Horror Movie Review: I’m Dreaming of a White Doomsday (2017)

From writer/director Mike Lombardo, comes the minimalistic and miserable festive horror, I’m Dreaming of a White Doomsday. A film that stars Hope Bikle, Reeve Blazi and Damian Maffei.

The story takes place after an apocalyptic event and focuses on a woman named Kelly and her eight-year-old son, Riley. They are surviving in a bunker but facing the real prospect of running out of supplies soon. This would mean venturing out into the icy and isolated landscape where dangers lurk around every corner. Something already attempted by Simon, Kelly’s husband and Riley’s father, who never returned.

What caused the end of the world? I’m Dreaming of a White Doomsday plays it coy and chooses to drop hints throughout rather than say outright what happened. This, and many other elements, were likely more of a budgetary issue, but it doesn’t harm the overall gloomy and tension-heavy plot.

Alongside the depressive tone, Lombardo manages to give this horror a sharp, festive feel too. Done through flashbacks, dreams, the location outside the bunker and a delightfully dark finale. It’s a movie you watch with a troubled look on your face, waiting for a ray of sunshine to peak through the clouds, but never quite getting it.

It’s a slow-burn of movie and that’s reflected in its 71-minute runtime. Yet it does hold the attention. Considering almost all the focus is on two characters and in one location, the film could easily have slipped into the doldrums, but it holds firm for the most part. A major part of that coming from good acting and dynamic between mother and son. They’re convincing and, as things begin to look bleaker, they react accordingly to the horror they face.

All that being said, there is room for improvement. A few more details about the outside world, a more notable threat, a deeper backstory, and elaboration on why Simon never returned. Stuff that could have added a bit more meat to the bones of the story.

Overall, it’s a very impressive film because it is so minimal. A micro-budget has been stretched to incredible levels and the cast are good. It’s one of the most miserable Christmas-themed horror movies you may ever see but you won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.