The heartwarming tale of how The Grinch comes to love Christmas is one for all the family - but someone has decided to ruin our childhood's by turning him into a killer. The beloved hairy, green, pot-bellied character, a creation of popular children's author Dr Seuss, has undergone a sinister makeover for a brand new horror movie.
A murderous Grinch will be the main character of upcoming parody film 'The Mean One', which sees the family favourite turn into a rampaging homicidal maniac during the holiday season. Just like in the 1957 book and 2000 movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the titular character lives at the top of a snowy mountain and has a deep hatred for the Christmas season.
However, rather than just stealing presents, smashing decorations and scaring the residents of Whoville, this terrifying Grinch is out for blood.
According to Deadline, XYZ films have picked up director Steven LaMorte’s violent slasher parody and plan to release the film for free online on December 15th.
It won't be one for the family to watch while cosily gathered round the fire, as the Santa suit-wearing creature (played by David Howard Thornton) will be carving more than just the turkey.
In this universe, the Grinch brutally slaughtered the parents of Cindy You-Know-Who, which is a play on the name of the original character Cindy Lou Who.
Twenty years after their tragic deaths, young Cindy (Krystle Martin) is back in the small town of Frazier Park to get closure.
But she gets more than she bargains for when she encounters the evil Grinch - with a promotional image showing the villain tormenting his new target.
XYZ Films' Manager of Acquisitions and Development, Alex Williams, issued a statement to Deadline to express his excitement about the project.
"As a passionate fan of seasonal horror, The Mean One is exactly the kind of film that lands on my personal 'nice list'." he said.
"This movie is a stunningly great time with a ferociously subversive turn from David Howard Thornton – and XYZ Films is so proud to be bringing this soon-to-be iconic Christmas slasher to audiences this holiday season."
This isn't the first time in recent months that our childhood's have been ruined, as there is also a Winnie the Pooh horror movie being released this year.
The adorable bear is now the villain in a new horror movie called 'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey' - and the 100 Acre Wood has turned into a nightmarish hell that cannot be escaped.
The slasher film seems Pooh and Piglet go on a murderous rampage after being abandoned by Christopher Robin when he goes off to college.
After Christopher left, the cute bear and pig ran out of food and turned feral - even killing their good friend Eeyore the donkey.
In chilling scenes from the trailer, Christopher takes his wife-to-be Mary to the 100 Acre Wood to meet his old friends, but quickly realises something is very wrong and they see a skull along with a gravestone with the words 'Eeyore RIP' written on it.
As well as targetting Christopher and his fiancee, Pooh and Piglet also turn their murderous rage on a group of girls who are staing in a remote house in the woods for the weekend.
They quickly realise they are not welcome as someone has written 'Get Out' in blood on the windows, then one of them falls in a swimming pool and gets whacked in the head by evil Piglet with a massive mallet.
The reason this new horror movie is able to exist is that filmmakers are now legally free to use the works of author A.A. Milne for inspiration after the original copyright for the famous children's character ended.
Rhys Waterfield, who wrote, directed and co-produced the film, told Variety Magazine why the beloved characters had turned into killers.
He said: "Because they’ve had to fend for themselves so much, they’ve essentially become feral.
"So they’ve gone back to their animal roots. They’re no longer tame: they’re like a vicious bear and pig who want to go around and try and find prey."
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