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Home - Movies - Santa Isn’t Real (2023) – Movie Review/Summary

Santa Isn’t Real (2023) – Movie Review/Summary

In this Santa Claus horror film, you get blood, literal guts, and the type of scenes that aren’t noteworthy until they get particularly gruesome.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted onDecember 9, 2023 9:12 AMDecember 19, 2023 6:51 PM Hours Updated onDecember 19, 2023 6:51 PM
Santa

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.


Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.


  • General Information
    • Content Rating Explanation
  • Film Summary
    • Character Descriptions
      • Nikki
      • Jess
      • Nathan
      • MJ
    • Other Noteworthy Information
  • Review
    • Notable Performances or Moments
      • The Rare Moment Of Leaving Your Mouth Gaping Wide
    • On The Fence
      • The Drama And Campiness
      • The Ending
    • Also Worth Mentioning
    • Who Is This For?
    • Recommendations
    • Discussion Items

In this Santa Claus horror film, you get blood, literal guts, and the type of scenes that aren’t noteworthy until they get particularly gruesome.

Please Note: The content below contains pertinent spoilers but isn’t an exhaustive summary. Also, certain characters might be omitted to avoid unnecessary spoilers or due to lack of impact.

Read our Editorial Guidelines regarding how posts are written and rated and our use of affiliate links.

 

General Information

Director(s)

Zac Locke

Screenplay By

Zac Locke

Based On Work By

Mikey Bill Taylor

Date Released

December 8, 2023

How To Watch

Video On Demand

Genre(s)

Fantasy

Horror

Young Adult

Film Length

1 Hour 15 Minutes

Content Rating

Not Rated

Noted Characters and Cast

Nikki

Kaya Coleman

Jess

Scarlett Sperduto

MJ

Cissy Ly

Nathan

Trey Anderson

Content Rating Explanation

  • Dialog: Some Cursing
  • Violence: Gore, Blood, Graphic Murder
  • Sexual Content: Sexual Situations, But No Nudity
  • Miscellaneous: Drinking

Film Summary

For reasons unknown, Nikki is attacked by Santa Claus one year and ends up in a coma due to blood loss and a concussion. A year later, she awakens and tags along with her best friend Jess, boyfriend Nathan, and mutual friend MJ for Christmas, and at a cabin in the mountain, deep in the woods, Santa Claus again comes for Nikki and also sets their eyes on her friends.

Why? Well, because more of them were being naughty than nice.

Character Descriptions

Nikki

Kaya Coleman as Nikki
“Kaya Coleman as Nikki,” Santa Isn’t Real, directed by Zac Locke, 2023, (XYZ Films)

At one time, Nikki played the role of the girl to be envious of. Black and Icelandic, with a jock boyfriend, while she had some private struggles, she was that girl.

Jess

Scarlett Sperduto as Jess
“Scarlett Sperduto as Jess,” Santa Isn’t Real, directed by Zac Locke, 2023, (XYZ Films)

Jess is Nikki’s best friend.

Nathan

Trey Anderson as Nathan
“Trey Anderson as Nathan,” Santa Isn’t Real, directed by Zac Locke, 2023, (XYZ Films)

Nathan is Nikki’s boyfriend, who gave her the nickname “Penguin.”

MJ

Cissy Ly as MJ
“Cissy Ly as MJ,” Santa Isn’t Real, directed by Zac Locke, 2023, (XYZ Films)

MJ is the polyamorous friend of the group.

Other Noteworthy Information

  1. If you want to feel old, Nathan questions how to use a landline in the film.

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

Notable Performances or Moments

The Rare Moment Of Leaving Your Mouth Gaping Wide

Most of “Santa Isn’t Real” delivers what you expect in showing people stabbed, slit open, and the type of visual effects common in the horror genre. However, there is one moment when Santa kills someone that is shocking. I’m talking about either making your face contort or your mouth gaping wide type of shocking and as someone who is a moderate fan of gore, let me tell you that doesn’t happen often.

On The Fence

The Drama And Campiness

With Nikki in a coma for a year and many thinking she won’t survive, naturally, power dynamics shift, and people begin to move on. This causes issues that don’t feel pushed to be taken seriously because of the film’s tone.

On paper, you know certain people doing what they are doing is an issue. However, in some performances, whether addressing personal issues or due to how Santa is performed, it’s hard to decipher whether the performances have a tinge of camp to make things comical or if there were just acting choices that were disagreeable.

The Ending

I’ll just say this, Santa Claus is the villain of “Santa Isn’t Real,” but the way the film ends pushes that there is the potential for a sequel. One that isn’t warranted.

Also Worth Mentioning

  • Its short run time doesn’t save the film but gives you less to complain about.

Who Is This For?

Those who like slasher movies.

Recommendations

If you like this movie, we recommend:

  1. Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey

Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.

Discussion Items

Let us know your thoughts in the comments:

  1. What’s the most gruesome kill you’ve seen in a movie?

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Santa Isn’t Real (2023) – Movie Review

Summary

“Santa Isn’t Real” is without a doubt a B-Movie horror that may succeed in grossing you out with the murder depictions, but not enough is done to make the story or characters match the hook of a demented Santa going around killing people.

Overall
78%
78%
  • Its short run time - 80%
    80%
  • The Ending - 72%
    72%
  • The Drama And Campiness - 74%
    74%
  • The Rare Moment Of Leaving Your Mouth Gaping Wide - 85%
    85%
Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)

Pros

  • Its short run time
  • The Rare Moment Of Leaving Your Mouth Gaping Wide

Cons

  • The Ending
  • The Drama And Campiness
  • Rating System Details

Listed Under Categories: Movies, Mixed (Divisive)

Related Tags: Cissy Ly, Fantasy, Horror, Kaya Coleman, Mikey Bill Taylor, Not Rated, Santa Isn’t Real, Scarlett Sperduto, Trey Anderson, Video On Demand, XYZ Films, Young Adult, Zac Locke

Amari Allah

Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been writing reviews since 2010, with a focus on dramas and comedies.

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