Director Kevin Lewis says filming the comedy-horror "Christmas at the Kringles" left him in a holly-jolly mood.
He recalled, "When I was shooting some of these scenes, it was so hard for me not to mess them up because I was busting a gut," adding that he thought, "Gosh, you should do some more comedies," after each happy day on set.
Lewis, known for horror titles such as 2022's "The Accursed" and last year's "Pig Hill," worked with a cast of comic actors including Ron Livingston, Rachel Bilson, Rob Riggle, Thomas Lennon, Donald Faison, David Wain and Beverly D'Angelo. Written by Zack Imbrogno and released Friday through Briarcliff Entertainment, the movie follows Mark (Livingston) who moves his family next to a Christmas-obsessed patriarch Nick (Lennon) with sinister motives.
Lewis said a neighborhood dad he once called "Father of the Year" sparked his interest in the script, describing the man's over-the-top holiday decorations as "performative."
The ensemble's improvisational skill, he noted, allowed the comedy to deepen, with each take offering something new.
Lewis explained his process: "I work in a way where the script's an organic thing... When you're shooting it, it's not exactly what was on the page... we all knew the through-line of the narrative we were going toward. But we could take detours a little bit, and boy, we did."
He also said the set's humor helped him balance horror and laughs, likening the desired tone to "Beetlejuice, comic book horror" rather than the gore of "Terrifier."
Beyond jokes, Lewis was moved by the film's emotional core, noting a father-son theme that urges viewers to be present and enjoy the moment.
He concluded that the collaborative spirit of the production was what he valued most, stating, "I just like working, man... meeting cool people and telling stories."
Watch the "Christmas at the Kringles" trailer below.
