Now, there's dark and gritty, and then there's this. It's like the makers of Bloodborne decided to try to make a version of A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer is transformed from grumpy penny pincher in need of some holiday spirit to a literally evil person. He has been involved in, and responsible for, *multiple* incidents of mass death, and enjoys psychologically torturing characters with messed up mind games. It strains credulity that Christmas Cheer and The Power of LoveTM can absolve someone like this. But it's just so pretty and his back story is so dark and twisty, and it's just, so, *different*.
To put it succinctly, this is A Christmas Carol for those who dislike A Christmas Carol and would prefer never seeing A Christmas Carol again.
Think of all the teens, dads, and just regular Christmas grumps forced to watch the exhausting parade of Christmas Carol versions by their chipper, Christmas-fanatic relatives, and you'll find the audience for this one. They will like it BECAUSE the classic story is twisted and darkened until it's basically unrecognizable, and for the mature shock value, while the Christmas cheer fans will utterly loath it and want their feel-good family classic back.
It's strong points are that it is visually gorgeous, well acted, and very different.
It's weaknesses are it's pacing, (which is really, truly bad), the unsatisfying ending, and the fact that it isn't A Christmas Carol, but keeps half heartedly trying to be, when it really would have worked better as an original piece.
To put it succinctly, this is A Christmas Carol for those who dislike A Christmas Carol and would prefer never seeing A Christmas Carol again.
Think of all the teens, dads, and just regular Christmas grumps forced to watch the exhausting parade of Christmas Carol versions by their chipper, Christmas-fanatic relatives, and you'll find the audience for this one. They will like it BECAUSE the classic story is twisted and darkened until it's basically unrecognizable, and for the mature shock value, while the Christmas cheer fans will utterly loath it and want their feel-good family classic back.
It's strong points are that it is visually gorgeous, well acted, and very different.
It's weaknesses are it's pacing, (which is really, truly bad), the unsatisfying ending, and the fact that it isn't A Christmas Carol, but keeps half heartedly trying to be, when it really would have worked better as an original piece.