In the 1971, boarding school students Samantha and Clara stay behind during Christmas break. Things take a deadly turn when a gang of cult killers arrives at their doorstep – just in time for Christmas. A film by Jenn Wexler, starring Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Gus Kenworthy, Madison Baines, Derek Johns, Laurent Pitre, Chloë Levine, and Georgia Acken.

During Christmas 1971, at Blackvale Academy, an all-girls boarding school, whispers of a satanic murder spree terrorizing nearby towns fill the air. Danville, then Rivington, and most recently, Somerset, barely 30 miles from their doorstep, all bear the gruesome scars of the same ritualistic rampage. But with Christmas break just hours away, the girls feels a distant thrill rather than fear, certain the police would catch the killers before they set foot back on campus. Except for Clara, a quiet student who becomes a canvas for their cruel taunts, ostracized for her misfortune of being left alone while the psychotic killers are on the loose.

Rose Tanner (Chloë Levine), a school teacher, is assigned by the headmistress to stay at school and look after the girls who will be left behind during the upcoming Christmas break. Her boyfriend Jimmy (Gus Kenworthy), the school cook, secretly plans to ask her to marry him. As the students get ready to leave for the holidays, Samantha Kramer receives a call from her father, informing her that something has come up and that she will have to stay at school this Christmas. Jimmy drives the school members to the train station.

In an attempt to cheer Samantha up, Rose asks her to grab a bottle of vodka from the basement for her pie making. Down there, Samantha (Madison Baines) encounters Clara (Georgia Acken), who leads her to a storage room full of books. Clara mentions that they are books the adults don’t want the students to read.

As they settle in for dinner, they are interrupted by Jude (Mena Massoud), Maisie (Olivia Scott Welch), Grant (Derek Johns), and Doug (Laurent Pitre). Jude requests entry, claiming his friend Doug is injured. Rose politely declines, explaining she can’t let anyone in. Maisie steps forward, introducing herself as a ’64 alumna and knowing the first aid kit’s location. She even recites the school motto, “Blackvale girls look out for each other.” Hesitantly, Rose grants them access. But their true intentions are quickly revealed as they capture and restrain Rose, the others, and even Jimmy, who returns from the train station moments later.

The facade shatters as they expose themselves: the notorious Christmas Killers, dubbed so by the media. Their eyes gleam with cold ambition, fuelled by a passage from a forbidden spellbook Maisie unearthed during her Blackvale days. They believe it holds the key to summoning a wish-granting demon. Little do they know, the ripped-out page they clutch holds only a fragment of the ritual, a mere whisper of the true, far more sinister purpose it serves.

The SACRIFICE GAME dives into a captivating premise: a modern-day clash with ancient mythologies, where unsuspecting teens become pawns in a deadly game. This fresh take on supernatural horror stands on its own, separate from the usual haunted house or possession tropes. The cast’s performances are noteworthy, especially Mena Massoud and Georgia Acken, who embody their roles with captivating vulnerability and steely determination.

However, the film stumbles at times. Sluggish pacing mars some sections, dragging down the suspense. The dialogues occasionally feel undercooked, lacking the zing and depth needed to fully flesh out the characters and their motivations.

The film’s central demon reveal might be too easy for some viewers to crack. The clues are laid out meticulously, leading to a somewhat underwhelming unveiling that feels telegraphed rather than shocking. Perhaps this predictability is intentional, a slow burn leading to a bigger twist.

Unfortunately, the final twist fails to land the knockout punch. While its intent might be to leave the viewers pondering, it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. The core of the story holds true potential to become a cult classic, but The SACRIFICE GAME doesn’t quite clinch it. Although it lacks the bite to become a genre-defining masterpiece, it’s still a worthwhile journey into the realm of modern myths and ritualistic chills. Just don’t expect a blood-curdling scream at the end.

The SACRIFICE GAME premiered at Fantasia Festival on 28 July 2023. The film was released on the streaming service Shudder on 8 December.