 © TIFF Silent Night: a harrowing feature film that dives into apocalyptic themes, through some unconventional methods. Set during Christmas, various friends face the inevitability of the end of the world as we know it, and find themselves caught in the urgency of the apocalyptic circumstance. This film sheds light in the power that children hold for the future, while also allowing the viewer to have some light reflection on what the end of the world would mean for us. “This film sheds light in the power that children hold for the future, while also allowing the viewer to have some light reflection on what the end of the world would mean for us.” This film has a chilling start; the chilling juxtaposition of Christmas music layered over a brief visual of blood (amongst other clips showing the chaotic energy of pre-Christmas) alludes to something sinister. Simply by observing, the viewers begin to ask questions: how are all of these people connected? Why is there blood right at the beginning of the film? Both of these questions launch the viewer in a quest to have them solved. Camille Griffin serves as both writer and director of this apocalyptic comedy. The blend of these (sub)genres is marvellously infused to add a lighter finish to the haunting undertones of the story. The humorous flow of dialogue assists in easing the story and the viewer, thus also adding another element of distinctiveness to the narrative. The setting is also notable – the blend of the homely and wholesome nature of Christmas with themes of death and grappling with the unexpected add an eerie layer to the already unsettling story. “The setting is also notable – the blend of the homely and wholesome nature of Christmas with themes of death and grappling with the unexpected add an eerie layer to the already unsettling story.” Distinct colours play a significant role in determining the time and place of the story itself. Reds, greens and whites collectively reinforce the Christmas nature of the film. While these prominent colours raise the film, the lighting often falls flat. The Black characters in the film seem to blend into their surroundings, having the viewer wonder if more attention was paid to set and mise-en-scne than to ensuring that we could actually see the subjects of the film. While the lighting fell through at some moments, the children help alleviate this mishap greatly. The portrayal of children being at the core of desiring change for the state of the world bears resemblance to the current function of the planet, which is the common understanding of children having the future in their hands. The questions raised by the children throughout the film straddle the line between simple curiosity and philosophy, and this adds an even deeper layer of reflection for the viewer. "The questions raised by the children throughout the film straddle the line between simple curiosity and philosophy, and this adds an even deeper layer of reflection for the viewer.” As a whole, this film provides a gentler approach to apocalyptic themes than most. While this story seems slightly familiar, there are various elements throughout the film that add distinctiveness to the story: setting and (sub)genres collaborate to raise the tension of the film, while also providing some ease for the viewer’s pleasure.  © TIFF Editor’s note: Silent Night screened at TIFF ’21, as part of the Gala Presentations programme.
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