If dark English humour is your bag, then this is for you. This Christmas special of The League of Gentlemen is utter genious and takes you on three back stories of differnt characters all weaved together with the vicor/Pappa Lazzaro story. Unfortunatly, unless you've seen the original series, you may not get some of the jokes and not all the humour will be to everyones taste, but the fact that this piece of television is outstanding down to the last detail cannot be denied and would have been worthy of a cinematic release.
There are slight hints of a spoof here and there(sloutions - Eyes wide shut), but each story is so original and wonderfully written, all is forgotton.
The story begins with the vicor takeing her anger of the joys of Christmas out on a passing Christmas procession by throwing a snow ball (mixed with her unrine) at the santa on a float.
As she is closing up the church she is visited by three people who confide in her their own horrific Christmas stoies. The first - Jeff has been bothered by 'Cheese dreams' about his wife tring to make his life a misery by destroying his chances in a line dancing competiton. His wife has seeked help from a secret organisation called 'Solutions', but the plan back fires on her, as her payment is her secret lovers life and a bloody razor blade in her hand.
The second is of an old man who tells of his story of his youth when he was sent on a German exchange to sing with the quire only to be plagued by dreams that the man who he is staying with - Heir Lipp, is a vampire. He assumes the worst when he wakes up on Christmas day with a bite on his neck and bids to make his escape with the help of the mans wife - Lottie. The only trouble is, is that it turns out that it is Lottie who is the vampire (along with the quire boys) and Heir Lipp sacrafices himself to save the boy.
The third is of 'The Curse of Karik Pore' and the curse passed down generations of a family of vets and the story goes back to the 1900's when Mr Chineries first descendent is given the curse that makes him kill his animal patients in the most elaborate ways.
It then finishes with the vicor being abducted by Pappa Lazzaro as he shreaks his famous lines of 'Hello Dave' and 'Your my wife now!' with his evil elves on hand to add to the bizzare and wackiness of the inventive 'League of Gentleman'.