Grandma's Cookies is a Great Campy Horror Experience

We recently received the honor of reviewing Michael Coulombe’s new short horror film, Grandma’s Cookies. This short film confirms all our worst fears about Christmas time. Namely, that Santa is hiding something sinister under all of those robes.

First, let’s get the negatives out of the way. The dialogue delivery in Grandma’s Cookies feels somewhat flat and forced. It isn’t bad by any means, I have seen much worse, but it could be improved slightly. Outside of that, the cast does a wonderful job.

Eileen Dietz (Grandma) has a long history in horror acting and provides an excellent performance as the despicable grandmother. And Lucas Sequira and Emily Palumbo do a wonderful job portraying the frightened young grandchildren.

Most importantly, the legendary Bryan Forest provides our demonic Santa figure. Although he doesn’t receive much screen time, Forest delivers a deliciously dark version of Saint Nicholas that will haunt you long after the credit roll.

Granda’s Cookies is a delightful short film. The ten minute horror feels like something ripped from the pages of Creepshow or Tales from the Crypt. The plot doesn’t hold water, but it doesn’t need to. The premise is goofy yet gory, which is my favorite kind of horror. Not everything needs to be a dark metaphor for mental illness or poverty. Sometimes, horror films are just meant to be fun.

The effects in the film are reminiscent of the campy slashers of the 80s. They won’t pass as realistic, but they fit the theme of the short. If the project gets picked up for a feature length film, we may see the buckets of blood the film needs.

The short film is currently making the rounds at indie film circuits. If you want to check it out, the film will be showcased at the Days of the Dead Film Festival and The Screaming Room Film Festival at Midsummer Scream. You can also check out the website here, to get more information on the film.