I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday (2017)

That was an excellent one.

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

This is the type of slow-burn horror movie that relies on excellent storytelling and good acting, rather than jump scares or special effects. A compelling story that hooks you and doesn't let you go.

Last week I had the opportunity to see "I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday," the first feature-length film from friend, roustabout, and director Mike Lombardo. I'm pleased to report that the film is an unqualified success in every way.Clocking in at a lean 71 minutes, the movie is tight and almost every minute of the running time is devoted to ratcheting up the tension. As such, the plot is bare bones. An unexplained apocalypse has left the planet a nightmarish deathscape, and the air breathable only through a gas mask. Three survivors: a mother, father, and their eight-year- old son have taken shelter in some sort of fallout bunker. When the father never returns from a supply run, the mother tries to get by and finally, after a series of impossible decisions, plans to give her boy the merriest Christmas circumstances will allow.And aside from the ending (which will leave even the most jaded viewer saying "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus") that's about it for the story. The rest of the movie is comprised of flashbacks, dreams, and visions (or are they?) There are only five actors in the movie and they all do yeoman's work, but I'd be remiss if I didn't point out the contributions of Hope Bikle, in the role of the mother. All of the actors are outstanding, but the mother has the most screen time and the biggest emotional gamut to traverse. Many of the scenes are just an examination of her face, sometimes behind a gas mask (!), trying to work out what to do in an impossible situation, putting on a brave face for her son, and almost always screaming soundlessly inside. Not once did I find her wanting. Not once was I bored or anything less than riveted. A stunning achievement for a film made for $10,000.Perhaps most interesting to me is I don't think baby Jesus, Bethlehem, "the reason for the season," or a single religious icon was ever mentioned or shown. This is as purely secular as a Christmas movie can be, which is certainly a deliberate decision. This film is a Hiroshima bombing which ends "The War on Christmas" with an unquestionable victory for commercialism; a feature-length answer of "Never" to the question "When are we going to put Christ back in Christmas?""I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday" is a bleak, suffocating throat- punch of a movie, destined to become a new holiday staple. (How about playing this on repeat for 24 hours instead of Ralphie, TNT?)

I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday is the feature film debut of writer/director Mike Lombardo. There is an instant feeling of desperation, anxiety and dread from the moment we encounter our family. The writing was extremely well paced and characters were well defined. All of the performances were superb and there was a magnificent chemistry between the actors.This is one depressing film. The fact that it takes place during the "happiest" time of the year is such a brilliant contradiction. The sets are claustrophobic. The outdoor sequences capture a beautiful landscape of wretchedness. This is a low budget film that looks ten times its expense.I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday is an emotional ride and character study. Without giving spoilers, there is a specific scene that will forever burn in my mind. After the mother makes a touching decision, she leaves the room and leans against an adjacent wall. There is so much emotion to that scene it affects me as I write about it now.There are few films this depressing that I can watch over and over again. Another one that comes to mind is Leaving Las Vegas. Although, they do not share many qualities as a whole they both fill you with an overwhelming sense of sadness. But they also manage to be such beautiful films you cannot help but want to watch them multiple times.Days after my viewing of I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday an unexpected reaction occurred. Even though I have always enjoyed spending time with family & loved ones, my appreciation of the holidays and ability to spend time with those I love has forever changed. As witnessed on film, doomsday can surprisingly arrive at any time.

I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday is NOT for the faint of heart. It's bleak, it's depressing, it's heartbreaking, and it's utterly perfect as a film. The story is strong, the acting is top notch (even with a child actor, which is no small feat!) the set design is detailed and fits so well with the story. It's rare to find a movie where everything is done well. I'm one of those picky jerks that likes to point out continuity errors and nitpick over minutia.... not here. The amount of effort that went into ensuring that everything was just right is staggering. I reaaaallllly hope it comes out on DVD so I can make viewing it part of my annual Christmas festivities. It was that good!This movie proves that sometimes it's OK to kill the kid!