Fackham Hall Review: Sometimes you walk into a movie expecting a gentle smile and walk out wiping tears because you laughed way harder than you planned. Fackham Hall is that kind of trap, and honestly, I didn’t see it coming.
I watched it at the New York premiere, and the whole theatre kept erupting. You know things are working when the audience’s laughter becomes funnier than the actual joke. That’s the energy this film creates: silly, ridiculous, but sharp enough to keep you hooked.
My Rating:4.0/5
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Title | Fackham Hall |
| Genre | Spoof / Period Comedy |
| Setting | 1931, Britain (Upstairs–Downstairs style mansion) |
| Director | Jim O’Hanlon |
| Main Cast | Damon Lewis, Katherine Waterston, Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Radcliffe |
| Runtime | 1h 37m |
Plot & Main Story
Falcon Hall kicks off with a family that’s hanging on by a thread. The mom, Julie, is the one quietly holding everything together, even though nobody in the house seems to notice her anymore. She’s juggling work, holiday chaos, and everyone’s emotional mess, and the poor woman can’t even drink her coffee in peace.
Things spiral when the family’s Christmas plans fall apart, with flaky relatives, money issues, old grudges, and the usual holiday nonsense. Julie finally snaps, but not in a dramatic, movie-style meltdown. It’s more like she’s had enough of being invisible, and she starts pushing back… and it’s honestly hilarious watching everyone scramble to figure out what’s happening.
As the day gets more chaotic, the family slowly realizes that Julie isn’t just “mom who fixes everything.” She’s the backbone, the peacekeeper, and basically the reason the house hasn’t burned down yet.
And for once, they actually show up for her.
No big speeches, no emotional manipulation, just messy holiday honesty, comedy, and a family trying to get its act together before dinner is ruined forever.
Why the Movie Works
It Knows Exactly What It Is
A lot of comedies try to be “smart” halfway through or slip into unnecessary drama. Fackham Hall stays in its lane — a pure spoof that refuses to apologize for being stupid, loud, or crude. And that’s exactly why it works.
The Cast Plays It Dead Serious (Which Makes It Funnier)
The entire joke of a spoof is that the actors act like they’re in a Shakespeare tragedy while delivering the dumbest lines possible.
And this cast gets it.
- Damon Lewis — surprisingly incredible in full aristocrat mode.
- Katherine Waterston — polished, proper, and perfectly ridiculous.
- Thomasin McKenzie & Ben Radcliffe — the adorable, clueless couple who accidentally carry the emotional weight of the whole thing.
Their chemistry feels natural, not forced. They play it sweet and stupid, the perfect mix.
The Supporting Cast Goes Wild
Every side character gets their own moment to shine. Jimmy Carr as the vicar? Completely deranged. Tom Felton? Hilariously dramatic. Charlie Cooper? Exactly the kind of chaos a spoof needs.
It Actually Stays Funny
Most spoofs start strong and fizzle out. This one dips a little in the middle, but the final act snaps everything back into place and ends on a proper high.
Where It Stumbles (But Not By Much)
The Guns Scene
There’s a hunting sequence where the guns behave like they were borrowed from a cartoon — bullets from shotguns, physics screaming for help. It’s dumb even by spoof standards. You just roll with it.
A Small Slow Patch
Around the two-thirds mark, the pace softens for a few minutes. Not bad, not boring — just a breather before the movie jumps back into the madness.
Also Read: Oh. What. Fun. Review– Finally, a Christmas Movie That Actually Understands Moms
Good & Bad Things Table
| What’s Good | What’s Bad |
|---|---|
| Genuinely funny all the way through | One dragged-out middle section |
| Cast commits 100% to the spoof tone | A few jokes feel too silly even for a spoof |
| Perfect blend of crude + clever humor | The gun scene is… yeah, it’s nonsense |
| Strong chemistry between Thomasin & Radcliffe | Not every gag will land for everyone |
| Works great in a big audience | Doesn’t reinvent the spoof genre |
Final Rating
4.0/5
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s one of the most consistently funny comedies of the year. The kind of movie you can watch with friends, laugh like idiots, and walk out feeling lighter. And in a world where good comedies are rare — that’s enough.
