{Fantastic Fest 2023} There is Something in the Barn

If Clark Griswold inherited a haunted house in a small town in Norway and moved his family there to open an AirBnB it would be There’s Something in the Barn. It was also one of my standout movies at this year’s Fantastic Fest.

There’s Something in the Barn is Christmas horror at its best and I had an absolute blast checking out Magnus Martens’ ode to silly American Speilbergian horror comedies. The relatively short runtime ( 93 minutes) and absolutely gorgeous cinematography make There’s Something in the Barn a low-risk high-reward film.

The writing from Aleksander Kirkwood Brown who has a long track record in Norway but a much smaller English repertoire is snappy and quite entertaining with characters that are vapid but entirely believable. Perhaps more amazing despite their own lack of self-awareness they remain infinitely likable. A bit like if the Rose family found themselves in Norway’s version of Schitt’s Creek, while also being relentlessly pursued by redcaps.

Martin Starr plays against character a bit as the bumbling dad who has more or less fallen into an investment opportunity and dragged his family along for the ride. Incompetent risk taker is not necessarily a role that comes to my mind when I think of his previous performances but he is goofy, charming, and hilarious as the father of a mixed family in WAY over their heads. The kids fit their roles well. Zoe (Zoe Winther-Hansen) is the teenage daughter who hates her new life. Lucas (Townes Bunner) is the younger brother who befriends the titular demonic elf in the barn.

The writing here is not doing anything groundbreaking but it’s that simple style that makes the entire movie so charming. Coupled with the characters who are meant to be silly and one-dimensional the movie leans into its lightness. Barn uses that shallowness to entertain and There’s Something in the Barn is nothing if it isn’t entertaining.

A Norwegian Version of Goosebumps

From the opening shot to the final showdown, the entire film looks incredible. The entire film pops with vibrant colors and a cleanness that not only showcases the local environment but also adds to the campy qualities of the movie. The landscape looks gorgeous and magical. As a result, it is not a stretch to assume a legion of angry demon elves are pissed they didn’t get their porridge at midnight on Christmas Eve.

Occasionally we get red-filtered POV shots from the perspective of the barn elf. It is impossible not to make the connection to the Evil Dead franchise. Both are horror comedies that don’t aspire to be anything other than entertaining and a good time. Coupled with a score right out of a Speilberg movie, the movie seems constructed to make horror lovers smile. National Lampoons presents Cabin in the Woods.

Most of the cast is Norwegian and they sure are down to create a light and fun atmosphere. Occasionally some of the cast who ostensibly play Americans allow their accents to slip through. Honestly, it only makes the movie even sillier and more fun. Everyone on set seemed to have an absolute blast creating the movie. That good humor adds a level of charm and authenticity that makes the There’s Something in the Barn so watchable.

I caught There’s Something in the Barn at Fantastic Fest 2023. As of the publication of this review, there is no general release date. Let us hope it gets one soon.