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• The Mean One

In a sleepy mountain town, Cindy's parents are murdered and her Christmas is stolen by a bloodthirsty green figure in a red Santa suit. In a sleepy mountain town, Cindy's parents are murdered and her Christmas is stolen by a bloodthirsty green figure in a red Santa suit. In a sleepy mountain town, Cindy's parents are murdered and her Christmas is stolen by a bloodthirsty green figure in a red Santa suit.

• Steven LaMorte
• Flip Kobler
• Finn Kobler
• David Howard Thornton
• Krystle Martin
• Chase Mullins
• 40 User reviews
• 38 Critic reviews
• 29 Metascore

• Detective Burke

• Sheriff Hooper

• Mayor McBean

• Young Cindy

• Waitress Emily

• Anchorwoman

• Mrs. Hunter

• Diner Owner
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• Trivia There are multiple references to Dr. Seuss and some of his works: A restaurant is named Horton's (Horton Hears A Who,) a character being called Doctor Zeus (rhymes with Dr. Seuss,) and a character drinks from a bottle named Geisel's (Dr. Seuss' real name is Theodore Seuss Geisel.)
• Goofs Snow continues to fall in scenes, but doesn't accumulate on clothing, cars or the dry ground.
• Crazy credits There is a mid-credit scene.
• Connections Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: Disney's Strange Marketing (2022)

User reviews 40

• sandlot1992
• Dec 11, 2022
• How long is The Mean One? Powered by Alexa
• December 9, 2022 (United States)
• United States
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• Official website of the film 'The Mean One'
• Sleight of Hand Productions
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• Runtime 1 hour 33 minutes

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The Mean One Review

How the grinch slaughtered christmas..

The Mean One hits theaters on Dec. 9, 2022.

Steven LaMorte's The Mean One is just another in a long line of no-budget indies that drum overnight hype thanks to a bonkers title or outlandish trailer, never with the production capabilities to deliver on marquee excitement. Writers Flip and Finn Kobler challenge the boundaries of unauthorized parody legalese by turning Dr. Seuss' grumpy Christmas party pooper — The Grinch — into a cold-hearted slasher villain. It's the fourth feature film adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, claiming never to use language from the literature to abide by parody standards. Instead, LaMorte's cast and crew fumble through a Christmas hack-n-slash marred by ugly digital effects — here’s hoping you're sloshed on nog or mesmerized by the green meanie, so the film's quality matters less and less.

Stunt actor Krystle Martin stars as Cindy You-Know-Who, returning to her hometown of Newville 20 years after her the murder of her mother on Christmas Eve. Cindy knows what she saw that night — a puke-green bastard dressed as Santa. Sheriff Hooper (Erik Baker) never caught the Christmas killer since leads about an inhuman mongrel met dead ends. Newville bans Christmas decorations and celebrations to keep townsfolk safe in the meantime — until Cindy's father, Lou (Flip Kobler), hangs tinsel and lights to spark a little holiday spirit, but instead instigates another yuletide massacre in Newville.

Somewhere along my parody stipulation research, I stumbled upon the (possibly fictional) clause that there needs to be 13 (or so) distinct points of differentiation between the original and the parody in question. Flip and Finn write The Mean One as such because there's sadly no Max sidekick this time, nor does "The Mean One" — you won't hear the word "Grinch" anywhere — speak in rhymes or at all. Christopher Sanders overlays a narration that's eerily reminiscent of Morgan Freeman's voiceover, forcing "roast beast" puns and structured rhymes that blend Dr. Seuss with Dr. Satan. Although, there's mention of hearts shrinking two sizes too small and other direct Grinch references, as well as the costume ripped straight from Universal's live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Flip and Finn rely heavily on character likeness to distract from their otherwise wafer-thin story, which establishes one golden rule — The Mean One attacks anyone handling Christmas decorations — it can't even keep straight.

Plain and simple, The Mean One is a jokey-but-janky mess of intellectual property skewering that doesn't think further than its trailer buzz. Performances aren't vying for breakout notoriety, stumbling through awkward romantic beats and generic montages set to public domain-level metalhead Christmas carols. Cinematography is a mess of static rawness that wonkily fumbles the camera around, and color correction washes this unattractive dull blue filter atop outdoor scenes to inorganically "cool" winter environments. Humor's never sharp enough to cut through the amateurish pedigree of lackluster deliveries outside Dr. Seuss references like a bar called Horton's, nor does horror blend with comedy to any manageable degree.

What's your favorite Christmas horror movie?

I've been burned by many an Ouijageist or Shark Side of the Moon in my quest for B-Movie glory — add The Mean One to my naughty list.

