This 2017 Home Invasion Chiller Is an Underrated Christmas Horror Flick

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As a seasoned horror enthusiast with a soft spot for Christmas-themed chills, I can confidently say that “Lake Alice” is a hidden gem worth adding to your holiday watchlist. With its small-town charm and indie spirit, it’s a film that harks back to the classic era of slasher flicks, yet manages to feel refreshingly modern.

During the festive period, horror enthusiasts are actively seeking out spooky seasonal films to enjoy while sipping hot cocoa next to the Christmas tree.

Christmas and horror have gone hand in hand for centuries, but ever since Charles Dickens decided to turn his Christmas Carol into a very effective ghost story, the holiday and the genre have been truly inseparable. That means there are a lot of choices out there in the Christmas horror department, with more coming every year, and while you might have seen a lot of them, you probably haven’t seen them all.

This leads us to “Lake Alice,” currently available on Peacock. Originally released in 2017, this holiday-themed horror film has a minimalistic approach, is straightforward, and was produced with an independent spirit that gives it a captivating and occasionally unsettling authenticity. It’s not one of the more well-known Christmas horror films, and it doesn’t quite reach the level of classics like “Black Christmas” or “Silent Night, Deadly Night.” However, the eerie and frightening ambiance it creates, centered around a Christmas tree, is truly remarkable.

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Why Lake Alice Is a Great Horror Flick for the Holiday Season

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The title “Lake Alice” is linked to the tranquil lake where the closely bonded Thomas family, consisting of father Greg (Peter O’Brien), mother Natalie (Laura Niemi), and daughter Sarah (Caroline Tudor), own a cabin. They make it a tradition to visit each year during holidays and this time around, Sarah has extended their plans by inviting her boyfriend, Ryan (Brad Schmidt), who is new to the family and will be celebrating Christmas in an unfamiliar setting with Greg and Natalie for the first time. There’s a hint of friendly apprehension from the get-go.

However, things take an odd turn when the Thomas family comes to town. Greg finds himself frequently bothered by the local police without apparent cause, Ryan becomes agitated upon encountering an ex-lover, Caroline meets, and Ryan becomes agitated upon encountering an ex-boyfriend, and curious neighbors constantly drop by unannounced with gifts and firewood for the approaching winter nights. Some of these interactions go well, while others do not, but Stevie Jane Miller’s writing and Ben Milliken’s direction create a sense of unease from the start that something isn’t quite right.

One intriguing aspect of these scenarios is how horror movies portray the contrast between a character’s and an audience’s perception. Characters are unaware they’re in a horror movie; they believe they’re simply enjoying their usual holiday gathering, but there seem to be an excessive number of interruptions. The viewers, however, understand they’re watching a horror film, anticipating the imminent appearance of danger lurking nearby. What we all share is the uncertainty about when and how events will unfold. On a tight budget and with limited settings, “Lake Alice” maintains tension, encouraging everyone to remain vigilant for clues to solve the mystery and for the first signs of violence.

The eerie tension constructed within the movie culminates in a chilling yet logical ending, with an added touch of extreme violence. The choice to set the film during Christmas, a time typically associated with warmth and family, intensifies the strange and ominous atmosphere in the film. Instead of being just another vacation story, the holiday decorations in “Lake Alice” add an extra layer of suspense and fear.

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2024-12-13 00:31