December 20, 2022
Ah, the holidays. A time of relaxation and decompressing. That is until you learn that you’ll be spending the holidays with your family. Turns out that reuniting with your judgmental aunt or annoying cousins don’t always make for the best of times. For many of us with dysfunctional families, the holidays can be a pressure cooker for unresolved conflicts.
This holiday season, Reveel has the perfect film if you’d like some schadenfreude to go with your stress. Holiday Baggage reminds us that we’re not the only ones who enter that spirit of family dysfunction over the holidays. Here are five relatable family dysfunction moments from the film.
Holiday Baggage is about a pediatrician (Cheryl Ladd) who invites her estranged husband (Barry Bostwick) back home for the Holidays on the condition that he reconciles with their daughters. Watch it here!
My reaction when my dad introduces his new fiancee that is my age.
It’s ALWAYS awkward when your dad brings a new girlfriend to the family gathering. Add to the fact that the new flame is the same age as you and your siblings, and you have the recipe for uncomfortable conversations. Pete, from Holiday Baggage, reenters his estranged wife and daughter’s lives for the holidays with a new young fiancee that he plans to marry. To make things 10x worse, Pete has been MIA for years and has only returned to invite his daughters to his new wedding. Not a good look.
Oof. The truth hurts sometimes.
What would a family reunion be without vague comments that feel like an attack? Passive aggressiveness can quickly get exhausting in general but especially during the holidays. In Holiday Baggage, Pete takes a lot of passive aggressive comments from his daughter Holly because she resents him for leaving.
New rule: No talking at the dinner table.
If there is one thing that binds us all in our family dysfunction, it’s the awkward family dinners! Filled with stilted conversations and uncomfortable silences, family dinners can quickly become unbearable. I think I speak for many of us when I say please let me eat in peace. Holiday Baggage has an awkward family dinner scene that actually seems more pleasant than most.
This is getting intense. I’m going to need more wine.
Sometimes that pressure cooker of conflict can reach its boiling point with a full-blown argument. These fights escalate things to a new level but can also be pretty entertaining if it’s not about you of course. Things reach a climax in Holiday Baggage when Pete and his daughter Holly get into a heated argument that ultimately leads to an emotional breakthrough.
No Jack, no they didn’t.
Let’s not forget about family secrets. They are one of the main causes of family dysfunction. The tea gets spilt in Holiday Baggage when a family friend reveals that Pete is getting married again but first has to actually get divorced from his first wife. Talk about messy!
What if we are alone in the universe? This question is at the core of the short film Laniakea. Originally created as a college project by Dima Taran, the film went on to take on a life of its own when it found an audience online with nearly 800,000 views in one year. The beautifully […]
read more
Sometimes the best stories aren’t the longest, they are the shortest. Short films have perfected the art of telling a captivating story in just a few minutes and animated shorts are some of the most enjoyable short film experiences. Animated short films can take us to new worlds full of human creativity or they can […]
read more
Most, if not all, children had night terrors growing up. Some would hide under the covers. Others would yell for their parents. Kid-version Jason Ragosta, screenwriter and director, decided to make a deal with his monsters where he would bring them to life through drawing and in exchange they would protect him. Years later, Jason […]
read more
“There’s always a Filipino somewhere” is a well-known fact, and it’s true even in streaming platforms. Of course we have some right here in Reveel. From the adrenaline-infused streets of Manila to the sun-kissed beaches of Maui, Filipinos offer up their kaleidoscope of stories that resonate with emotional depth, unexpected thrills, and quirky humor. Ready […]
read more
Superman has been a career-defining role for many actors, dating back to Christopher Reeve’s iconic portrayal. Now, David Corenswet steps into the cape as the latest actor to embody the Man of Steel. But wait, who’s this David guy? Where on Earth (or beyond) did he come from? Get ready because we’re about to take […]
read more
Are you in the mood for a chillingly good time but not quite ready to dive under the covers at the slightest creak of a floorboard? Then you’re in luck! Our carefully curated selection keeps the thrill without sending the chills down your spine. Prepare to enter the realm of suspense and psychological twists with […]
read more
Phantom of the Opera meets K-pop? Now that’s a mash-up we didn’t know we needed! “Phantom: The Musical” is coming onto the scene, giving the classic tale a fresh story. This adaptation combines the opera with cinematic elements to create a distinct experience. To better understand this unique production, we reached out to Eddie Aronoff, […]
read more
In the heart of Los Angeles, where cultures collide and dreams are forged, a young Asian American director is leaving an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape. Hon Hoang, a Vietnamese American artist armed with a psychology degree from UCLA, wields his camera like a poet’s pen, capturing the profound depths of the human experience […]
read more
Family has a lot of different meanings. It can transcend blood and forge a bond through commitment along with choice. Kenneth R. Frank, a writer and director, delves into this profound concept through his feature film, Family Obligations. With a desire to explore the intricacies of familial obligations, he invites us on a journey of […]
read more
Oh man, remember that little dude from Life of Pi? The one stranded on that lifeboat with the tiger? Well, let me tell you, that kid is all grown up now and still as talented (if not more!) as he was then. Suraj Sharma, the former child star, is now in his 30s. Let’s catch […]
read moreSign up for our newsletter
