The Advent Calendar (2021) User Reviews (53)

This isn't a perfect movie but it is unique and definitely worth a watch for horror enthusiasts

[kevin_robbins · 7/10 · 17 December 2021]

Advent Calendar (2021) is a new French horror film recently added to Shudder. The storyline follows a former dancer that is now a paraplegic. On her birthday her friend gives her a unique wooden advent calendar that each day she opens she gets a unique treat that impacts her life, sometimes for the better and sometimes for worse. One day it unlocks the ability for her to walk; however, death and misfortune for others is given with that gift. She will need to decide to keep walking or keep opening the doors on a daily basis.

This movie is directed by Patrick Ridremont (Dead Man Talking) and stars Eugénie Derouand (Inside), Janis Abrikh (Safari Park), Olivier Bonjour (Black Spot) and Sabrina Lopez Leonard (Black Spot).

First off this movie has the coolest advent calendar you've ever seen. There's some crazy dialogue in this in terms of how people talk to a paraplegic person and an even more crazy rap sequence. There's a bloody dog scene in here that made me smile and the "thing" behind the advent calendar is well done. The ending is even clever and well written.

Overall this isn't a perfect movie but it is unique and definitely worth a watch for horror enthusiasts. I'd score this a 7/10 and strongly recommend it.

Nothing new but surprisingly still captivating.

[Fella_shibby · 5/10 · 2 January 2022]

The movie is a bit disjointed.

The hospital scene cuts abruptly.

Some of the candies are eaten by other people (William in his mulled wine, the patient in the hospital, Sophia's boyfriend as an erection pill, Eva's father and that too twice).

According to the rules, all the candies were supposed to be eaten by Eva.

The kill sequences aren't nasty or shockings n there is an offscreen sex scene and almost zero nudity.

At times, Wishmaster part 4, The Craft n various other horror movies based on wishes came to mind.

I still cannot dig what Eva wrote on the mirror n why was that scene made.

But somehow the movie is captivating n it has a sense of dread throughout.

The demon in this one ain't scary or nasty.

Check out the demon from Kandisha.

The demon frm Kandisha is intimidating, malevolent n it tears apart it's victims in gruesome ways.

A Brilliant Concept, Very Well Done & Genuinely Creepy Film.

[meddlecore · 7/10 · 24 December 2021]

You have to tip your hat to Patrick Ridgemont on this one...because not only has he made a pretty cool film...but the concept itself is downright brilliant...as it's replicability is designed right into the story.

I'm sure he was influenced by the Saw series...and felt he could do better than the goofy spiral eyed character from the Saw films.

Because he does exactly that here with what is almost certainly a prop based on the dybbuk box- which was an alchemically sealed wine cabinet said to be harbouring some sort of demonic Jewish spirit that was sold on ebay.

Only, here it's been extrapolated into this really rad looking German advent calendar (the film is Belgian, but in French by the way) that seems to target people with disabilities, as a sort of puzzle box of death...in what can only be described as a f***ed up game where they're given the choice to live free from their disability, in exchange for...let's just say...a bunch of murder...

The whole thing is incredibly creepy. The monster is pretty cool. And there's a pretty rad little twist in the end.

So it's a pretty decent and worthwhile little film!

With big potential to become a full blown Christmas horror franchise.

As, obviously- like I already mentioned above- it sets itself up for a sequel, in a way that is very easily replicable, with a model where you can change up pretty much everything to suit the shifting context.

I guess you might argue that they'll eventually run out of disabilities to cover...but you could always go niche...to space...the hood...las vegas?... I dunno...have some crossover fun with Evil Bong?!

Or just change the rules, I guess.

Anyways...it's a shudder original film, so I'm sure they're pleased as santa's piss they've got a little franchise on their hands here.

Hopefully they don't go and mess up what is currently a good thing!

7 out of 10.

not the traditional...

[ops-52535 · 6/10 · 6 December 2021]

Advent adventure, rather an archtypical stressed out way of holidaypreparations, each numberwindow will open a new level of hellish joy and revenge.

A small cast, harsh and devilish on the edges, but also filled with a hope for the future.i think this was an unusual way to comemorate the preholiday season, and im glad i stopped opening mine while young and healthy. Its french with some droplets of spooky german language, but dont let that stop you, a recommend from the grumpy old man.

Very Refreshing Narrative

[portal1790 · 7/10 · 7 January 2022]

The Advent Calendar is within the genre of the most surprising films of 2021. Although it doesn't bring anything new, the film has a very well-developed story without falling into the genre stereotype and has something different that captivates the narrative. Very interesting.

Good French horror movie

[kaefab · 7/10 · 4 December 2021]

Felt great to watch a good horror movie with a good story for a change.

I really like this one, and you are not sure about the ending.... did she eat the final candy or not.

like usual,

[tchitouniaram · 7/10 · 2 April 2022]

French cinema rarely disappoints! Non traditional view on ,basically ,traditional fairy tale ) Great atmosphere , acting ,cinematography .

Not as scary and gory as I would like ) but definitely a nice one time watch !

