There aren’t enough holiday horror comedy movies set in Scandinavia. Thank goodness for There’s Something in the Barn.
The film follows an American family that moves to remote Norway after inheriting a farmhouse to convert it into a bed and breakfast. However, the barn elf who resides on the property–and was the cause of the uncle’s untimely demise–has other plans.
Magnus Martens directs this holiday horror comedy mashup, which leans heavily into the cultural disconnect between the displaced Americans and their Norwegian neighbors. And that discord reaches deadly heights once the Nordheim family breaks the barn elf’s rules for copacetic cohabitation.
The film stars Martin Starr of Party Down and Silicon Valley fame as the Nordheim patriarch. Amrita Acharia, Zoe Winther-Hansen, and Townes Bunner costar as his toxic positive wife, angsty teenage daughter, and level-headed younger son, respectively.
The real star of the film, though, is the main barn elf whom veteran actor Kiran Shah plays. Shah has flicks such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Legend, and Solo: A Star Wars Story under his belt. With this particular film, he brings to the role an incredible capacity to emote despite the copious prosthetics. Not to mention, he gets the audience on his side.
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Yeah, I said it. I wanted that Nordheim family to go down… Hard. All that barn elf wanted was a little peace and quiet. Not a lot to ask to keep your life, right? I won’t spoil what becomes of the Nordheims. Suffice it to say, though, that the third act of the film becomes an epic battle between them and the barn elf… along with a few of his friends.
In the midst of the clash between humans and elves, the Nordheims manage to get some help–though not always successful help–from the locals. Calle Hellevang Larsen, Henriette Steenstrup, and Jeppe Beck Laursen each put up funny and memorable performances. In fact, I wish we saw more of them. Perhaps a There’s Something in the Barn prequel?
Cinematographer Mika Orasmaa also manages to nicely thread the needle. He balances well showing off the festive backdrop of the Nordheim home while also gleefully displaying the carnage that occurs in it.
All in all, There’s Something in the Barn hits just the right note. A film definitely in the Christmas spirit while not totally abandoning one’s yearlong love of horror. It’s fun. It’s lighthearted despite the death and gore. And best of all, we get to see barn elves get drunk. What more could you ask for?
There’s Something in the Barn is now on digital from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Wicked Rating: 7.5/10
