Short Film: Black XXX-Mas (Belgium, 1999)

 

"There are no good and bad guys... There's just bad guys and guys that are even worse."

Little Red (Rochelle Gadd)

 

Here's a violently surreal and blackly humorous Christmas oddity from Belgium, an early English-language short film written and directed by Pieter Van Hees, who has since established himself as a working director in his native country. This little flick is definitely not for the easily offended...

Despite being a few years shy of a quarter century old, Black XXX-Mas still packs an overly pixilated punch. A warped, MTV-style updating of the tale of Little Red Riding Hood plopped down in the middle of a futuristic urban hellscape overseen by a disinterested god, the narrative is as disjointed as it full of violence, drugs, nudity, and gore — all the stuff we here at a wasted life love. Transitional links from one scene to the next are often tenuous at best, but Van Hees manages to tie this tale — of Little Red (a hot druggy daughter), her thieving Black Santa Klaus father (Don Worthington of Bloodbath at the House of Death [1984 / trailer] and Lighthouse [1999 / trailer]), and a cannibalistic cop named Wolff (Manou Kersting) — together into a surprisingly tight if blood-drenched bow by the end. 

Pieter Van Hees obviously had fun experimenting when he made the movie, and goes all out with some intriguing use of morphing, tracking shots, unconventional angles and compositions and lenses, visual juxtaposition and editing. Well aware that his short is a celebration of exploitation and trash, he obviously saw no reason not to go out on the limb when it comes to cinematic possibilities; at best, his budget alone may have controlled his visual excesses. 

In its total rejection of moral and logic, and its full embracement of violence, Black XXX-Mas is possibly rather close to the true spirit of the original fairy tales of long ago, which were often heavy on the horrendous and bizarre... though his tale definitely has a lot more blatant sex.

Black XXX-Mas:

A twisted film telling a twisted tale, and a perfect Christmas-themed short film for the month of December.

 

For further Christmas fun,

check out these other season-themed

Short Films of the Month:

Dec 2021: Slay Bells (USA, c.2012?)

Dec 2020: Elvira's Very Scary X-Mas (USA, 2010) 

Dec 2019: Oh Christmas Tree (USA)

Dec 2018: Beauty of Horror – Christmas Claymation (USA, 2018) 

Dec 2017: Winter Stalker (USA, 2010)

Dec 2016: Santa (Greece, 2013)

Dec 2015: The Living Want Me Dead (USA, 2010)

Dec 2014: Father Christmas (Canada, 2011)

Dec 2013: A Very Zombie Holiday (2010) 

Dec 2012: Treevenge (2008)

Dec 2010: X-Mess Detritus

 

And as an extra: more holiday cheer

thanks to Simon & Garfunkel: