Just because Easter is over doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some more bunny horror. Enter: He Is Risen.
A group of friends are haunted by a ghost from their past. As they gather together for their annual Easter celebration, tragedy strikes! After discovering two of their friends have been murdered, Caity reveals that she was visited by the spirit of Skittles, their fifth grade class pet. Without revealing how she knows, she makes it clear that he is back from Hell! And he is out for blood! This Easter, Hell hath no fury like a rabbit scorned!
He Is Risen, YouTube
Right from the jump, we have some Easter-themed kills fit for the big Bunny himself. No one is safe as carrots are used as knives and bodies are ritualistically painted in pastels before being gutted. About half a feature length (48 minutes), He Is Risen treats us to well-paced gags and pulls off tropes we all know and love. Surprisingly smart, there are a few instances where you’ll miss a killer Easter Bunny hiding in the darkness if you’re not paying attention. The juxtaposition of old-timey music with bright animated backgrounds during the credits and the ruthless hunt for these forgetful friends shows the topsy-turvy nature of this crazy story. What is a much-loved holiday for kids is brutally turned into a revenge plot.
Filmmakers Brian Baggett and Nathan Brick made sure that as outrageous as He is Risen is, they kept it true to the Slasher subgenre while filling it with laughs upon laughs. Always quick-witted, you barely have time to process a gruesome kill before laughing your ass off at this group of friends making jokes. He Is Risen itself is almost like one big joke, but it’s played so seriously that it just works. Though there are moments that the sound needs adjustment (dialog a little too quiet and effects a little too loud), it is filmed with care, showing unique angles, CG effects, and a jumpscare of two. For example, keep an eye on the sight gag at 24:50 — unexpected perfection!
Out of all of the Easter-themed horror movies there could be, I am greatly appreciative of this gem. As much as I love family-friendly entities turned into truly horrifying monsters, it is nice to retain some of that childlike magic and have a goof laugh. If you think about it, He Is Risen is a perfect example of horror’s many facets, taking an idea and twisting it every which-way to make a movie people can enjoy at multiple levels. He Is Risen is a goofy take on Easter horror and a fantastic way to change up your holiday horror watch list.
Check out He Is Risen now on YouTube, and make sure to wish Brian Baggett a “Hoppy Easter” over on Instagram.