Terrifier 2 actor David Howard Thornton washes away his black-and-white Art the Clown makeup to become The Mean One, with apparent mimicry of Jim Carrey's slapstick Grinch characterization. He's the best part of The Mean One, whether bludgeoning inappropriate Santacon drunks or cartoonishly creeping past windows in the background with tiptoe exaggerations. That's saying little in comparison, but Thornton's handcuffed by the production's inability to deliver anywhere near Terrifier 2's practical effects budget. The Mean One's violent carnage happens mostly off-camera, which leaves Thornton as just another surface-level Carrey impersonator with prosthetics that don't cover his whole face and a crocodile-colored wig.

Best Christmas Horror Movies

Worst of all, it's an inept slasher that fails the justification of its parody — maniacal brutality. The Mean One abuses animated effects, whether that's an inexcusable majority of blood splatters, laughable bullet holes, or atrocious aquarium fish — did I even spy a digital tear on an actor's cheek? Maybe LaMorte intentionally aimed for cartoonish fakeness, but no matter the intention, The Mean One displays some of the worst post-production blood work I've seen since the last Asylum special that hit SYFY or Tubi. Hell, maybe even worse? The Mean One serves a beheading or two, one charred corpse, and displays Christmas creativity with accents like Cindy's peppermint color patterned shotgun — yet The Mean One is low-budget without the cleverness to salvage execution. Quite frankly, computer-generated effects are an embarrassment that requires an apology to the horror genre.

The Mean One is a string of on-screen letdowns that wastes its still befuddlingly risky parody potential. Stacking The Mean One against Terrifier 2 — both David Howard Thornton vehicles, both trying their luck theatrically — is like watching a "Do This, Not That" lesson in Slasher Appreciation 101. Did I chuckle at a few lines that twist Dr. Seuss' innocence into saucy wickedness, or find Krystle Martin momentarily charming as a strong-like-bull final girl? No lies; there are a handful of moments that strike a smile. That said, enjoyment is fleeting like the glee of biting into candy only to find, seconds later, that it's black licorice flavor. The Mean One is a brand name experiment like 2019's The Banana Splits Movie or the upcoming Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey that seems based around being first to market — a humbug mentality that eviscerates whatever ho-ho-horrific entertainment might otherwise exist.

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Two of the most beloved Christmas stories are about characters who—at least at the beginning of the story—hate Christmas. Charles Dickens gave us Ebenezer Scrooge, who calls Christmas a fraud until the ghosts show him Christmas past, present, and future to show him what he has missed by hardening his heart to friends, family, and kindness. And Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) gave us the Grinch, a furry green character with a dog named Max, who hates Christmas so much he decides to spoil the celebration of everyone in the community of Whoville by stealing all of their decorations, food, and gifts.

An instant classic since its publication in 1958, the book inspired an award-winning Chuck Jones animated television special starring Boris Karloff , then an overstuffed 2000 live-action feature film starring Jim Carrey in the title role, and now a very watch-worthy full-length animated theatrical release from the people behind “ Despicable Me ,” with Benedict Cumberbatch (using an American accent) as the Grinch. It does not surpass the Chuck Jones version (or having the book read aloud by a parent, which is still ideal) but it is far superior to the Carrey film and should become a welcome family tradition.

The visuals are delightfully Seussian, all curves and slants. I loved the mitten-shaped windows on one of the houses and the way that Whoville’s Christmas decorations make it look like a captivatingly intricate gingerbread village. In contrast, the Grinch’s mountain top lair is bare and cavernous, empty and solitary, far from the warmth of the Whovian homes.

We really do not need a backstory to tell us how the Grinch got so Grinch-y that he wants to steal all the decorations and gifts or why Cindy Lou Who ( Cameron Seely ) was awake on Christmas Eve. But feature-length movies are longer than Dr. Seuss poems, so we get a flashback to the young Grinch’s lonely holidays in an orphanage. In the book, two-year-old Cindy Lou gets up for a glass of water but here the elementary-school-age Cindy Lou wants to make sure she sees Santa on Christmas Eve because she wants to ask him for something very special. It is special because it is not for herself but for her loving yet exhausted mom ( Rashida Jones ).  

While this is not especially inventive, there are some clever parallels as the Grinch and Cindy Lou each have to come up with a plan for Christmas Eve. They write out their schemes with the same two words alone on a huge surface: “Santa Claus.” And both must assemble helpers and equipment without anyone finding out.

The smaller details are the most fun, especially when the Grinch brings on an enormous, yak-looking reindeer named Fred to pull his fake Santa sleigh. Or when a relentlessly cheery Whovian ( Kenan Thompson ) with the fanciest Christmas decorations in town keeps insisting that he and the Grinch are best friends.