Confused plot

[billcr12 · 5/10 · 5 December 2021]

The Advent Calendar starts out well enough when paraplegic woman receives a wooden Advent calendar with mysterious powers. Every day of Advent, she opens a small door and must eat a chocolate. In order to recover and walk again, she must be willing to sacrifice the lives of others. The concept is a good one but in the end the story becomes a confused mess. It could have been a contender.

Fresh take on age old tropes

[Howling_at_the_Moon_Reviews · 7/10 · 28 December 2021]

If you write out the plot and all the individual aspects of it, there's no way you would look at it and be like "oh, yeah, this is going to be successful and feel original"... and yet (for me) it totally does.

Is it perfect? Not by any means. But I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. I feel like it could have been a tad shorter and a bit more concise in hopes that with it going a little faster it could heighten the "thrilling" aspect. At parts I felt it drag a TINY bit but nothing so bad that it effected my over all opinion of the flick. Also wouldn't have minded a little more variety in the day to day of the calendar.

It's hard to jude the acting or quality of subtitles as an English speaker, but the actors seemed to have done a great job, particularly the lead girl.

There was also some gnarly monster makeup that I dug.

I really enjoyed this. Probably wouldn't watch it by myself again but would watch with someone else for sure. Would recommend.

Totally weak and not worth watching at the Momen

[Neptune165 · 4/10 · 25 January 2022]

From another angle, movie is a joke on the French cliches about Germany as a land of dark forests and wolves, grim fairy tales and people who speak a harsh, guttural language in which to bark out threats and demands. One thing I was a tad confused about, the calendar says 'once you eat one candy you have to eat them all', but some of the candys are eaten by a different character.. and that is never an issue/addressed..? Nothing was explained aside from that its her choice. But what was her choice? That's basically up to you to decide.

Pretty Adventive

[thesar-2 · 8/10 · 24 December 2021]

Wow, I didn't expect this age-old tale of obeying an supernatural object or die to be this good. It partially reminded me of Monkey Shines and has that feel blended with a more tone downed Malignant. For a Christmas Horror, you can't go wrong even though I doubt it'll be a yearly viewing.

Happy Holidays

[jeroduptown · 7/10 · 7 March 2022]

It suffers a little when "ich" comes out of the box, but otherwise it's a big brew of treats each day of the month. If she wants to get her dancing abilities back, Eva has some serious decisions to make.

cliches & caricature

[acromegalix · 4/10 · 5 December 2021]

This movie concentrates all the failings of most french horror movies. I have seen worst plots but the characters and dialogues are so caricatural that you can't really think it's a good movie. The boss, the father's nurse, the heroin's girl friend and other comedians are overacting so badly, you just feel sorry for them (and for the casting director), I hope the English dubbing will improve their performances. I can't say it's all bad, but the movie has so much flaws that it fails to reach even Netflix/Shudder low standards.

She's so pretty

[willandcharlenebrown · 7/10 · 29 December 2021]

Her glares and looks will keep you watching alone. She's almost hypnotic. Great movie with a little horror in it and challenges to choices...... what would you do at the end???? Watch and judge for yourselves.

A pleasant surprise

[vassiliskounelis · 6/10 · 11 October 2023]

"The Advent Calendar" is a pleasant surprise in the world of low-budget horror films. While it might have benefited from a bit more gore, it's a commendable effort that manages to deliver some genuine chills and thrills. The unique concept of an advent calendar as the focal point of horror adds a fresh twist to the genre. Overall, it's an enjoyable watch that showcases the potential of indie horror filmmaking. Give it a try if you're in the mood for something different and slightly spooky.

Perfect for those who appreciate a touch of the macabre during the holiday season.

Maybe if the movie had more budget could have given much more.

not bad Christmas horror

[MikesIDhasbeentaken · 6/10 · 12 December 2022]

Won't be added to the list i watch every year, but was ok. Theres nothing too christmassy in the movie, apart from the advent calendar, and the actual horror elements are used very sparingly.

There are also quite a few things that make no sense what soever, and the movie often doesn't follow the strict rules it creates, which is annoying. Most notably who eats the sweets..

however, there are some pretty good parts to this, I like how the overall story develops and the ending is interesting, and when you look back on the movie so much that happens in it is there with the decision she has at the end in mind, which makes you think about that decision a little bit more.

Not a Christmas horror classic, but worth a watch.

LACKS TENSION.

[andrewchristianjr · 7/10 · 20 December 2021]

The Advent Calendar is anchored by the be-careful-what-you-wish-for trope that has become a familiar storyline in the horror realm. There are plenty of fun and unique ideas here, and the performances are better than what you might expect out of a film like this, while there are also some great shots scattered throughout. However, the film lacks tension for the most part, relies heavily on exposition, and even gets downright silly at times...yet not enough to disengage the viewer.

Would be rated higher if not for the ending.

[rvgillam-44732 · 5/10 · 5 December 2021]

This was a suspenseful, creepy and intriguing horror movie which kept my attention all the way throughout. Which is saying something because it was around midnight when I put it on and it wasn't in English. Immediately when I saw the subtitles I doubted I would be able to watch. My only issue is the climax or lack of. They never explain the gift or reveal who was behind it or anything. My pet peeves are movies that leave you to draw your own conclusions. This is one of those movies and it doesn't work here. I think they tried to be cute or lazy and said efff it when it came to the ending.

