MALVOLIA: THE QUEEN OF SCREAMS – MALVOLIA’S XMAS HONOR * USA 2019 Dir: Jennifer Nangle. 10 mins
Released on Christmas Day 2019, this is a season three festive episode of Jennifer Nangle’s web series. In addition to playing the eponymous demonic Queen of the Underworld, Nangle wrote and directed this entry in a series built around her Elvira-like alter-ego. Here, Malvolia has won the ultimate Christmas honour for her enduring evilness but her prize hasn’t arrived, Santa (Al Burke) has been kidnapped and a rival demon (Sam Mason) might be trying to steal the honour. Although Charles Chudabala is likeable as an elf sidekick, this is creaky, sub-Panto / Grotbags fare with a laugh-free script and a charisma-lite frontwoman. Lame, childish humour dominates, though presumably fans of the series thus far will find enough to enjoy.
Review by Steven West