Darin McDaniel

Darin McDaniel’s filmography is honestly a bit of a mixed bag, but in the best way possible. You’ve got “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” from 2024, which takes the whole idea of a holiday pageant and turns it on its head—chaos, laugh-out-loud moments, and heartwarming stuff all mashed together by a cast that doesn’t really care about being perfect, which is kind of the point. Then there’s “Before the Beard, Before the Belly,” a 2018 flick that digs into the backstory of a certain beloved holiday icon (yeah, you know who I’m talking about) before he became the jolly old dude everyone recognizes. It’s witty, a little bit irreverent, and actually gives you a peek at the messiness of growing into your own legend. And don’t forget “Davie & Golimyr” from 2008. It’s got this quirky, almost fairytale vibe, but it’s not all rainbows and sunshine—there’s grit, a bit of danger, and plenty of weird little details that keep you hooked. Each movie shows off McDaniel’s knack for finding something a little unexpected in stories that could’ve easily played it safe. There’s a sense that he’s not just going for cookie-cutter plots, but really digging into the stuff that makes characters tick, whether they’re kids in over their heads or icons before they hit icon status. And let’s be real, it’s refreshing to see someone not afraid to get a little weird with it.