Film Review: THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE BARN (2023) Don't Forget the Porridge: The Killer Christmas Creature Feature

 

 

There's Something in the Barn is the joyous, bloody antidote to the often serious world of Christmas horror. This Norwegian-American horror-comedy takes the foundational creature-chaos concepts of films like Gremlins and Krampus and grounds them in genuine, if darkly humorous, Nordic folklore. The result is a gleefully violent, slapstick nightmare that has all the ingredients of an instant cult classic.

The story follows the Nordheim family, a typically American and hopelessly oblivious unit, who relocate to a remote, snow-covered ancestral farm in rural Norway. The teenage daughter is miserable, the upbeat stepmother is perpetually positive, and the naive father (played by the always great Martin Starr) is oblivious to the local customs. Their youngest son discovers a grumpy, silent creature living in the barn—a Nisse, or Nordic Barn Elf. The family quickly and spectacularly breaks all the sacred, unwritten rules of Nisse care (no bright lights, no modern changes, no loud noises, and, most importantly, always leave a bowl of porridge). The Nisse promptly retaliates by calling in the troops, turning their rural dream into a brutally funny fight for survival against a horde of tiny, murderous elves.

Beyond the Jumpscare Analysis: What makes this film work so well is its fantastic culture-clash humor and its commitment to the creature feature genre. The film satirizes the loud, self-involved American tourist dynamic against the quiet, traditional Norwegian setting. The nisse are genuinely creepy—partially due to the excellent practical makeup—but their motivation is simple and hilarious: they just want their barn and their peaceful life back.

Director Magnus Martens masterfully balances the chuckles with the chills. While the first two acts are a slow-burn family comedy, the third act explodes into pure, unrestrained gore and inventive kills. We’re talking icicles, Christmas tree toppers, and snowmobiles being weaponized in the most ridiculous ways. It doesn't take itself seriously for a second, resulting in a fun, occasionally touching, and delightfully bloody romp. If you appreciate the dark humor of Shaun of the Dead mixed with the snowy chaos of Dead Snow, this is a festive treat that deserves a spot in your yearly holiday horror rotation.

 

There's Something in the Barn (2023)