The Holdovers is one of the best Christmas comedies of 2023, but an all-new Christmas horror movie is eerily similar to the critically acclaimed film. Christmas movies are always big hits, with families often looking for new Christmas films to watch around the holidays. As per usual, several new Christmas films were released in 2023, but these two movies oddly told the same story from an incredibly different angle.
Director Alexander Payne released The Holdovers in 2023, with it receiving critical acclaim upon its release. The Christmas film brings about many of the warm feelings often associated with the holidays, with the movie exploring themes of family and togetherness throughout. While the film is full of nice moments that many viewers seek out around the holidays, this tone isn’t what every viewer is looking for. Luckily, another Christmas horror movie has told the same story, but it couldn’t have been presented more differently.
The Sacrifice Game’s Plot Is Similar To The Holdovers
A Christmas horror film titled The Sacrifice Game was also released in 2023, and its plot is incredibly similar to the plot of The Holdovers. The Holdovers is set during Christmas in the early 1970s, with it taking place at a boarding school. The film follows a group of students who are forced to stay at the school over the holidays, with one student growing closer to his supervisor throughout the season.
The Sacrifice Game takes a similar approach to its story, with the two movies having almost the same setup. Much like The Holdovers, The Sacrifice Game is set during Christmas in the early 1970s, with it taking place at a boarding school. The film also follows a group of students who are forced to stay at the school over the holidays, although this time they have to take on a squad of murderers who want to summon a deadly demon.
How The Sacrifice Game & The Holdovers Offer Something Different
Although The Holdovers and The Sacrifice Game feature similar settings and setups, the two films offer something completely different. The Holdovers is a genuine, good-hearted Christmas comedy, with it being designed to make viewers feel good at the end. The Holdovers is meant to recreate the feelings of warmth and family that typically surround the holidays, with it hoping to be a Christmas classic.
The Sacrifice Game is a completely different tone, however, with it being a full-on horror film. The Sacrifice Game doesn’t want its audience to leave feeling the warmth of the holidays, with it instead hoping to convey the feelings of a bloody horror movie. While The Holdovers is more popular, The Sacrifice Game is a fun alternative for fans of the horror genre.
