Ever since Casper Kelly's surreal comedy horror short "Too Many Cooks" made its debut, he has built a reputation for delivering the disturbing and unexpected. This is precisely why, when it came to Adult Swim's "Yule Log 2: Branching Out," Kelly decided to turn his established reputation on its head.

Unraveling the Duality of Holiday Horror

Sequel's Contrasting Aesthetics

In comparison to its predecessor, the sequel "Yule Log 2" presents a much brighter and sillier tone. Its creation initially began as a lighthearted joke. Around the time of writing, Kelly had just watched his first Hallmark movie. "I found myself both laughing at it and getting emotionally invested, which was an interesting dynamic," he shared.Filmed over approximately four weeks in Cartersville, Georgia, "Yule Log 2" serves as a critique of the duality within holiday movies. Set after the events of the original, the story follows Zoe (Andrea Laing), who now has a reconstructed face, an axe by her side, and a mountain of trauma. Despite her hardened exterior, she finds herself trapped in a small town obsessed with Christmas, cozy shops, and sweet, soulful men. However, while she's falling for one of these charming individuals, she is also being pursued by a vengeful flying piece of wood. This time, the yule log has the ability to open trunks and transform into a monstrous entity that wouldn't seem out of place in "Evil Dead."The "log cam" is one of the many practical effects used in the movie. It involves a log duct taped directly in front of the camera, adding a unique touch to the filming.

Hallmark Tropes Reimagined

Nearly every Hallmark trope makes an appearance in "Yule Log 2" only to be subverted. Zoe now has an aggressively gay best friend who is mostly dispensable when not focused on the hotties. There is an endless stream of hunks inhabiting the small town, many of whom wander around shirtless as they lament their single status. Some of these town hunks were even portrayed by actors who have actually appeared in Hallmark movies.Another trope that the movie pokes fun at is the lost family recipe that bonds Zoe to her sweet single dad love interest. But this time, the recipe is a truly revolting concoction called shrimp fudge. "That's what I aimed for - one degree more ridiculous," Kelly explained.

Filming's Cinematic Shifts

When tense Zoe is in charge, the movie adopts a blue palette and a letter box effect, intentionally reminiscent of horror movies. These scenes also feature the letter box effect, an idea conceived by director of photography Alex Allgood. However, when Zoe is forced into the cheery world, the cinematography becomes brighter, and the letter box disappears."It's specifically designed to be watched on your TV at home," Kelly emphasized. This effect is pushed to its extreme during the small town's annual Yule Log Festival. As the movie shows multiple residents celebrating under the bright lens of a Hallmark movie, the cinematography changes mid-scene when they realize they're being hunted by a killer log. Even the music undergoes a transformation, with "Room 237" director Rodney Asher constructing a score that mirrors the sharp jumps from horror to holiday cheer.By the end of the massacre, it becomes impossible to determine which narrative is in control - horror or happiness. This chaos is the essence of "Branching Out.""It continues the exploration of how we perceive the world and how we choose to live. Do we live our lives with optimism or in fear?" Kelly pondered. "That's one of the central questions in both movies."Just like the first movie, the ending of "Yule Log 2" is open to interpretation. Is the nightmare Zoe experienced a dream during her hospital recovery from the events of the first movie? Or was it a real occurrence? Now that the sequel is complete, Kelly is more inclined towards the former being the true ending. "I kind of want to do a third one. It might just be real, but I enjoyed playing with that ambiguity a bit," he added.