Review: Two Short Steve Rudzinski Films: Amityville Christmas Vacation; Red Christmas

Two Short Steve Rudzinski Films: Amityville Christmas Vacation; Red Christmas
Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2022
Images from the Internet, unless indicated
Both these films are available for free at www.tubitv.com

Amityville Christmas Vacation
Directed by Steve Rudzinski
Silver Spotlight Films
47 minutes, 2022
www.silverspotlightfilms.com
www.stevebuster.com

I have enjoyed so many of Steve Rudzinski’s films. I know that the man, who is the King of Cosplay and not a Christian, is a fanatic for Christmas all year around, so the fact that this is a day late, should not matter. He also has a habit of putting his films up for free on Tubi, and for that I am grateful. I have reviewed most of them (just search my blog for his name).

When glancing at the title of this under-and-hour ditty, which combines two different previous film titles, you have to know it is a horror comedy, as that is Rudzinski’s wheelhouse on most occasions.

Bringing back his not-overly-smart role of police officer and man-child Wally Griswold from his successful Meowy franchise (also on Tubi), Rudzinski’s character has seemly “won” a trip to “sunny Amityville”. Anyone with a brain would know it was some kind of scam, but Wally is a joyful optimist, the perfect attribute for a police officer. But he excitedly tells Whiskers (Gizmo Cat, Rudzinski’s real pet) of his plans, thus giving the viewer some exposition.

The exterior of the Amityville house is a cool 3D printer construction, and the inside is most likely Rudzinski’s real home (or a friend’s, perhaps). This also leads to a really funny joke that I will not give away. Actually, there are many “under the breath” jokes that are worth paying attention.

Wally is told by the prize agent, Samantha (Marci Leigh), that he is not the only “guest” in the house and, of course, it is a murderous ghost, amusingly named Jessica D’Angelo (Aleen Isley). But they seem to hit it off, which reminded me of another film with a man in love with a female ghost that is worth checking out, A Ghost Waits (2020). 

This was obviously filmed during COVID, as only four of the characters intertwine: Wall, Jessica, Samantha and a ghost hunter, conveniently named Creighton Spook (Scott Lewis). All the others are either on Zoom, such as ghost caseworker Zelda (Autumn Ivy), and by phone, such as Wally’s friend and fellow cop, Rick (Ben Dietels, who was so fun in a 2017 film he also directed, Slaughter Drive), a regularly appearing character in the Meowy series. Others are obviously shot separate and then edited together (i.e., single shots, going back and forth).

This is definitely a hyper, over-acted (purposefully) film with a heart, as are all the Meowy releases, and it is a nice way to share the holidays with someone you love. No real violence (though threats of it), with a solid PG rating level. My only complaint is that Rudzinski does not release enough films, in my opinion.

IMBD listing HERE https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22168286/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

 

Red Christmas (aka Dead Christmas)
Directed by Steve Rudzinski
Silver Spotlight Films
55 minutes, 2014
www.silverspotlightfilms.com
www.stevebuster.com

While this has been out for nearly a decade, its Holiday theme makes it a good companion to review with Amityville Christmas Vacation, above.

Tara (Amie Wrenn, who is the voice of Whiskers the Cat in the Meowy franchise), as she states right off, is a premeditative torturer and serial killer of men: she gives the reason, but it is not what you may infer. She selects the guys, and then does her “thing.”

Done found footage style (some hand-held, most mounted), Tara video records her history of mass murder (which actually sounds plausible), her plan to – er – execute the tricking of a man to come to her house, as her next victim, and then the capture. Oh, and the subsequent actions once Bill (Seth Murphy, who was a hoot as MC Pink in 2012’s Everyone Must Die!) is under her control.

Technically, one can see increments of this as being considered a horror comedy, and there are certain parts that truly made me laugh (one is in the trailer, below), but mostly there is a level of torture/body horror that is inescapable, especially for once it begins.

And yeah, it is quite gross, bloody, and painful. The SFX, however, look great. I definitely winched a few times. And what happens when a third party comes by with an axe named Axe (Shawn Shelpman)? Betcha didn’t see that comin’, did ya?

IMDB listing HERE