pretty much the limit as the hunting scenes, which went on for a large part of the film really shouldn't have been longer, although the tension and curiosity about what they were hunting for was rising more and more. The over-the-top serious narrator did a pretty good job though and you could feel the funny tone from the way he spoke highly of the prey and praised it as "king of the forest" on one occasion for example.From the moment on where the bearded hunters caught it, it's absolutely hilarious. Interesting idea, convincing execution and definitely worth a watch during the holidays for being a somewhat different Christmas movie. Also there's a follow-up short film and even a feature film about the issue, which may very well be worth watching, but I haven't seen these, so can't say for sure. In any case it's good to see Jalmari Helander, the director gets the chance and will work with Samuel L. Jackson, Jim Broadbent and others on a project of international prestige.

MartinHafer This short film has a very sick sense of humor and while I was a bit horrified but it, I also have to admit that it was very well made. However, I certainly DON'T recommend you allow younger viewers to see this film--for rather obvious reasons.The film was made in Scandinavia and features the most amazingly appropriate narration in English--the voice and style was great as was the script. As the narrator talks, you see several hunters stalking their prey--though for a long time in the film you have no idea what it is. Later, when they finally open fire, you see they are shooting at a naked "feral" Santa using tranquilizer guns. Apparently, according to this film, the Santas you see at shopping malls are actually bagged in the wild and subjected to excruciating "conditioning" (i.e, torture) to make them jolly and child-friendly! The whole thing is one long sick joke. Many will find it funny but many will also be horrified at seeing the naked Father Christmas being shot at, slapped around and beaten. Sick...but just the sort of film for grinches who dislike the holidays.By the way, this short was followed by yet another short and, finally, a full-length film called "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale". All three films can be seen on the disc for the full-length movie.

Stibbert Meet a set of hunters. The best in their trade. As they learned from their fathers and their fathers before them, they track down and domesticate a very special prey.This is a film with a nice twist. The story is good, but at times it is a bit slow. Well written with good narration, but not 100%. The build up is a bit too long I think, but then again the pay-off is good.As for acting it's good. The narrator does a great job and the three leads and Father Christmas fits their roles perfectly and deliver a good performance.The cinematography struck me as really nice. Very nice composed and well chosen shots. It's all very delicious to look at. Hat's off to Jean Noel Mustonen. Also I might mention the sets and costumes witch are really nice. They look good and create a really nice setting.All in all a funny and well made short. I'd not give it a full 10, but it's a good 7, no doubt.

Peter Pakulski This movie has been doing the rounds on the internet for the last couple of years in quicktime format, many people not realising that it is a serious (or otherwise) short movie. With around a minute and a half of credits, the length proper of this is only 6 minutes.This movie is about hunting, so keep the little ones out of view and earshot while watching it. It is an absolute masterpiece, so if you have broadband, do a search now and have a watch of it. If you decide to, then read no further, because:SPOILER -- SPOILER -- SPOILER -- SPOILER -- SPOILER -- SPOILERThere is a lead-up and reveal about halfway through. The start shows preparations for a hunt, but the prey is unknown until the first shot is fired, and we see a sedative dart in... A FATHER Christmas! They are the most precious free-roaming beast in the whole of the Northern wilderness we are told, but they are very dangerous.Get a copy now and see how a wild Father Christmas is tamed and prepared for export.