The Advent Calendar

This is the kind of movie that makes you watch in fear, pause repeatedly to process each scene, rewind five or six times to truly understand what happened, then grab some water before daring to press play again. That’s exactly how I watched it—one scene kept me so puzzled I replayed it half a dozen times.

Instead of going into long philosophies, let me share one simple saying: “Trouble can come at any time.”

But imagine—what if trouble arrives on your birthday, turning your life into a twisted game of life and death?

The Story

The film’s central character is Eva, a woman paralyzed from the waist down who spends her life in a wheelchair. She lives with her elderly father, a diabetic who can barely even make a phone call, leaving Eva mostly helpless. At work, her boss constantly torments her mentally and emotionally.

Her birthday falls on December 3rd. That night, at around 11 p.m., her friend Sophie comes over with a gift—a small, old, wooden box. But this isn’t just any box. It’s a strange, creepy wooden Advent Calendar, one that harbors a sinister entity known as “Ich”—a creature that embodies both good and evil.

Eva unlocks the first drawer with the little key inside. Out comes a chocolate, wrapped with a note listing three rules:

• Whatever comes out of the calendar must be eaten, taken, or used.

• The rules must be followed until the very last drawer. Break them, and Ich will kill you.

• Anyone who tries to destroy the calendar will also be killed.

There are 24 drawers, one for each day until Christmas. If Eva doesn’t open one, it will open itself at midnight.

Out of curiosity, Eva eats the first chocolate. Sophie jokes:

“If you eat all of these, maybe you’ll survive until Christmas.”

As soon as midnight strikes, the second day begins. The next drawer opens on its own, revealing a figurine and a note:

"Every gift or benefit you receive will come at a price. Your life and the lives of those close to you will be affected. Whoever harms you will die."

From this point, Eva begins experiencing strange and terrifying events.

Her dead phone suddenly rings. When she answers, it’s her father’s voice:

“Happy Birthday, daughter.”

Eva realizes the calendar truly has power.

The Horror Begins

The following day, Sophie drags Eva to a bar, urging her to explore romance. Sophie introduces her to Boris, a sleazy man who only wants sex. He drives Eva out in his car, planning to assault her. When she resists, he throws her out and attempts to run her over.

But at the stroke of midnight, a drawer in the calendar at Eva’s home creaks open. Inside is a toy car. Eva’s dog begins chewing it apart—at the same time, Boris convulses in agony and dies violently, as though his fate was tied to the toy.

From here, the terrifying bond between Eva and the calendar deepens. Each drawer brings new horror, suspense, and impossible choices. The calendar tempts her with the power to fulfill her desires, but every wish comes with a bloody price.

What Makes It Unique

This is not your typical horror movie with a masked killer or endless gore. Instead, it’s a psychological horror thriller with a suffocating atmosphere of dread. The true terror lies in the editing—the way midnight transitions are filmed, the slow-motion shots of the drawers unlocking on their own, and the creeping realization that Eva cannot escape the calendar’s rules.

The performance of Eugénie Derouand (Eva) is outstanding. She conveys helplessness, desperation, and inner conflict with chilling realism.

The film ultimately leaves you with one haunting question:

“If you were offered a way to fulfill your deepest wishes, but it meant sacrificing the lives of those closest to you—would you do it?”

Final Thoughts

The Advent Calendar is a horror film for those who enjoy dark, complex, and unnerving stories. It will grip your mind, force you to think, and unsettle you long after it ends. And yes—by the time you finish watching, you might curse me a few times for recommending such a nerve-wracking film.