We see the Grinch wake up in the morning for his breakfast, which includes a latte with a frowny face in the foam, prepared by his ever-loyal dog, Max. He then selects one from a rack of outfits labeled according to mood: “Wretched,” “Miserable,” “Very Miserable,” “Nasty,” and “Grumpy.” They are in fact all exactly alike and indistinguishable from his actual skin and fur. All the gadgets and equipment the Grinch creates are delightfully clever, the action scenes are energetic and funny, and the music, with a score by Danny Elfman and some standards and fresh and tuneful renditions of holiday classics, is superb, with a gorgeous Pentatonix rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and Tyler the Creator’s brightly updated version of Thurl Ravenscroft’s classic “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” The message that Christmas is not about presents and candy canes but about kindness and being together is always welcome. And when the Grinch gets invited to dinner with Cindy Lou’s family, you may find your heart growing a couple of sizes, too.

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

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Film credits.

The Grinch (2018)

Rated PG for brief rude humor.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Grinch (voice)

Pharrell Williams as Narrator (voice)

Cameron Seely as Cindy Lou Who (voice)

Rashida Jones as Donna Lou Who (voice)

Angela Lansbury as The Mayor of Whoville (voice)

Kenan Thompson as Bricklebaum (voice)

• Scott Mosier
• Yarrow Cheney

Writer (based on the book by)

• Chris Cartagena
• Danny Elfman

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‘The Mean One’ Review: A Killer Grinch Bores You to Death in an Unauthorized Slasher Parody of Dr. Seuss

Vikram murthi.

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Dr. Seuss’ children’s story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” has likely withstood the test of time because of its simple yet effective message: The Christmas season has more to do with community than material items. There’s also its eponymous villain, whose grouchy “Bah! Humbug!” spirit in the face of borderline-oppressive seasonal cheer is as understandable as his eventual redemption. The fable has been adapted to the big and small screen numerous times, from the lovely 1966 animated TV film directed by Chuck Jones to Ron Howard’s misbegotten eyesore starring Jim Carrey as a live-action Grinch. The source material’s bare plot and ubiquitous imagery make it a malleable text ripe for a wide range of interpretations, the latest of which is “The Mean One,” an unauthorized slasher parody starring David Howard Thornton, aka the man behind Art the Clown in the “Terrifier” films.

Director Steven LaMorte cheekily repurposes Seussian iconography into a low-budget horror / Lifetime holiday movie mashup that strains for the B-movie camp of Syfy’s “Sharknado” series. Cindy You-Know-Who (Krystle Martin) from the mountain town of Newville — do you see where this is going? — witnesses a green-skinned monster (Thornton) dressed as Santa murder her mother as a child. Twenty years later, Cindy returns to Newville to sell the family home, only to discover that the monster still terrorizes the town. After the beast gruesomely kills Cindy’s father, Cindy tries to warn the town that they’re in danger, but her concerns are summarily dismissed by the sheriff (Erik Baker) and the Trump-like mayor (Amy Schumacher). To avenge her parents, she must kill the creature herself once and for all.

There’s plenty of fun to be had by utilizing fair use law to turn a classic Seussian tale into a gory, funny romp, but LaMorte and screenwriters Flip and Finn Kobler don’t exactly embrace the assignment. Everyone involved with “The Mean One” takes its absurd premise entirely too seriously, with the possible exception of Thornton himself, who at least tries to have fun playing a non-verbal, mass-murdering Grinch. Instead, the film bafflingly welcomes the grim severity of a trauma narrative (again, involving a Grinch who slaughters anyone with holiday spirit) as well as the painfully sincere melodrama that’s part and parcel with made-for-TV movies. Parodies are theoretically supposed to be funny, but it’s almost as if there was an explicit directive not to crack any jokes, let alone exhibit any pleasure, in a film that deliberately skirts copyright infringement to bring a sadistic Grinch to theaters.

Even the film’s mischievous use of the First Amendment leaves much to be desired. Sure, they can’t actually say the word “Grinch,” a fact that is alluded to anytime a character comes close to uttering the word. There are also minor references to too-tight shoes and hearts two sizes too small, as well as a rhyming voiceover narration that broadly recalls Boris Karloff’s from the original adaptation. Besides those obligatory nods, however, “The Mean One” exhibits so much generic vagueness that Cindy might as well be taking revenge on a hyper-determined bear enraged by Christmas lights and red suits. The Koblers expend too much energy trying to flesh out two-dimensional characterizations and a “believable” backstory for the monster’s continued existence, which involves a local government conspiracy that goes straight to the top but mainly concerns a not-so-buried IP address, when accepting the sheer ridiculousness of the concept would be the preferable option.