Good! But a tad confusing

[Amthermandes · 7/10 · 21 January 2022]

A paraplegic woman ends up with a supernatural advent calendar that acts like the "Wishmaster" series' Djinn: It offers promise and miracles, but comes with a hefty price. And like "13 Sins," the deeper you go, the worse the consequences get, and the harder it is to back out.

It's pretty well made, decently acted. Most fans of horror should enjoy it. It doesn't "try too hard" to shock or scare, but it does end up lacking quite a bit in the later category.

It can be a tad confusing and difficult to follow, but I partly blame the subtitles. I feel like at times, it's not translated adequately enough to get the full context of what's being said or what's happening. Some parts feel like filler or even completely unnecessary.

Despite all that, it's worth a watch.

Oh, and there are no subtitles for the bits of German being said (except for the very beginning, when translating the rules). But here's what the calendar usually says for anyone who's curious:

"Es ist Mitternacht. Du musst jetzt offnen." Which means: "It is midnight. You must open now."

The Advent Calendar

[marinaant-36217 · 3/10 · 18 February 2022]

I didn't like it at all, it started out pretty well and I thought it would get even better as it kept playing but no, the plot turned out so stupid with some nonsense scenes that I couldn't understand and it's a shame since I really liked the trailer and I was looking forward to it.

Character-driven mystery

[jfgibson73 · 8/10 · 4 December 2021]

The Advent Calendar was a pretty good little story. I don't think people looking for traditional horror will find it scary in the least. In fact, I really didn't think it built much tension at all, but it did draw me in and had me really wanting to see how it turned out. Another thing I will warn potential viewers about is that it is somewhat inconsistent in its storytelling. Much of it unfolds like a straightforward thriller (with some supernatural elements), but every once in a while, they throw in a moment that feels more surreal or symbolic. Finally, I want to prepare you for the possibility that you might feel like some things went unexplained. I personally didn't mind these minor nitpicks. I was just glad the whole thing didn't fall apart in the final act, like so many thrillers do. I was satisfied with what they gave me. While I will not give it a strong recommendation, being that it isn't all that shocking or visceral, my feeling is that it was an enjoyable enough ride that I don't regret sitting through it. A fun little holiday-themed offering.

Have to really believe the worst of the human race...but it's a good movie :)

[markneil-35448 · 7/10 · 7 December 2021]

The poor main character unfortunately lives in the town/city/country with the HIGHEST per capita number of Needlessly Cruel humans anywhere :)

It's rare to find an adult tearing into a cripple in the most heartless and cruel way with the most heartless and cruel words.

In this movie, it's a pretty regular occurrence :)

Suspend belief in that part of the movie and you have a very intense and never boring (at least not to me) movie.

Did it feel long? Yes it did but not a bad long. I movie that could have been 20 minutes shorter and been a slim and probably better 84 minutes movie.

But it is what it is.

It's an Intelligent horror film. I'm a patriotic American but I wish we had more thoughtful horror movies with better scripts that aren't geared towards 12 to 14 year olds.

So enjoy. And NEVER, EVER buy an Advent Christmas Box :)

There are some good moments but overall it is inadequate

[gedikreverdi · 5/10 · 19 January 2022]

There are some good moments like the ich rising from the river and the mirror scene where Eva warns the nurse guy about not throwing it in the river. However it feels uninteresting overall with the uninteresting side characters (all of them are) and bad acting. The other thing I didn't like is that almost all the kills are off camera and gore is almost non existent.

Interesting take

[AndSoForth · 7/10 · 12 December 2021]

Interesting take on the traditional Christmas movie. Despite being a horror flick, I felt the movie still kept touch with the genre (i.e. The atmosphere, the lighting, the miracle/hope theme).

I didn't see as many plot holes as some comments may suggest but I agree some scenes could have been made shorter while I still appreciated some other slower paced ones as they did bring something to the story in terms of realism and character building.

The ending is valid and will keep us questioning on an ethical level which is something that is nicely achieved throughout the movie.

I didn't give it a higher score only because the acting came a bit short for me. Not that it's poorly acted, it's not - but it did seem like the actors were reading from a script at times which felt slightly contrived and unauthentic. I believe this is more of a directing issue.

Lastly, I was afraid the story would become repetitive and expected as the doors kept opening but it also came up with new visuals/feelings/twists to keep it entertaining to the end.

Decent Film, Bad Subtitles

[LiiaPantz · 7/10 · 19 December 2021]

This is a very decent horror movie but it does feel like some stuff got lost in translation. First of all they pretty much did not subtitle any written French words in the movie, and there were kind of a lot. If you know some basic French this might not be an issue but isn't that what subtitles are for? It also just seemed like some lines were not being translated. I can't prove this obviously, but my husband and I both watch plenty of foreign movies with subtitles and don't usually have this issue. It seemed like things were missed.