Just time for one more festive movie as the holiday season draws to a close, and it’s one of the most effective Christmas horror films to date; tapping into our underlying fears about the Pagan origins of the season, The Holiday is a terrifying look at the underlying banality of human relationships. With one stomach-churning scene following close on the other, it’s a real test of stamina for anyone but hardened veterans and contrarian thrill-seekers to watch even a scene from; watching the whole film evokes an intense sense of societal dread and disorientation.
Cameron Diaz plays Amanda, a vapid LA film person who agrees to swap houses with Iris Simkins (Kate Winslet) a British society columnist for fascist mouthpiece The Telegraph. Simkins falls into the hands of a sinister Hollywood writers cult run by the demonic Miles (Jack Black), and Meyers spares us none of the potential discomfort as the new couple plan a trip to a Writers Guild of America awards sacrificial do. But the real pastoral horror comes for Amanda, who has been warned that there are no attractive men in her sleepy village, but is taken aback when Simkins’ saturnine brother Graham (Jude Law) pops in to ‘piss in her doorway’ and they end up sleeping together.
The Holiday is an elevated example of the horror genre, with big stars and fancy production, but a relentless stream of horrific ideas to mine. It’s never made clear exactly what evil force has taken control of these people, which feels like something from Invasion of the Body Snatchers; watching these vapid people swap compliments and scat-sing to each other curdles the soul and gradually saps viewers of the will to live.
Meyers wisely leans in to the horror aspect, never panning away from horrifying wide-shots of Law’s schoolboy grin, or Black’s hideous sub-Robin Williams comic schtick. The Holiday is one of those fearless films that push the envelope in terms of what audiences are prepared to view on their screens, with punishing rom-com scenarios and musical choices designed to alienate and appall. When The Holiday ends, you’ll be relieved, but these dark, hideous images of human abasement will haunt your dreams and leave you with troubling, difficult questions of identity. Are we so jaded that we need such agonising, shocking films to remind us that we are still alive?
Haha, a horror film I have seen! Now you know why I avoid them! This is Exhibit A in my ongoing existential question, “How Can I Love Kate Winslet so much yet hate all her movies?”
I feel the same. Winslet is terrific, but a lot of her movies do not work for me. She’s good in Jude, Titanic, Iris, Carnage, Little Children and Finding Neverland. but many of her other films…Labor Day! Arrgggh!!! NO!
The Holiday is a true horror, it bemirches everyone’s reputation, you literally never want to see any of these people ever again. As noted elsewhere, it took me years to take Jude Law seriously after this. Bad movies are one thing, but when you’re bad movie is so widely seen, it must be a massive handicap for any performer. The Holiday is like a vent from hell that can open up behind you at any point over the festive season, just as well we’re nearly done and can put it back in its box. And nail that box shut.
Happy New Year in any case!
You need to be bold and take control of what you watch.
Wise words. Although I chose my own film today and look where that got me…
Nobody’s perfect as someone once said.
“I’m Mr. Napkinhead”😱😱😱🤣
I adored this when I was a sad singleton like Bridget Jones, then saw the light.. btw speaking of the Scottish castle thing stuck with it for 20 mins then gave up… Do I do my bit for Scottish film and watch it or go and do something less important instead.. (hope you get that reference, if you don’t will send you a wee link) Have a great Hogmanay and enjoy the Bank holiday on Monday…
There’s not many Why Don’t You references I don’t get! Spare yourself A Castle for Christmas, and yes, The Holiday really sucks. There are good rom-coms, but Jude Law has struggled to be taken seriously for decades, and my diagnosis is that this crummy film is largely responsible…
(Clears throat) What about his attempt (but failed miserably) to be Michael Caine in Alfie and Sleuth… and you must have seen Black Sea… it even made the Press and Journal… https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/432033/jude-law-apologises-aberdeen-accent-latest-film/
Dom Hemingway was the film that finally allowed me to forget The Holiday; I now have to admit that he’s a good actor and not a badly animated mannequin.
Not seen that one, but did think he was good in Closer. I was totally convinced my his acting in that film… The Holiday is just horrible and this is and will be the one of the last mentions of it on my blog.. https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/on-films-and-tv/gitterings/sound-of-music/
This is what you watch instead of Cosmic Sin and False Positive? This???
IT WASN’T MY CHOICE. I did not watch The Holiday of my own free accord.
It was part of your Ludovico treatment?
It’s included in my monthly plan, yes. How is your going? Or are you still cutting around in your Durango 90 like the characters from Space Jam 2?
I didn’t have a Durango. I had an Airstream.
Insurance doesn’t cover the Ludovico over here, which means I can still have a healthy response to Leprechaun and Critters movies.
Doesn’t it get sore in the old peepers? When you are viddying such herrocious flicks?
If you’re glazzies are getting sore they’re not putting enough drops in. You have to tell them!
That’s what the Millicents said! And I said ‘come and get one in the yarbles, if you have any yarbles, that is!’
Yep now I can tell you this one made me laugh. I class all rom-coms as horror movies.
Is the correct answer.