Winner as "Best Feature Film" at the second edition of The Optical Theatre Festival 2016, Good Tidings (UK - 2016) is a horror film written, directed and produced by Stuart W. Bedford (Hybrid, An Easter's Tale). Good Tidings is a title that ranks with dignity among the top Christmas horror films, elevating itself not only as one of the best holiday films but also placing itself among the best of 2016.
The influence of 1970s/80s slasher/thriller cinematography is tangible ("Silent Night Deadly Night"). In particular, that sense of siege typical of the Carpenterian film "District 13 - The Death Brigades" is strong and suffocating. Nevertheless, the film, extraordinarily directed by Stuart W. Bedford, enjoys a distinctive and personal story that shows no signs of predictability. Credit to a solid and well-structured screenplay, among other things by the director himself together with Stu Jopia.
In Good Tidings an atrocious day of celebration is painted in which the protagonists, society's outcasts, they are stripped of their hopes as well. Indeed, Bedford's film brings together the broken lives of psychopaths, ex-junkies, former war veterans and homeless people, setting them in a terrifying Christmas context.
The three villains disguised as Santa Claus (incidentally winners of the "Best Villain" award at The Optical Theatre Festival) unwittingly destroy, before staining themselves with the blood of their victims, the feeble hopes of those who possess nothing but their own miserable existence. In fact, the story, cast from the outset in a leaden atmosphere, reaches remarkable heights of drama mixed with horror, especially because of the targets chosen by the three Santa Klaus i.e., tramps living in a homeless shelter and attempting to celebrate Christmas with so much humility and so much difficulty.
Sam Baker (Alan Mulhall) is a war veteran who lives with his friends in an abandoned building. Here, on December 25 of all days, three vicious psychopaths (Curly, Moe and Larry) who have escaped from a mental health center will sneak into the facility disguised as Santa Claus, destroying the festive air of those who live inside.
The entrance of the Santa Klaus is singular. Introduced from the very first minutes, their first action translates their violent and ruthless nature. Without ever uttering any words but making use of gestures laced with giggles, the three psychopaths, charismatic in their atrocities, are united not only by madness but by their desire for slaughter.
The oppressive atmosphere that taints the entire film is made all the more somber by frosty cinematography (Shane de Almeida) and haunting, penetrating music (Liam W. Ashcroft).
Overall, good acting evidence although there are some naivete. Iconic are the three Santas (Larry, Curly and Moe), well played respectively by John Gentile, Stu Jopia and Liam W. Ashcroft.
The cast also includes Alan Mulhall, Johnny Hirst, Colin Murtagh, Emma Hind, Marcella Hazell, Garry McMahon, and Julia Walsh.
Co-writers and co-producers of Good Tidings Are John Gentile and Stu Jopia.
