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Cozy up by this warm, crackling fire... and yule get burned.
Adult Swim Yule Log, AKA "The Fireplace", is a 2022 horror film written and directed by Casper Kelly (Too Many Cooks) and distributed by [adult swim].

At first appearing to be a traditional yule log presentation, it eventually reveals itself to be a full-length horror story. In it, a couple and a group of podcasters spend the night in a double-booked cabin, unaware that two killers are already inside and lying in wait. However, they are not the only threat to watch out for as dark forces surround the living room's fireplace and the burning yule log inside...


The film contains examples of:

  • Accidental Murder: Henry unwittingly kills his mother after being tricked by the man in the fireplace.
  • Aliens Are Bastards: Upon killing Mother, one would be forgiven if this was a Big Damn Heroes moment. However, the alien then starts attacking Alex despite being a hostage.
  • Antagonist Title: Both titles count. "Adult Swim Yule Log" and "The Fireplace". The former is the main killer and the latter references the cabin's fireplace, which might be inherently evil.
  • Artifact of Doom: The fireplace itself, as flashbacks would seem to imply, but it's not really clear what's going on with it exactly. At any rate, it seems to have a malevolent quasi-satanic being dwelling within it who also uses other fireplaces as portals. Or is he in the log?
  • Bait-and-Switch: The film first presents itself as a Yule log, before turning into a 90-minute surrealist horror film.
    • Alex initially looks like he’s using the camera to film a skeezy sex tape without his girlfriend’s knowledge, but he’s actually recording his marriage proposal.
  • The Cameo: The killer from Too Many Cooks, as played by William Tokarsky, briefly appears in the man in the fireplace's elevator portal.
  • Camera Abuse: When the Yule Log awakens, we see its perspective as it ascends the stairs and kills a man in the shower.
  • Demonic Possession: Implied. Zoe suspects the Sherriff did something to the Yule Log to turn it into a sentient murderer. He's later revealed to be a member of a cult that worships the tree the log was cut from, so it's possible.
  • Downer Ending: Everyone (aside from maybe Holly) is killed by the yuletide log.
  • Evil Is Burning Hot: The Yule Log is always on fire when it's killing people, and even being smothered or shoved in a fridge won't put out its fire. It even seems to be screaming "Arson!" as it attacks (though it may also be saying "Our son!", reflecting its ties to the slave woman by way of the hanging tree it was cut from, but it's hard to tell).
  • Expy: Pleatherface is a clear reference to Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
  • Faux Affably Evil: Though the man in the fireplace puts up a genial and polite front at first, his malevolence becomes a lot clearer as he manipulates and preys upon his victims' insecurities and, in Zoe's case, suicidal tendencies.
  • Groin Attack: Zoe responds to Arvid's advances by ramming a butcher’s knife into his crotch. Repeatedly.
  • Hope Spot: The film appears to end with Zoe and Alex marrying and starting a family. However, flames begin to appear.
  • Mind Screw: The film starts off as a Texas Chainsaw Massacre parody before quickly devolving as the plot deviates into several subplots.
  • Ms. Fanservice: Holly, whose most covering outfit is a pair of short shorts and a low-cut top. When she strips down to her thong bikini the camera is always conveniently at about buns-height.
  • The Oner: For the first 37 minutes, the camera is almost completely stationary, albeit with some transitions during flashbacks. After the log claims its first victim, the film goes to more traditional editing.
  • Psychopathic Manchild: Pleatherface is a murderous rapist with the mind of a child.
  • Race Fetish: Holly is accused of having a thing for Asian guys, which she denies. When her Asian boyfriend Henry is erased from existence we see that she has another Asian boyfriend in his place.
  • Ret-Gone: After going back in time, Henry is tricked by the man in the fireplace into unwittingly killing his mother who is pregnant with him. As a result he is erased from existence.
  • Satanic Archetype: A Southern man dwells inside of the eponymous log and offers deals with those he could entice.
  • Serial Killer: Pleatherface murdered several women as part of his mother's attempt of having him conceive a grandson for herself. This also overlaps with Serial Rapist.
  • The Stoner: Deconstructed. Henry is the most obviously stoned of the podcast group, spends all his screentime high on edibles, and also deals. However, he's very insecure and considers himself a failure (especially compared to his siblings, who are doctors). The little man in the fire is able to exploit this to trick Henry into erasing himself from existence.
  • Surreal Horror: Things really go off the rails when Henry climbs inside the fireplace and finds a burning tavern inhabited by a demonic Southern man, a reindeer-headed bartender, and an elevator that can travel back and forth through time and give riders a view from anyone's fireplace.
  • Villainous Rescue: Pleatherface saves Zoe by decapitating the alien.
  • What Happened to the Mouse?: One member of the podcast group, the girl named Holly, is last seen running away from the cabin into the woods, fed up with the whole thing. Its possible the log tracked her down too, but if not she may be the sole survivor of the evening.
  • When Trees Attack: The eponymous yuletide log was harvested from a cursed tree.

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