Without any comedy to speak of in an all-but-name-only parody film, what remains is a very cheaply made slasher picture. It’s probably unfair to criticize the production values in a movie like “The Mean One,” which proudly revels in its low budget like many B-movies of yore. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to ignore the garish color grading that looks like day-for-night photography gone horribly awry, the unseemly digital blood splatter that permeates every kill scene, or the ludicrous editing choices that seem to actively fight against visual continuity. The creaky dialogue goes hand in hand with the middling performances, neither of which would be much of a problem if they were in service of a film with a goofier sensibility. The fleeting moments of amusement are limited to a training montage set to a metal version of “Carol of the Bells,” a sequence just silly enough to be mildly entertaining, and the utterly puzzling choice for Office Burke (Chase Mullins), Cindy’s love interest and confidant, to repeatedly mention that he’s Jewish, which is either a bizarre non-sequitur or a reference to Hallmark/Lifetime tropes that went over my head.

While “The Mean One” wraps up in a predictable fashion, albeit with a somewhat reactionary message that calling out monstrous acts leads people (or Grinches?) to turn into murderous monsters, it also acknowledges social media’s involvement in the film’s existence. “The Mean One” originally was a trailer that ostensibly turned into a viral sensation, so much so that it motivated LaMorte to make a full-length feature. Sure enough, the film plays like a plodding, 90-minute version of a two-minute joke that doesn’t even have the decency to be funny. A sight gag of a killer Grinch is good for a snort or a half-hearted chuckle. If you build a feature film around him, you become a Grinch yourself.

Atlas Film Distribution will release “The Mean One” in Regal theaters on Friday, December 9.

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Where to Watch 'The Mean One'

He's as cuddly as a cactus.

We all know the Grinch , right? For most of us, our introduction to the sassy green grump came in the year 2000 when Jim Carrey portrayed the iconic title character in How the Grinch Stole Christmas . The movie was adapted from Dr. Seuss ' 1957 children's book of the same name, and the adaptation led to the Grinch becoming a popular staple of Christmas ever since. Even if you haven't watched the movie, you'll have no doubt seen the copious amount of Grinch merchandise that hits the shelves every year throughout the festive season. The misanthropic menace is known by all. However, it's safe to say that when the horror parody The Mean One arrived on screens, a whole new side of the much-loved character was revealed.

David Howard Thornton (horror fans will recognize him from his portrayal of Art the Clown in the Terrifier franchise) plays The Mean One - the bloodthirsty version of the Grinch. Joining him are Krystle Martin ( The Uncanny ) as Cindy You-Know-Who, Amy Schumacher ( Nightwatch ) as Mayor McBean (Schumacher's company co-produced the movie), and Chase Mullins ( Driven ) as Officer Burke. The movie is narrated by Christopher Sanders ( Nightwatch ) and directed by Steven LaMorte . Keep reading to find out how to watch The Mean One .

Editor's Note: This article was updated on July 9 with the VOD release date.

RELATED: 'The Mean One' Review: The Grinch Stole the Fun From This Horror Flick

When Is The Mean One's Release Date?

The Mean One was officially announced in October 2022, with key art and a release date following a month later in November 2022. The Mean One premiered on December 9, 2022, in the United States.

Is The Mean One in Theaters?

Well, not anymore. The Mean One did premiere in theaters across the United States on the release date i.e December 9, 2022. Considering we're a long way from then, it's understandable that it isn't in theaters anymore. But there's other ways to watch this madcap horror comedy.

Is The Mean One Streaming or on VOD?

Initially, The Mean One director Steven LaMorte announced that the movie would be available to stream "for free everywhere in the U.S. December 15" as a Christmas gift to horror fans across the country. However, since the announcement of the movie's theatrical release, it seems the streaming date has been postponed indefinitely. At present, it is not yet known when or where The Mean One will be available to stream, but it's worth keeping an eye on Collider's coverage of The Mean One to stay up to date on all the latest announcements.

We do have some good news as it's been announced that The Mean One will arrive on VOD on October 3, 2023, just in time for Halloween. That's a long time to wait, but it's definitely something to add to your Halloween movie list.

Watch The Mean One Trailer

The trailer for The Mean One begins with a young Cindy being awoken on Christmas Eve by a disturbance in her home. When Cindy rushes downstairs she stumbles upon a brutal scene and thus has her first encounter with The Mean One - a bloodthirsty green monster intent on ruining Christmas. Twenty years later in the town of Newville, a traumatized Cindy realizes that The Mean One is back once again to bring terror to the festive season. Cindy learns about the legend of The Mean One from a local resident and undergoes some Rocky Balboa-like physical training so that the next time The Mean One crosses her path, she can get rid of him for good. The movie looks to be a violent, action-packed battle between The Mean One and the residents of Newville, with some darkly hilarious Easter eggs from the 2000s family-friendly movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas . "First he stole Christmas. Now he's back for blood."

RELATED: 'Violent Night': The 10 Best, 'Bad Santas' That Aren't So Jolly

What Is the Background of The Mean One?

