A Creature Was Stirring: Chrissy Metz, Scout Taylor-Compton Christmas horror film gets R rating

Almost a year has gone by since we heard that Well Go USA Entertainment had acquired the worldwide distribution rights to a Christmas horror film called A Creature Was Stirring, which stars Chrissy Metz (This Is Us) and Scout Taylor-Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween). Now it looks like they’re preparing to announce a release date for the film, as it has secured a rating from the Motion Picture Association ratings board. A Creature Was Stirring has earned an R rating for violence, bloody images, drug content, language and some sexual references.

Directed by Damien LeVeck (The Cleansing Hour) from a screenplay by first-time writer Shannon Wells, A Creature Was Stirring also stars Connor Paolo (Friend Request) and Annalise Basso (Oculus). The film centers on the overprotective mother and professional nurse Faith (Metz), who keeps her teenage daughter (Basso) locked securely in her room and subjected to constant methadone injections, their only means of sustaining a delicately balanced fever state that keeps a mysterious and terrifying affliction at bay. However, when a pair of strangers (Taylor-Compton and Paolo) breaks into the home while seeking shelter from the Christmas blizzard, they quickly discover that this mother-daughter relationship stretches the limits of both dysfunction and reality, and that the women are hiding a terrible secret — specifically, the presence of a malevolent houseguest who won’t be content to lurk in the shadows much longer. (Hint: it ain’t Santa.)

Natalie LeVeck of Skubalon and Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures produced. Well Go USA’s Doris Pfardrescher and Brennan Lane serve as executive producers. Tate Steinsiek designed and created the practical creature effects.

Damien LeVeck provided the following statement: “For genre fans, A Creature Was Stirring has it all: a spectacular practical monster, unexpected twists and turns, and the phenomenal talent of Chrissy Metz in a kind of performance no one has ever seen from her before. All of these elements are further amplified by the incredible abilities of Annalise, Scout and Connor, who are already much beloved mainstays of the horror community. Fans will relish each actors’ dark transformation for this twisted tale, which — paired with Tate’s unparalleled ability to bring nightmares to life on-screen — elevates this film beyond even my wildest expectations.”

Doris Pfardrescher added: “The story itself conjures up this disturbing portrayal of how guilt, dark secrets, personal vices and mental illness can combine, fester, and eventually end up eating you alive — perhaps even literally. Horror fans especially will be thrilled by the homage paid to classic creature features, particularly in the use of only practical effects to bring this nightmarish vision to life onscreen.”

When we heard that Well Go USA had the distribution rights, I expected A Creature Was Stirring to be released last December, so it’s good to see that it’s finally moving forward now.

Are you interested in A Creature Was Stirring? What do you think of the reasoning for the R rating? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.