'12 Disasters'
(Ed Quinn, Magda Apanowicz, Roark Cirtchlow, Ryan Grantham, et al / DVD / R / (2012) 2014 / Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Overview: It's Christmas season in the mountain village of Calvary, but merry and bright have suddenly fled town: There are mass bird deaths. Blood red water running from faucets. Grandmas impaled by humongous flying icicles. And for 18-year-old Jacey (Magda Apanowicz of Continuum), a newly discovered gift has led her and her dad (Ed Quinn of Eureka) to the revelation that a beloved holiday carol may hold the key to a yuletide Mayan apocalypse.
DVD Verdict: Originally released as 'The 12 Disasters of Christmas,' it's Christmas Eve when an ominous dark star appears in the sky; could this star be a sign that Judgment Day is near? When massive earthquakes and natural disasters tear apart cities, it seems that the day of reckoning is upon us - and now a small band of heroes must come together to save the world!
Yeah, I know, you've heard the whole saving of the world story before (hello, Thor!), but for a low budget film this one really does have a great story and some wonderful acting - especially from Magda Apanowicz as the young lead character.
But, none of that can save us from killer Christmas lights that break from their shackles for the attack, a mysterious fog that makes that creepy noise while stalking its prey, and an unlucky Grandma impaled by a giant icicle that missiles from the sky!
Yup, it's another small-town story of biblical proportions that contain, of course, character and place names straight out of the Good Book itself. As for the villain, well, let's try for a Wal-mart styled-clone and its megalomaniacal owner as the villain. I mean, the disaster has to have a purpose, right?
Anyway, as nice as this film's core is, the CGI could use a LOT of work! But, low budget films are made on such things so this sophomoric movie does have the ability to keep you watching - if not just to see how it ends! This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.
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