V/H/S/Halloween (2025)

A mixed bag in the low-budget found footage horror anthology V/H/S series, this time centering around the holiday. There is one great segment among the offerings called "Fun Size" which I was delighted was made by madman Casper Kelly, which salvaged this whole tripe for me. It's another substandard entry with one or two that rise a cut above, but it feels shallow and wasn't worth it.

None of this was worth it.

2 candy enemas out of 5

Adult Swim Yule Log 2: Branchin' Out (2024)

This sequel to the surreal cult classic takes a bit of a different tack as a flagrant parody of Hallmark movies. The result is a mixed bag that feels like a much more straightforward horror-comedy than the experimental nature of the original. You can really only appreciate the subtleties if you've seen your share of cheesy holiday movies. That doesn't mean it isn't a hell of a lot of fun, and it pushes its demented premise to the max. I love how it plays with aspect ratios, especially the darker widescreen vibe versus the cheerful full frame effect, to convey the characters' state of mind. It's not as memorable or unsettling as the original, but it does succeed in being its own unique thing.

3½ clumsy hunks out of 5

Adult Swim Yule Log (2022)

AKA: The Fireplace

The Yule log. A standard winter tradition. Designed to be a bit of background noise, it sets the stage for the season with a crackling fire overlaid with some heartwarming holiday tunes for ambience. That lasts for all of two minutes...

Like Casper Kelly's (Too Many Cooks) other ventures, it's not just about what it seems on the surface. Throughout the 90-minute running period, it finds new ways to reinvent itself and get mileage out of its clever premise. It turns into a Lynchian mindfuck before long, elevating it to something truly nightmarish.

If you're a fan of Adult Swim's 4am programming block, move this to the top of your Christmas list.

4 hanging trees out of 5