The character of The Mean One is a horror-based version of Dr. Seuss' Grinch. The Grinch originally made his debut in Seuss' 1957 children's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas . The book was first adapted for the screen in 1966 as an animated television special. However, the Grinch's popularity rose to household-name status in the year 2000, when a feature-length family-friendly Christmas movie starring Jim Carrey as the title character was released. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas , Carey plays a sassy, grumpy, Christmas-hating beast who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a little girl named Cindy Lou Who. Whilst attempting to steal Christmas by taking away all the Whos' presents to hide in his secluded lair atop a snowy mountain, the Grinch realizes that he will never be able to take away the true meaning of Christmas. The movie ends with the Grinch's heart growing three sizes as he is welcomed to spend Christmas with the Whos.

In The Mean One , the origin story of the Grinch is, of course, much, much darker . Instead of stealing Christmas presents, this Mean One is intent on stealing lives. Check out the following synopsis for more:

In a sleepy mountain town, Cindy has her parents murdered and her Christmas stolen by a bloodthirsty green figure in a red Santa suit - The Mean One. But when the ravenous, Christmas-hating creature begins to terrorize the town and threatens to ruin the holiday, she finds a new purpose - trapping and killing the monster.

More Off-Beat Christmas Movies Like The Mean One to Watch Now

Krampus (2015): The Christmas Horror movie Krampus begins with the Engel family as they reluctantly prepare for the arrival of their extended relatives, who have invited themselves to spend the Christmas season at the Engels' home. When the dysfunctional group arrives, things get off to an awful start, especially for the youngest Engel, Max. Until this point, Max has been a devoted believer in Santa Claus, but when he is teased by his older cousins, Max tears up his letter to the man in the red coat and throws it out of his bedroom window. Shortly afterward, the town is suddenly engulfed in a blizzard and a demonic creature makes itself known.

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Violent Night (2022): Violent Night is an action and comedy movie that puts a darker spin on the festive tales of Christmas. Stranger Things star David Harbour plays Santa Claus, but he's a far cry from the jolly old man we all know and love. This version of Santa spends Christmas Eve in pubs, drunk and bitter about children across the world losing their Christmas spirit and becoming more materialistic. When he finally boards his sleigh and sets about delivering the gifts, Santa finds himself in the middle of a hostage situation with a wealthy family. And of course, he goes full Die Hard on them!

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‘The Mean One’: Grinchy horror film’s entertainment value is two sizes too small

Gruesome dr. seuss knockoff has a lively star performance but ultimately becomes redundant and dull..

David Howard Thornton plays the Christmas-hating monster with a familiar look in “The Mean One.”

Atlas Film Distribution

It’s officially a thing now to turn children’s fare into B-movie horror fare, whether it’s “The Banana Splits Movie” (2019) which featured Fleegle and Bingo et al. as robotic crazed killers, the upcoming “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey,” “Peter Pan: Neverland Nightmare” and “Bambi: The Reckoning” — and this week’s “The Mean One,” a gruesome, cheerfully violent and unauthorized splatter-film take on “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” that features a few dark laughs and an energetically demented performance by David Howard Thornton as the titular green creature, but ultimately becomes redundant and dull.

With director Steven LaMorte and writers Finn Kobler and Flip Kobler sidestepping any direct Dr. Seuss quotes or references, “The Mean One” opens with narrator Christopher Sanders sounding more like Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter than Boris Karloff, intoning, “Remember that story about Cindy you-know-who … they loved their Christmas, those folks down in town, but what if I said, that’s not how it went down,” as we see a prologue in which an intruder dressed as Santa Claus kills little Cindy’s mother right in front of little Cindy, yikes!

Cut to nearly 20 years later, with the adult Cindy (Krystle Martin) and her father (co-writer Flip Kolber) returning to the town of Newville so they can sell the house (they left it sitting there all those years?) and Cindy can achieve some kind of closure to help her cope with her PTSD. They learn the entire town has steadfastly avoided celebrating the holiday in any way, shape or form these past two decades — and everyone blames Cindy and her claims of a furry, green monster for killing Christmas.

When Cindy and her pops ignore the town’s silly ban and decorate the house with a wreath, a tree, lights, etc., it draws “The Mean One” out of the nearby mountains, and let’s just say if Cindy bought her dad any presents for Christmas, she’ll be returning them.

“The Mean One” introduces a number of horror-movie stock characters, from the bumbling but earnest police officer (Chase Mullins) who has a crush on Cindy, to the crusty old sheriff (Erik Baker) who tries not to roll his eyes at Cindy’s story of a green monster, to the obnoxious mayor (Amy Schumacher) who is running for re-election and is more horrified by bad publicity than the growing body count in and around town.

David Howard Thornton, who has risen to cult-fame status for his portrayal of Art the Clown in the “Terrifier” movies, does a fantastic job of turning the Grinch, I mean the Green One, into a gleefully monstrous killer (the makeup work is pretty great) with some athletic moves, but the human characters are one-dimensional and thinly drawn. (Alas, the performances from the leads are borderline wooden and unconvincing.)

