Carnage for Christmas

The holiday season is usually a time of joy and togetherness, but for Lola, a trans true-crime podcaster, it becomes a chilling journey into the heart of her past. In this gripping Christmas-themed thriller, we follow Lola as she returns to her conservative hometown, filled with dread and anticipation. Lola’s transition has made her apprehensive about how her small town community will react, and she’s bracing for potential backlash during the holidays. But nothing could prepare her for the terror that awaits.

Lola’s podcast has made her a well-known figure in the true-crime world, diving into the darkest and most mysterious cases with her sharp insights. However, she never expected that a simple holiday trip would thrust her into a horrifying situation straight out of her own podcast episodes. Her hometown, which had long been haunted by whispers of an old, unsolved crime, is now under threat from a masked killer dressed as Santa Claus. This killer’s spree appears to be paying a gruesome tribute to a long-forgotten local legend—the terrifying Toymaker.

The Toymaker was a notorious figure in the town’s history, responsible for a string of brutal murders that had left the community traumatized. But Lola knows this legend more intimately than anyone. Her own family has a dark connection to the original Toymaker killings, making her the perfect person to confront the horror that is once again unfolding. As the killings pile up, Lola is forced to grapple with her own traumatic past, which ties her to the very murders that are being recreated.

In the midst of all this chaos, Lola must put aside her personal fears and the anxiety of being back in a place that never fully accepted her. She knows she’s the only one who can stop the killer, even if it means confronting the painful truths about her past. With each murder, the stakes get higher, and Lola begins to realize that the Toymaker’s legacy is far from over. The killer isn’t just targeting random victims—they’re sending a message, and Lola is the key to unraveling their motive.

Throughout the story, we see Lola struggle with her identity and the complex dynamics of being a trans woman in a town that has never fully embraced her. The holidays, traditionally seen as a time for family and love, become a backdrop for Lola’s battle for survival and justice. As the town is thrown into panic, Lola’s determination grows stronger. She knows that if she wants to stop the killer, she must confront both the past and the present.

In a twist of fate, Lola uncovers clues that point to an unsettling truth: the Santa killer’s connection to the Toymaker might not be as supernatural as the town believes. This revelation pushes her to the edge, forcing her to rely on her unique skills and knowledge of the true-crime world to track down the killer before it’s too late.

This Christmas, Lola’s holiday season takes a dark turn as she faces the ultimate test of courage and resolve. Will she be able to stop the bloodshed before it’s too late, or will the legacy of the Toymaker haunt the town once again? This chilling thriller combines the festive spirit of Christmas with the terror of a true-crime mystery, offering a suspenseful ride filled with twists, turns, and a powerful message of survival and redemption.

Director: Alice Maio Mackay

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Horror, Mystery

Cast: Betsey Brown, Cassie Hamilton, Dominique Booth, Iris Mcerlean, Jeremy Moineau, Joe Romeo, Lewi Dawson, Lisa Fanto, Molly Ferguson, Olivia Deeble, Toshiro Glenn, Yassica Switakowski