The Christmas Tapes (2022) Review

Synopsis

The Christmas Tapes (2022) is a Christmas-themed horror anthology film where a family’s Christmas Eve is interrupted by a man named Geoff who holds them hostage and forces them to watch a series of disturbing VHS tapes.

The film is framed by this “found footage” wraparound, with Geoff as the character who insists on making his own Christmas movie, using the family’s reactions to fuel his project.

The anthology consists of several short, horror stories, with one involving a couple who accidentally summon a German folklore figure during a camping trip, and another focused on a couple experiencing terrifying events in a new house.

The Christmas Tapes Good Points

Good Idea For A Holiday Anthology

Mixing found-footage with a home invasion wraparound works rather well.

Fun Holiday Angle

You don’t get a ton of Christmas found footage movies, so the seasonal twist makes it stand out.

Geoff Adds Real Tension

Every time he’s on screen, the tone lifts.

Solid Mix Of Horror And Comedy

Not every segment is funny, but when it tries humor, it lands well.

“The Christmas Gift” Segment Has Great Energy

This is the one that really wakes the movie up with fast pacing, dark humor, and Vernon Wells going all in as the unhinged Santa.

The Third Tape “Untitled” Has A Great Hook

The microchip setup, the hallucinations, the frantic POV – there’s a lot of cool potential here packed into just a few minutes.

“The Christmas Spirit” Is Easily The Highlight

The haunted house format is well done, and Dave Sheridan steals the movie as Paranormal Perry, and is quite funny, too.

It Isn’t Afraid To Get Weird

Even when a segment doesn’t fully work, it at least tries something different instead of repeating the same ideas.

Good Variety Between Segments

You get folklore horror, dark comedy, paranoia, and a goofy ghost story – there’s always a change of tone to keep things from blending together.

The Christmas Tapes Bad Points

Some Segments Drag

Especially the first story, featuring long stretches of walking, talking, and just waiting for something to happen.

“Travel Buggies” Leans On Very Familiar Tropes

Lost in the woods, creepy scarecrow, cameras running for no reason – it feels like you’re watching a checklist.

The Third Tape “Untitled” Ends Way Too Soon

It’s the most interesting idea in the movie, but it’s over almost immediately, and it’s easily the biggest missed opportunity.

Some Moments Feel Unintentionally Funny

A couple of scares in the slower segments hit a more goofy tone than creepy.

Not All Performances Are Even

Most actors do well, but a few moments do feel quite stiff and awkward in a way that doesn’t help the scene.

The Anthology Structure Leaves Some Ideas Hanging

A few plots introduce concepts that actually never go anywhere, and they could have been interesting.

Editing Can Feel Choppy

Some transitions feel too abrupt.

Final Thoughts on The Christmas Tapes

The Christmas Tapes isn’t perfect, but it’s an entertaining holiday horror grab bag, and if you like the V/H/S movies, you will probably find something to like here.

I enjoyed it overall.

The Christmas Tapes Trailer
The Christmas Tapes on IMDB
Watch The Christmas Tapes