“The Mean One” has a handful of inspired lines, e.g., “Time to roast this beast!” but the production values, editing, score and photography are average at best, and we’re left with a film that will be remembered mostly for a cleverly twisted marketing hook.

Screen Rant

Bizarre grinch slasher movie finally gets digital release date 1 year after going viral.

The Mean One, the bizarre slasher movie take on The Grinch character, finally gets a digital release date nearly a year after first going viral.

• The Mean One , a dark twist on Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, is set to be released digitally on October 3, following a limited theater run last December.
• Though the movie received negative reviews from critics and audiences, it still has the potential to become a cult classic, especially with a wider audience base through VOD release.
• The movie has also sparked a new horror trend of reimagining childhood classics alongside Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey , which may appeal to those seeking tongue-in-cheek horror movies for the Halloween season.

The twisted take on Dr. Seuss' The Grinch is coming home in time for Halloween with The Mean One 's digital release date revealed. Inspired by the iconic Christmas tale, the slasher movie centered on an adult Cindy You-Know-Who as she returned to her hometown of Newville with her father and must confront her traumatic past in which she witnessed her mother murdered by a bloodthirsty green-skinned killer in a Santa suit known as the Mean One. Starring Terrifier vet David Howard Thornton in the eponymous role, the movie garnered much division online for its dark take on a childhood character.

Nearly a year after the movie was first announced and became a viral subject, DeskPop Entertainment has revealed The Mean One is finally getting a digital release date. The bizarre Grinch slasher movie is hitting video-on-demand platforms on October 3 following its successful limited theater run this past December. In addition to a digital release, The Mean One is set to hit shelves on Blu-ray and DVD on the same date.

The Mean One Is Destined To Become A Cult Classic

Though not expected to be a major hit, The Mean One proved to be a misfire with critics upon release, garnering just a 20% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who found its acting and self-serious tone to work against its promising concept. Audiences on the review aggregate weren't much brighter in their response, only giving it a 49% rating. Amid the various negative reviews, though, some praise was directed towards Thornton's work as the Mean One, feeling the Art the Clown actor continued his successful streak as terrifying killers.

Despite this initial rough reception, The Mean One still seems very primed to become a cult classic as it makes its way to home media. The fact the movie did garner over $612k at the box office with a very limited 162-theater run does indicate interest was there for the bizarre slasher. Additionally, with a VOD release ensuring wider coverage and coming in time for the Halloween season, audience reception could rise with a larger pool to base reviews on.

The other major reason The Mean One could become a cult classic is that it helped kickstart the bizarre new horror trend of childhood classics reimagined in the genre. Though Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey was announced first, the Grinch slasher hit theaters before it, and with a number of other projects in the works under this concept, including a Bambi slasher twist, audiences may want to begin compiling a library of tongue-in-cheek horror movies for the season.

Source: DeskPop Entertainment

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

First look at The Grinch horror movie The Mean One

♫ As cuddly as a cactus, and as charming as an eel ♫

Directed by Steven LaMorte, this green-skinned slasher stars Gotham 's David Howard Thornton in the role made iconic by Jim Carrey 22 years ago – only with a murderous twist.

9-1-1: Lone Star 's Krystle Martin plays Cindy, whose parents were butchered by The Mean One when she was just a kid. Now, she's returning to the small town of Frazier Park for closure, whilst her nemesis prowls the neighbouring mountain.

Take a look for yourself below:

Related: 5 golden life lessons to learn from your favourite Christmas movies

According to Deadline , XYZ Films aims to release the movie for free online in the US on December 15 , although the exact platform is yet to be announced.

At this moment in time, it's unclear whether or not the UK will gain access and through what platform.

The company's manager of acquisitions of development Alex Williams shared in a statement: "As a passionate fan of seasonal horror, The Mean One is exactly the kind of film that lands on my personal 'nice list.'

"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."

Related: A dark How the Grinch Stole Christmas fan theory solves a potential plot hole

Elsewhere on your festive watchlist with a twist this year should be David Harbour's Violent Night , which received rave reactions out of New York Comic-Con last week .

That movie will release in cinemas on December 2 and sees a wealthy family attacked on Christmas Eve, which means it's time for Saint Nick (played by Harbour) to step in and save them – and Christmas in the process.

The Mean One will be released this December in the US.

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Reporter, Digital Spy 

Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy , NME and Yahoo Entertainment . 

In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.

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Dr. Seuss' The Grinch

2018, Kids & family/Holiday, 1h 26m

What to know

Critics Consensus

The Grinch gives the classic Seuss source material a brightly animated update that's solidly suitable for younger viewers without adding substantially to the story's legacy. Read critic reviews

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Dr. seuss' the grinch videos, dr. seuss' the grinch   photos.

