Holiday Cheer Meets Satanic Cult Madness in Shudder’s The Sacrifice Game (FANTASTIC)

Title: The Sacrifice Game

First Non-Festival Release: December 6, 2023 (Digital/Streaming Platforms)

Director: Jenn Wexler

Writer: Sean Redlitz, Jenn Wexler

Runtime: 90 Minutes

Starring: Olivia Scott Welch, Madison Baines, Georgia Acken, Mena Massoud, Gus Kenworthy

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

This film’s review was written after its screening at the Fantastic Film Festival in 2023.

Stuck at school for the holidays without explanation, Samantha (Madison Baines) is distraught to say the least. Thankfully, she won’t be alone since reserved classmate Clara (Georgia Acken) is also stuck there with her, alongside their teacher Rose (Chloë Levine) and her boyfriend Jimmy (Gus Kenworthy). While she may have some opportunities to socialize with the group, Samantha is more concerned about the reports of a string of homicides in the area supposedly executed by an evil cult. Her fears ring true when the cult, led by former student Maisie (Olivia Scott Welch), ends up on their front doorstep.

70s style camp with a dash of Christmas whimsy, The Sacrifice Game is a demonic good time for those seeking pure fun.

With its Manson family-esque opening kill, The Sacrifice Game shows it’s not playing around with its bloodletting or its silliness. The audience can tell from the first gory few minutes that this Christmas story isn’t going to end with much cheer. Instead, the carnage is swift, violent, and orchestrated in a deliciously provocative manner. This rings true for the rest of the film, as The Sacrifice Game hangs onto this energy spinning its engrossing tale of demonic sacrifice during the emptiness of the holidays.

Gradually, unclear character motivations reveal themselves while pushing the plot into unexpected directions. As the cult murders more people while closing in on the remote Blackwell School for Girls, the audience learns more about the oddballs that are forced to stay over break. Some moments of levity and understanding melt the icy barriers behind the quieter girls and happy couple. Meanwhile, the cult continues what appears to be a random spree of killings under the guise of obtaining what they need for their ritual. While their central goal is the same, each member has ulterior motives that make their dynamic fraught with tension, even during their best times.

The cast looks like they are having a blast with the deranged little film, which translates perfectly to the overall energy. The Manson family stand ins get the bulk of the “fun” material. Mena Massoud’s unhinged Jude waxes poetic about the beauty of sacrifice while Olivia Scott Welch settles into her seductive cult leader persona comfortably. The true standout amongst the cast is Georgia Acken’s confident portrayal of Clara. A role in the hands of another would likely feel forced, but she glides through the intricacies with finesse making the finale even sweeter than expected. Their combined energy allows the cast to stay true to the film’s campy tone, while delivering authentic performances that make the experience more captivating.

Stylistically, The Sacrifice Game elevates its supernatural tinged slasher efforts with panache. Huge sideburns, period clothing, and Reagan era restraint, The Sacrifice Game manages the ebb and flow of making a modern-day movie look like a relic from the past. It also hits some of the cliches popular to the time, especially since the Satanic Panic had such a profound influence on the 80s. Fearmongering through newspaper clippings and classic mean girl bullying, The Sacrifice Game makes the cliches feel fresh by adding appreciated spins on them.

Easily entertaining and well-executed to boot, The Sacrifice Game is an endearing holiday romp that will be received as a welcome treat to many horror fans. The combination of its snowy setting and unexpectedly bloody approach to cultish horror, this Shudder Original gives horror fans a reason to root for all the wrong people in the best way. Electric performances and tense thrills are the gifts that truly matter here, and Jenn Wexler’s The Sacrifice Game is intent on continuing to give. It doesn’t matter if you are naughty or nice this year, check out this Christmas gem on Shudder if you want to live the life you were meant to live.

Overall Score? 7/10