We all know the rules of mogwais, but do you know how to not make a Barn Elf angry? Film Brain reviews this Norwegian comedy-horror that isn't quite a Christmas classic, but still fun.
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00:00 If you like gremlins, you might want to check out There's Something in the Barn, now on VOD.
00:04 Martin Starr brings his American family over to Norway after inheriting his uncle's farm,
00:09 with the intent of turning it into a hotel, a plan which very much ticks off the elf living in the barn.
00:15 This is clearly a homage to that Christmas classic, right down to the fact there are rules
00:19 to not angering the barn elf, but the setup is a little bit too long-winded, and Starr is more
00:24 irritating than funny. It doesn't help that he doesn't feel believable. He gets kicked down the stairs
00:30 unconscious, and then the next scene he's just completely unfazed. But it's a lot more fun when
00:35 it turns into an all-out war between humans and barn elves, but I don't think it quite nails the
00:40 tone. Either it needs to be a bit more PG, like gremlins, a bit more looney tunes, or just go into
00:46 an OTT gore fest like Violent Night. It's too much of a soft R rating here. It probably won't become
00:53 a seasonal tradition, but it's likeable festive B-movie mayhem. Have a safe and happy holidays, everyone.