The Grinch and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of aggravation comes during Christmastime when his neighbors in Whoville celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realizes there is one way to gain peace and quiet. With help from Max, the green grump hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal Christmas and silence the Whos' holiday cheer once and for all.

Rating: PG (Brief Rude Humor)

Genre: Kids & family, Holiday, Comedy, Adventure, Animation

Original Language: English

Director: Scott Mosier , Yarrow Cheney

Producer: Janet Healy , Christopher Meledandri

Writer: Michael LeSieur , Tommy Swerdlow

Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 2018  wide

Release Date (Streaming): Jan 22, 2019

Box Office (Gross USA): $270.9M

Runtime: 1h 26m

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Production Co: Illumination Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Sound Mix: DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS, Dolby Atmos, Dolby

Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Benedict Cumberbatch

The Grinch Voice

Cameron Seely

Cindy-Lou Who Voice

Rashida Jones

Donna Who Voice

Pharrell Williams

Tristan O'Hare

Groopert Voice

Kenan Thompson

Mr. Bricklebaum Voice

Sam Lavagnino

Ramone Hamilton

Angela Lansbury

Mayor McGerkle Voice

Scarlett Estevez

Michael Beattie

Store Clerk Voice

Scott Mosier

Yarrow Cheney

Michael LeSieur

Screenwriter

Tommy Swerdlow

Latifa Ouaou

Executive Producer

Audrey Geisel

Chris Renaud

Janet Healy

Christopher Meledandri

Chris Cartagena

Film Editing

Danny Elfman

Original Music

Colin Stimpson

Art Director

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Critic Reviews for Dr. Seuss' The Grinch

Audience reviews for dr. seuss' the grinch.

While it's miles ahead of the Jim Carrey one purely on charm and appearance alone, it's still not a great movie. It's still a little conflicted in following the source material and making up its own stuff, and it does sometimes go too far into modern pop culture sense. Compared to previous Illumination entry The Lorax though and especially compared to the Carrey film, it's surprisingly charming and even makes some attempt at being timeless and faithful to the classic. Is it entirely successful? No, but I appreciate the attempt. I also appreciate the new focus, where we only see a hint of the Grinch's origins with the focus much more on his stealing Christmas, and the origins we do get were much sadder for me and didn't betray the character of the Whos the way the Carrey film did. There's still a lot of dumb stuff though, like a punk skater Cindy-Lou, and forced message with her mom that just didn't work for me. But in terms of visuals and just Christmas spirit the movie has it. It looks great, and just feels like Christmas. It's not great, but I liked it.

The Grinch is the usual formulaic animation feature for the holiday season that is family friendly and keeps the kids glued with its sweet and colourful story telling. Definitely can't go wrong with this one.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is once again adapted for the big-screen, this time as Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, and once again fails to recapture the spirit and magic of the original. The story follows the curmudgeonly Grinch who lives alone in the mountains and avoids Christmas, but his annoyance with Christmas soon turns to anger when the Whos triple their festivities. The film goes to great lengths to set itself apart from previous versions, including changing Seuss' limericks; which is unfortunate as the new ones aren't as charming and poetic. And the filler subplot about Cindy Lou Who is incredibly formulaic and predictable. Also, the soundtrack is rather garish, featuring a lot of pop-music. Dr. Seuss' The Grinch is an improvement over the live-action version, but it has a number of its own problems.

The obvious, conflicting idea here is that 2018's The Grinch has been crafted purely as a cash grab for Illumination, but preaches a message of the holiday season being more about selflessness and giving than receiving and indulging. I was thirteen in 2000 when the Jim Carrey-fronted and Ron Howard-directed How the Grinch Stole Christmas barreled its way into theaters. I vividly remember being excited to finally be able to see the movie on the big screen and to experience this thing that had been so discussed and so built-up that it truly felt like an event. Remember, these are the days when you had to see movies to be able to see movie trailers and there was always a hope I'd get to catch a glimpse of Carrey as the titular Grinch every time I went to the cinema (which was far less back then). Needless to say, Howard's How the Grinch Stole Christmas swept me up and delivered a sense of wonder I could only dream of, but that they had fully realized. And though I only return to the film once every three or so years around the holiday season it still holds something of special place in my heart despite the growing number of detractors over the years. And so, walking into what felt like a somewhat unnecessary, but completely logical (from a financial perspective) re-telling of the story via the studio that brought us the minions and The Secret Life of Pets there was no reason to expect 2018's The Grinch to be anything other than what it so obviously was intended to be: that aforementioned cash grab. Alas, that's mostly what this 90-minute exercise in "cinematic candy floss" is, but dammit if, by the end of the film, I wasn't wrapped up in the emotional beats of the story that has the viewer feeling sympathy for the grouchy Grinch (I rather liked Cumberbatch's take on the guy-appropriately irritated, but not evil or scary). The film also overcomes the biggest obstacle Howard's feature-length version had trouble with and that was stretching the narrative to such a length without feeling like much of it was padded. While this newest version is a cool fifteen minutes shorter than the live-action version, the pacing (sans a short section in the middle) is consistently even and always manages to be entertaining in more intriguing ways than I might want to give the studio credit for. Each of the characters are immensely likable-Max, new reindeer friend, Fred, along with the crew of town's children led by Cindy-Lou Who (Cameron Seely) each offer something that counters the Grinch's dismissive attitude so as to make him more mindful, if not necessarily more tender towards the many Christmas-themed circumstances he encounters. This is all to try and say without spoiling too much that the two main story strands resolve themselves perfectly and in a heartwarming enough way that it would seem impossible to stay mad at the movie for being one thing and teaching another; at the very least, it offers the value of keeping your children hooked for 90-minutes while conveying an earnest sense of gratitude to the parents willing to spend money on something they've seen before. Who knows, some of the older generations may even be as surprised by 2018's The Grinch as the Grinch was by the true meaning of Christmas.

