Forget sleigh bells and snow, a new Australian Christmas movie is trading tinsel for pebblecrete and bringing a distinctly Wollongong flavour to the festive season. The off-beat comedy 'Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story' premieres this November, offering a fresh, local take on family dysfunction during the holidays.
A Modern Aussie Christmas, Inspired by The Castle
The film, which draws inspiration from the much-loved classic 'The Castle', was co-written by and stars Wollongong-born actor Jenna Owen. Owen, a former Smiths Hill High School student, teamed up with acting buddy Vic Zerbst to create a story that feels authentically modern and regional.
"I haven't really seen a Wollongong Christmas represented on screen before," Owen revealed. "You've seen The Castle, and you've seen those movies that are in wider Sydney, but they're also quite old now. I hadn't seen a modern Christmas inner Wollongong style."
Family, a Sick Dog, and Festive Chaos
The plot centres on city dermatologist Steph Stool (played by Vic Zerbst), who is forced to return home when the beloved family dog, Nugget, falls seriously ill. The crisis forces the dysfunctional family together, confronting their strained relationships and the mortality of the one member who unites them.
Jenna Owen plays Shayla, Steph's cousin who works as an eyelash technician and lives happily in her coastal hometown with her boyfriend, Hassan. The filmmakers placed huge importance on character development, aiming to create people audiences would recognise from their own lives.
"It's all very much inspired by very real people and real experiences," Owen said. "That was the goal, a movie that you recognise your family in."
Finding the Perfect Aussie Family Home
Capturing that authentic, relatable feel extended to the film's key location. The search for the perfect family house was vital – it needed to look, feel, and even smell like a home Australians would instantly know.
They found it in Caringbah, in Sydney's south. The property's pebblecrete patio, brass chimney flue, wood panelling, and shelves cluttered with knick-knacks made it the ideal backdrop for the chaotic family gathering.
This marks the duo's first feature film, following a series of successful comedy shows and a viral skit that humorously tackled the complexities of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
Releasing against big Hollywood blockbusters and perennial favourites like Love Actually, 'Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story' aims to carve out its own space for viewers who cherish Aussie classics like The Castle and Muriel's Wedding.
"The dream was just always to have a film that you sit down as a family and watch and, it makes you laugh and maybe makes you cry," Owen shared. "It gives you a platform to have a conversation with your family that's maybe a tiny bit more meaningful than what you would normally have."
'Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story' premieres exclusively on Stan on November 21, 2025.
