Review: ‘We’re So Dead’ makes for a perfect Christmas treat

We can always use more Christmas-themed horror movies, especially if they’re slashers. Writer/director Ken MacLaughlin spreads the holiday cheer with his brand new feature, We’re So Dead. Set in a restaurant on Christmas Eve, the indie slasher (made by service workers for service workers) shines a spotlight on the Karens of the world, who so often treat servers as their personal butlers. MacLaughlin takes things to murderous extremes and delivers a cult classic in the making. With a sketch comedy approach, the film doesn’t skimp on the bloody violence and (hopefully soon) arrives as a tasty holiday treat.

Ashley (Jenna Kanell) is your typical server smiling through outlandish demands and frivolous complaints from the worst customers on the planet. She does her best to find the joy in the work. Her boss Doug’s (Kevin Saunders) infectious, bubbly personality drives everyone insane, and not even holiday cheer can make up for the fact that they’re all working on Christmas Eve. When a woman named Karen (Leanna Adams) stops by, she makes a fuss every chance she gets and hops around the restaurant to bug the service staff with her ludicrous requests. As the night wears on, front- and back-of-house workers go missing after meeting grisly ends at the hands of Karen and her insatiable hunger to teach them a lesson.

MacLaughlin penned a script ripped from real life. For anyone who has ever worked in the service industry, you’ll find the film hits the mark at every turn. The jokes and physical gags delightfully capture the brutally thankless job that so often pushes people over the edge. Ashley and her comrades are larger-than-life with plenty of raw, grounded moments to anchor the story and give it a universal appeal. Everyone has either worked in a restaurant or knows someone who has. The relatability factor is only a sliver of why the film is as effective as it is. From the script to the kills (there are literally hundreds of ways to die in a restaurant), We’re So Dead makes for one of the best modern slashers.

With cinematographer Blake Studwell, MacLaughlin dishes up a polished look that isn’t particularly inventive but serves the story. A slick visual style matches the vibe and tone of many mainstream horror films, while it also keeps that plucky indie spirit intact. With Kanell and Saunders giving strong lead performances, the film oozes with heart and charm, making it an experience literally to die for. With bodies piling up faster than a Saw movie, We’re So Dead keeps the blood furiously pouring right up to the finale.

More than anything, We’re So Dead is a hoot ‘n a half with carnage candy tossed in for good measure. Ken MacLaughlin crafts such a delightfully campy smorgasbord that’ll easily make the yearly Christmas horror rotation. It’s got all the good stuff and does everything right. It’d fit right at home alongside classic ’80s slashers like Happy Birthday to Me and Blood Rage. As far as independent cinema goes, this is the cream of the crop.

We’re So Dead is currently being screened in several Atlanta theaters, with a wide release date coming soon.