“There's Something in the Barn” is a Norwegian-Finnish Christmas horror comedy that follows the misadventures of an American nuclear family after inheriting a farm and its inhabited barn in Norway. The Nordheim family's plan to transform the barn into a small hotel takes an unexpected turn when they encounter a fjøsnisse, a mischievous barn elf.
The film begins with the Nordheims – Bill (Martin Starr), Carol (Amrita Acharia), Nora (Zoe Winther-Hansen) and Lucas (Townes Bunner) – as they embark on their journey to their new home. Their lack of awareness and common sense, humorously demonstrated while taking selfies with a road sign warning of moose, sets the tone for the chaotic experiences that await them.
Director: Magnus Martens
Writers: Aleksander Kirkwood Brown, Aleksander Kirkwood Brown, Josh Epstein
Stars: Martin Starr, Amrita Acharia, Kiran Shah
During his initial visit to the city, young Lucas discovers the existence of the granary elves and the rules necessary for peaceful coexistence. However, the family inadvertently breaks these rules, unleashing chaos when Bill consumes Lucas' peace offer to the fjøsnisse.
In the midst of bloody violence and adversity, the film portrays family unity and overcoming its dysfunction in a Christmas atmosphere. Despite the film's mix of humor and horror, which veers between a children's film and a horror film aimed at teenagers, the acting is still outstanding. Townes Bunner impresses as Lucas, while Henriette Steenstrup delivers impressive moments as the local police officer.
However, enjoyment of the film could be affected by its underlying subtext about the Palestinian conflict, drawing parallels between the fjøsnisse representing Palestinians and the Nordheims symbolizing Jewish immigrants. References to the Oslo Accords and mention of the conflict in the script create a thematic backdrop that converges as the American family settles into their ancestral home, while the barn elves seek refuge in a local museum.
It is important to note the timing of the film's premiere at Fantastic Fest, before the outbreak of hostilities. The film's exploration of these themes, amid its comedic horror narrative, could cause discomfort given the delicate context of real-world conflicts.
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