BETTER WATCH OUT. Stands out above the mediocrity

In the world of horror, there is no holiday more significant than Halloween. However, in recent years, it has faced a powerful and surprising rival—a holiday that reigns supreme, being the most profitable and celebrated across the largest number of countries globally: Christmas. Whether you call it Christmas, Yuletide, or something else, it takes on a bloody and brutal form in the realm of horror. The tradition of combining the Christmas season with horror dates back to ancient times and has significantly influenced the genre in later years. Two notable titles illustrate this: Black Christmas (1974), considered the first slasher film in cinematic history, and the unquestionably intriguing Silent Night, Deadly Night. Similar stories sporadically appeared on screens every few years, though the budgets for such films were so modest that Michael Jackson wouldn’t have been able to produce even a music video with them. Gradually, however, holiday-themed horror began to gain traction. The Dutch film Sint garnered significant international attention, primarily due to its depiction of Santa Claus as a bloodthirsty maniac rather than merely dressing up a psychopath in a Santa suit. Another relatively successful production was Krampus (2015), which featured a supernatural villain, and it is likely responsible for the surge of similar films in its wake. Titles like Killer Christmas, Mother Krampus, Red Christmas, and The Elf have surfaced in recent years, but only one stands out above the mediocrity: Better Watch Out.

In one of the early scenes of Better Watch Out, the main characters are watching a horror movie, and one of them shouts at the screen, “Why are you going up to the attic?” Predictably, a few minutes later, he finds himself on the attic stairs. At first, everything follows a familiar formula. The film is competently made, well-acted, and firmly within the home-invasion subgenre. First comes a peaceful setup, followed by a series of unsettling signs (initially false alarms, later revealing genuine danger), until… the twist. Chris Peckover, despite his young age, proves to be an exceptionally talented director, delivering a plot twist at the end of the first act that is as unexpected as Colin Farrell’s transformation into Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Without spoiling the surprise, I’ll only say this: the film blends purely entertaining elements—such as direct nods to Home Alone (finally showing us how colliding with a paint can might really end) and The Babysitter—with moments of genuinely dramatic violence that evoke the grim tone of Funny Games. These moments create a sense of unease, akin to a child realizing a frog can’t endure all of their “games.” The film skillfully navigates between heavier and lighter tones, playing with genre clichés in a way that makes it hard to look away, even if it’s all been done before—just never in quite this configuration.

Special recognition is due to Olivia DeJonge, a young Australian actress whose career parallels the events of Better Watch Out. She proves she’s capable of much more than playing a stereotypical scream queen. Her co-star, Levi Miller (Peter in Joe Wright’s Pan), is typically insufferably irritating, but here, he provides an excellent counterbalance that makes their dynamic fascinating and unique. Notably, the cast also includes Dacre Montgomery, who appeared here before his breakout roles as the leader of the Power Rangers or Billy in the second season of Stranger Things.

Better Watch Out breathes fresh air into the horror canon. While we’ve seen plenty of genre mashups in recent years, few manage to be as unforced and entertaining as this one—and none have captured the holiday spirit quite so well. After watching Home Alone with your kids, make sure to check out this “alternative” story. Skip the trailer, though; it might ruin the experience.