White Reindeer

Relative unknown Anna Margaret Hollyman shines in this offbeat, and somewhat uneven, dark comedy about Suzanne, a real estate agent falling upon truly hard times. After learning that her weatherman husband (Nathan Williams) will be moving her to Hawaii, she goes out to buy a Christmas tree and have some cocoa, ready to enjoy her last Virginia Christmas. She returns home to an utter tragedy that will turn her life upside down and send her on an Internet shopping spree. Writer-director Zach Clark dances with the sort of grotesquely dark comedy that laces the films of Todd Solondz (Happiness, Welcome to the Dollhouse), but not with the same consistent success. Still, Hollyman is great, and Joe Swanberg is quite good as a home purchaser with big plans for his new sex swing.