Our Fantasia Film Festival 2026 coverage continues with the Holiday horror film Unholy Night.
Ever have one of those terrible, degrading Holiday dinners with family you may love (in some instances don’t even love), but can’t stand? Unholy Night adds the wrinkle of having to fight with the undead family members who have their own grudges against you and your fellow loved ones.
Gino (Marc Bendavid), an underachiever living in his parents’ basement, is preparing himself for the yearly Christmas Family dinner with his Italian-Canadian family. As they begin to show up, the subtle and not-so-subtle jabs begin to be tossed his way. If that weren’t enough, his ex-girlfriend (Shailene Garnett) appears from seemingly nowhere, just as mad at him as the day they stopped talking. Though it won’t matter as Gino’s Nona (Jacqueline Robbins) walks into the kitchen talking about her sauce. That wouldn’t be so bad, but Nona has been dead for years. As the rest of the family angers Nona, her demonic self shows and begins a murderous rampage. As other long-dead family members begin to show, the still squabbling family and Gino’s ex must somehow find the answers if they’re going to survive this now unholiest of nights.
Unholy Night is more of a straight horror film than one wants it to be. The concept alone of a family that must band together to fend off the undead Christmas night feels like an entry from The Evil Dead yet unseen. The film in execution is much more serious, with twinges of dark humor for levity’s sake. One finds themselves actively rooting for the undead with their mildly humorous patter against the various awful family members. This may have been the intention of writer/director Michael Gabriele. Like a play on the 80s slasher convention of terrible people together in a single location and the audience with no qualms about seeing them taken out one at a time.
The production is handsomely mounted and executed with a much bigger, unexpected third act than one might think. The effects are near perfection with a combination of makeup and visual effects working in unison to bring the undead to life. The design is a standout, and how they begin to evolve from wandering lost souls to violent demonic entities is a true master stroke and allows for some true tension throughout the film.
Unholy Night will offer a pleasant surprise during the Holiday season to the discerning horror fan.
Unholy Night plays at the Fantasia Film Festival on July 25th and 27th
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Our Fantasia Film Festival 2026 coverage continues with the Holiday horror film Unholy Night.
Ever have one of those terrible, degrading Holiday dinners with family you may love (in some instances don’t even love), but can’t stand? Unholy Night adds the wrinkle of having to fight with the undead family members who have their own grudges against you and your fellow loved ones.
Gino (Marc Bendavid), an underachiever living in his parents’ basement, is preparing himself for the yearly Christmas Family dinner with his Italian-Canadian family. As they begin to show up, the subtle and not-so-subtle jabs begin to be tossed his way. If that weren’t enough, his ex-girlfriend (Shailene Garnett) appears from seemingly nowhere, just as mad at him as the day they stopped talking. Though it won’t matter as Gino’s Nona (Jacqueline Robbins) walks into the kitchen talking about her sauce. That wouldn’t be so bad, but Nona has been dead for years. As the rest of the family angers Nona, her demonic self shows and begins a murderous rampage. As other long-dead family members begin to show, the still squabbling family and Gino’s ex must somehow find the answers if they’re going to survive this now unholiest of nights.
Unholy Night is more of a straight horror film than one wants it to be. The concept alone of a family that must band together to fend off the undead Christmas night feels like an entry from The Evil Dead yet unseen. The film in execution is much more serious, with twinges of dark humor for levity’s sake. One finds themselves actively rooting for the undead with their mildly humorous patter against the various awful family members. This may have been the intention of writer/director Michael Gabriele. Like a play on the 80s slasher convention of terrible people together in a single location and the audience with no qualms about seeing them taken out one at a time.
The production is handsomely mounted and executed with a much bigger, unexpected third act than one might think. The effects are near perfection with a combination of makeup and visual effects working in unison to bring the undead to life. The design is a standout, and how they begin to evolve from wandering lost souls to violent demonic entities is a true master stroke and allows for some true tension throughout the film.
Unholy Night will offer a pleasant surprise during the Holiday season to the discerning horror fan.
Unholy Night plays at the Fantasia Film Festival on July 25th and 27th
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