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‘Steamboat Willie’ Horror Film Announced as Mickey Mouse Enters Public Domain

By Gene Maddaus

Gene Maddaus

Senior Media Writer

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First there was “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.”

Now, get ready for “Steamboat Willie” horror films.

The 1928 version of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain on Monday, and indie horror producers are wasting no time in capitalizing on it.

Steven LaMorte is set to direct an untitled horror-comedy based on Mickey’s cartoon debut. In it, a sadistic mouse will torment a group of unsuspecting ferry passengers. Production is set to begin in the spring.

Popular on Variety

“It all comes from our love of these characters,” he said in an interview. “Filmmakers — we’re all kids in the sandbox. We love taking them and playing with them in different ways. It’s not a desire to ruin these characters or make a quick buck, but to love them and honor them and show them in a new light.”

Disney ‘s copyright to “Steamboat Willie” expired Monday along with its right to the original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. But it still holds copyrights for the later, more familiar versions of the characters.

Disney has said that it will also be vigilant in defending its trademarks. The company could sue over any perceived endorsement or affiliation with its brand.

“We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright, and we will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters,” the company said in a statement last month.

LaMorte said the producers are working with a legal team to make sure they stay well within the law.

“We are doing our due diligence to make sure there’s no question or confusion of what we’re up to,” he said. “This is our version of a public domain character. It’s a scary thrill ride with heart and humor, based on this character that everybody knows.”

“The Mean One” came out in 2022 and grossed about $1 million in theaters worldwide. The producers on that film — LaMorte, Amy Schumacher, and Martine Melloul — are teaming up with Steven Della Salla and Michael Leavy, producers of “Terrifier 2,” which grossed $15 million.

The announcement follows the release on Monday of a trailer for “Mickey’s Mouse Trap,” another public domain horror-comedy directed by Jamie Bailey. That one, which is set an amusement arcade, appears to already have been shot. In a press release, the filmmakers said they don’t have a release date yet, but expect it to be out sometime in March.

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Don't be a Grinch! Watch the trailer for parody-horror film The Mean One

Terrifier 2 star David Howard Thornton plays a familiar-looking green-skinned grump in director Steven LaMorte's terror tale.

Senior Writer

2022 is shaping up to be a banner year for films which reframe holiday season icons in interesting, and often gorily mayhemic, ways. Violent Night (out Dec. 2) stars David Harbour as a baddie-slaying Santa Claus , while Christmas Bloody Christmas (out Dec. 9) features a murderous robot Father Christmas. And then there's the parody-horror film The Mean One (whose trailer you can see above), which finds Terrifer 2 villain David Howard Thornton playing a character with a, let us say, Grinch-y vibe.

In director Steven LaMorte's movie, Thornton portrays a hairy, green-skinned grump in a Santa suit who viciously despises the holiday season from a mountain high above the town of Newville. Young Cindy You-Know-Who (Krystle Martin), whose parents were butchered by The Mean One 20 Christmases earlier, is returning to town to seek closure... but when the Mean One launches a new reign of terror that threatens to destroy Christmas, Cindy finds a bold new purpose — trapping and killing the monster.

The Mean One was written by Flip and Finn Kobler and co-stars Chase Mullins, John Bigham, Erik Baker, and Amy Schumacher. A co-production between A Sleight of Hand Productions, Amy Rose Productions, and Kali Pictures, the film is produced by Schumacher, LaMorte, and Martine Melloul. Executive Producers are Jordan Rosner, Gato Scatena, and Zach Stampone.

Atlas Film Distribution is releasing The Mean One in cinemas Dec. 9. Exclusively watch the film's trailer above.

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