Christmas time is here! Time for joy and time for fear, as the new film “A Creature Was Stirring” makes its way into genre fan’s stockings just in time for the holidays. Directed by Damien LeVeck from a feature debut screenplay by Shannon Wells, this is a clever little creeper that knows how to have good fun with its audience. Christmas spirit and goodwill toward men take a hit in this unique tale of a mother, her daughter, unwanted home invaders, and a buffet of twisted horror delights.

Chrissy Metz is the ironically titled Faith (as she isn’t a believer), a single mother who stays locked inside her house with her daughter Charm (Annalise Basso), who suffers from a monstrous affliction that brings a true darkness to their lives. When her temperature gets too hot or cold, Charm turns into a beast. Being a nurse, Faith uses her limited medical knowledge in an attempt to help the young girl, but as the film progresses, we learn there is much more to Charm’s affliction than meets the eye. Metz is quite good as a mother trying to fight the horrors inside her home while struggling with her own past drug addictions. The actress gives a strong performance as Faith battles inner and outer demons, finding herself waging a losing battle against both.

As a blizzard rages outside, two strangers, Liz and Corey (Scout Taylor-Compton and Connor Paolo) break into the home, complicating Faith and Charm’s life even more. As the two end up staying for (trying to survive) the night, they begin to unravel the dark secrets.; the uber-religious Liz thinking her own faith and pious conviction can save Charm. It is here where Wells’ screenplay gets some good jabs at religious fanatics and the dangers of the do-gooder mentality towards things one could never understand.

“A Creature Was Stirring” is not a basic monster movie. The film examines the weakness of the human spirit and the emotional weight of family secrets through the well written backstory of Faith and her daughter. There are many moments where the film is quite fascinating, as the human drama becomes even more involving than the horror. This is not to say LeVeck hasn’t given fans a good time. The scenes of terror play well and the director leans into the monster moments with a gleeful vigor. John Travisano’s effects are realistically gruesome and give the film a great deal of its palpable chills while complimenting the director’s unique vision.

LeVeck fills the film with good horror film visuals. Alexander Chinnici’s camera and Jeffrey McLeid’s production design are highlights, bathing the film in the darkest of Christmas tones. The dimly lit house is filled with red and blue lights that cast a macabre spell over the entire picture.

While unavoidable horror film cliches are deftly handled, LeVeck and screenwriter Wells are fully committed to giving audiences something different within the confines of a modern day creature feature. There are moments of heavy drama and a few scenes of black humor that vibe well with the on screen terrors. The director turns the season of cheer on its head, achieving an unexpected potency at the heart of the horror tale. By the finale, the classic Christmas carol, “What Child is This?”, takes on a sinister fatality that comes as a gut punch to viewers’ emotions.