Santastein

When he was six, Max Causey accidentally killed Santa Claus, a childhood accident that never stopped haunting him. Twelve years on, hoping to make amends, Max performs a ritual to bring Santa back. The returned figure isn't the comforting myth he remembers, it's a savage, bloodthirsty force with a taste for violence. Panic spreads when Max sees the creature heading straight for his friends' Christmas party, and he scrambles to warn them while trying to find a way to undo what he started. The movie keeps its focus tight on Max and his small circle, mixing sharp jokes and bloody set pieces as the holiday mood collapses into something violent and absurd.

Directed by Benjamin Edelman and Manuel Camilion, Santastein premiered in 2024 and stars Jared Korotkin as Max Causey, Ophelia Rivera as Paige Byers, and Michael Vitovich as the creature, Santastein. The film presents an original screenplay and leans into indie horror comedy aesthetics.

No wide box office figures have been widely reported, suggesting a limited theatrical run or festival circuit presence rather than a major studio release. Financial detail remains scarce, consistent with many small genre films in the current market.

Critical and audience reactions are mixed, reflected in a modest 6.0/10 vote average from a small pool of reviewers. Commenters tend to note the film's deliberate mix of holiday humor and splatter effects, with themes around guilt, unintended consequences, and growing up under a strange burden. Viewers who like dark, playful holiday films will likely get more out of its tone than those seeking straight horror.

As a fresh entry in holiday horror, Santastein hasn't yet left a wide cultural footprint, but its concept taps a familiar niche: twisted takes on seasonal icons. It may find an audience among fans of quirky indie fright comedies and could spark online chatter for its outrageous premise and memorable creature design.