Operating at its most chillingly effective, The Advent Calendar is a slow creeping thriller. But the ominous kind that steadily stalks its victim, sinking its teeth in from the sidelines, sometimes voraciously, while smothering its prey in a mood-altering atmosphere.
Perhaps lacking somewhat in potent shocks, The Advent Calendar prefers to instill prolonged shivers that tingle the spine for the film's duration.
Previously premiering at Frightfest and available to stream December 2nd for Shudder subscribers, The Advent Calendar follows in the footsteps of 2018's suspense-saturated A Quiet Place in representing disability.
Despite significantly arousing a sense of suspense, these more faithful representations of impairment, be it mental or physical, suggest cinema has matured substantially from the freakshow stereotypes it so often used to prescribe.
Spearheaded by Belgium actor and filmmaker Pastrick Ridremont, The Advent Calendar offers a compelling window into the life of former dancer Eva, who becomes physically impaired following a car accident.
Since undergoing disability, Eva suffers from chronic loneliness and is bereft of social interaction. Aside from swimming at the local pool, she essentially lives a life of solitude.
Worse still, her father has Alzheimer's disease. Adding further heartache, Eva's stepmother makes it extremely difficult for the pair to spend quality time together, often deliberately distancing them, despite her best efforts.
With Christmas creeping, Eva's friend buys her a curious gift whose alluring origins trace back to Germany. Soon enough, Eva comes to the stark realization that each calendar window possesses the incredible power to forge and influence future world events.
While also offering sweet candy. (Of course. It's Christmas, after all)
Accompanying the calendar is a strict set of stipulations, the most shiver-summoning condition being that throwing away the calendar will result in Eva occupying a shallow, unmarked grave.
Soon after, events savagely spiral out of hand as Eva nervously unlocks each calendar door. The outcome is either positive or negative every time, but there's always a suspenseful element of intrigue surrounding each reveal.
Overall, Derouand offers an emotionally charged performance and a convincing portrayal of someone struggling to accept disability and the unfathomable powers buried beneath each door.
Offering a captivating story full of Faustian themes, folklorish imagery, and deliciously devilish creature effects, The Advent Calendar, despite some mildly muddled exposition, gets our scary seal of approval!
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