Directed by Magnus Martens (the Banshee and 12 Monkeys TV shows), There’s Something in the Barn is a dependable horror-comedy movie that the whole family can enjoy (as long as you don’t mind the occasional “F-Bomb”). Going heavily on the festive vibes, this comedy holiday horror has come at the perfect time for the yuletide season.
There’s Something in the Barn – Plot
After inheriting a Nordic farmstead from an uncle, the Nordheim family fly from the United States, to settle into their new lives in frosty Norway. With plans to turn the included barn into a swanky Winter Wonderland hotel, their spirits are high as they prepare for Christmas.
Exploring his new home, young Lucas Nordheim soon finds himself in the barn where he bumps into a meek elf with a penchant for cookies. After bonding with the vertically challenged man over a packet of chocolate chip, Lucas believes he has made a new friend and seeks out the knowledge of a local named Tor Age, who tells the boy that the elves will help out around the farm if they stayed on the right side of them. If they were to get on the wrong side of them, however, they would do all in their power to make the family “disappear”.
Safe in the knowledge that they were friendly unless provoked by loud noises or bright lights, Lucas heads back to the house to discover his family are planning a house warming party in the barn and are inviting all of the locals. Oh, great!
You’ve probably guessed it but the party does indeed disgruntle the little guy and all hell breaks loose as he calls on his fellow elves in a loud war cry that reaches their ears and brings them hurrying to his aid.
There’s Something in the Barn is a Perfect Festive Escape
There’s Something in the Barn starts off as a gentle, slow-moving movie with a few light laughs thrown in to hold interest. However, it doesn’t take long before it slips from the rails of normality and plummets into a spiralling chasm of mayhem and bloodshed.
Horror-comedies aren’t usually my thing but There’s Something in the Barn was certainly one of the very few exceptions, alongside the likes of Brain Dead and the original Evil Dead movie. Despite my reluctance to enjoy it, I found myself quickly becoming endeared to its corny ways and even cornier jokes. There’s Something in the Barn takes roots in classic slapstick comedy and blends it perfectly in with the horror setting.
The characters were also surprisingly good for a low-budget movie; Henriette Steenstrup (Lillehammer, Barn and Ragnarök) perfectly plays her role as the village’s only police officer, Liv. The madcap officer brings a lot to the movie with her weird ways and forever telling the sober parents to stop drinking (you had to be there, I suppose). Alongside Henriette, Calle Hellevang Larsen as Tor Åge drives the movie, giving it a perfect finishing touch.
There’s Something in the Barn – Summary
There’s Something in the Barn is one of those movies where you don’t expect a blockbuster but end up surprised at just how much you actually enjoyed it. I’m not usually a fan of mixing real belly laughs with gratuitous bloodshed but found the blend to be well balanced and thoroughly enjoyable from the slow start to the chaotic second half.
As mentioned, there’s no real reason other than the odd swear word to not enjoy this with your older children. Yes, there’s plenty of blood but its all done in a manner that’s so over-the-top the gore steps beyond the bounds of realism and skirts the path of blood-drenched humor.
With plenty of bloodshed to keep us horror fans happy, There’s Something in the Barn opens up to a wider audience with its wholly enjoyable comedy element.
