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What's After the Movie?
Mystery thriller

Secret Santa (2018): Cast & Ratings

Secret Santa (2018) movie poster

Secret Santa is a 2018 mystery thriller directed by Adam Marcus, starring A Leslie Kies as April, John Gilbert and Michael Rady. It runs 1 hour 29 minutes and was made on a reported $100,000 budget. Its Echo Score is 46/100.

Echo Score
46
budget
$100K
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Secret Santa (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 29m (89 min)
Director
Adam Marcus
Genres
Thriller , Mystery , Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$100K
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Secret Santa About?

The premise of Secret Santa without spoilers.

The Pope family gathers for Christmas, and April hopes to mend fractured relationships. However, their holiday cheer turns to terror when an unknown stalker begins targeting them. As the threats escalate, the family must fight to survive a horrifying ordeal and uncover the identity of their attacker before it's too late.

Secret Santa Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • dysfunctional family
  • racial stereotyping
  • stepmother
  • stripper
  • murder
  • jealousy
  • rage
  • incest
  • oedipus
  • sister sister relationship
  • marriage proposal
  • stutterer
+38 more
  • christmas
  • neurosis
  • family reunion
  • closet homosexual
  • sarcasm
  • secret santa
  • regret
  • envy
  • cat fight
  • decapitation
  • gore
  • christmas horror
  • holiday horror
  • stripper girlfriend
  • sex scene
  • closeted homosexual
  • implied fellatio
  • stuttering
  • sexy mom
  • sisters relationship
  • scene during opening credits
  • uncle nephew relationship
  • finger bitten off
  • family affairs
  • knife held to throat
  • stabbed with a fork
  • bloody snow
  • milf
  • shouting obsenities
  • cougar
  • brother sister fight
  • reference to top gun
  • divorced couple
  • oral sex while driving
  • sisters have sex with the same man
  • snow globe
  • roast turkey
  • reference to the mummy
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Cast & crew

Secret Santa Cast & Characters

A Leslie Kies leads the cast as April, with John Gilbert as Leonard and Michael Rady as Ty. Directed by Adam Marcus; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Secret Santa

· 9 more
Ratings

Secret Santa Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 46/100, strongest in story & flow (52) and weakest in art & craft (38).

46 /100

Secret Santa Echo Score Breakdown

Secret Santa elicits a mixed reception, with occasional praise for its dark humor and occasional moments of gore, but it is frequently criticized for its execution. Reviewers note that the film’s direction and visual polish appear amateurish, and many find the narrative incoherent. While a subset of viewers appreciate the black‑comedy tone and find the cast occasionally entertaining, the dominant impression is that the film falls short of delivering a satisfying horror experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 38

    In terms of direction and visual presentation, the film is often described as amateurish, with some reviewers likening the imagery to footage from an outdated camera phone. The use of CGI for gore is criticized as ineffective, and the overall editing lacks a cohesive style. A few positive notes mention inventive opening credits, but these are outweighed by the prevailing perception of low production quality.

  • Character & Emotion 48

    When it comes to acting and character dynamics, opinions are divided. Several reviewers commend the cast for delivering memorable performances and occasional chemistry, especially in moments of dark comedy. However, many describe the ensemble as loathsome, with performances deemed passable at best or outright poor. The character depth is generally seen as lacking, leading to a mixed but overall modest assessment of this aspect.

  • Story & Flow 52

    The narrative receives a blend of feedback. Some viewers praise the premise as well‑written and capable of delivering engaging, humorous horror moments. Others criticize the plot for being incoherent, implausible, and failing to sustain interest. The pacing fluctuates between entertainingly brisk and sluggish, resulting in a moderate overall impression that the story succeeds in parts but is hindered by structural weaknesses.

  • Sensory Experience 45

    Sensory elements such as gore and sound design generate contrasting reactions. The film’s blood and violent effects are noted for their abundance, yet many find the CGI implementation subpar and the visual style unrefined. While a few reviewers appreciate the thick, fast‑moving gore as a feature of the black‑comedy tone, the consensus points to an overall uneven sensory experience.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    Rewatch potential is viewed with ambivalence. Certain audience members report that the film’s dark humor and unique drinking‑game suitability encourage repeat viewings. Conversely, a substantial number of reviewers consider the movie forgettable and not worth revisiting, citing its lack of narrative cohesion and unsatisfying conclusion. This split leads to a modest rewatch factor score.

Videos

Secret Santa Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Secret Santa.

Secret Santa Red-Band Trailer 9-20-17
Details

Secret Santa Also Known As

2 alternative titles: “圣诞老人的秘密” and “Moș Crăciunul secret”.

Also known as
  • 圣诞老人的秘密
  • Moș Crăciunul secret

Seen Secret Santa?

FAQ

Secret Santa FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget and post-credit scenes of Secret Santa, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Secret Santa?

Secret Santa runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).

When was Secret Santa released?

Secret Santa was released on March 3, 2018.

Who directed Secret Santa?

Secret Santa was directed by Adam Marcus.

More films by Adam Marcus

Who is in the cast of Secret Santa?

Secret Santa stars A Leslie Kies as April, John Gilbert as Leonard and Michael Rady as Ty, among 13 credited actors.

What was the budget of Secret Santa?

Secret Santa had a reported budget of $100,000.

Does Secret Santa have a post-credit scene?

No. Secret Santa has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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