If you see one new Christmas movie this year, it needs to be Nugget Is Dead.

The Stan Original Film Nugget Is Dead: A Christmas Story is the only Christmas movie you absolutely need to watch this festive season.

I know what you're thinking, the title Nugget Is Dead would imply that at some stage during this allegedly festive film, a beautiful family dog is going to pass away. 

Well, I won't be answering that one for you, you're going to have to watch the film. But I will say as someone whose two beloved dogs died this year… this was a RISKY watch for me.

Tensions were high as I awkwardly sat next to my boss at the Stan premiere and pretended I wasn't sobbing, while tears actively ran down my cheeks.

And yet, I loved every minute of this movie.

Watch the trailer for Nugget Is Dead. Story continues below.

Allow me to set the scene.

When her family dog Nugget falls sick over Christmas, Steph Stool (Vic Zerbst) must abandon her very elegant holiday plans with her rich, mama's boy boyfriend (Alec Snow) and return to her small coastal hometown to confront the chaos of her family.

Back home in suburbia, her family are preparing for Christmas in a way that feels all too familiar and comforting. Dad is being weird. Mum is stressing out beyond comprehension but fighting to keep the Christmas spirit alive. The aunt and uncle, who live just next door, routinely pop in for some light reprieve.

Steph's cousin Shayla (Jenna Owen) is living her dream as an entrepreneur… she has a growing lashes business she operates from her parents' garage, across the street from Steph's family home. It has to be said that Owen is a true standout as Shayla, nailing her character's comedic tone throughout.

This is the ultimate close-knit, unhinged Aussie family. Everyone is excited and everyone is talking over the top of each other.

And Steph doesn't want a bar of it.

Steph Stool (Vic Zerbst) with her cherished family dog, Nugget. Image: Stan.

When the family urgently calls Steph to tell her Nugget is dead, she panics at the thought she missed his final moments.

Turns out, Nugget was just sleeping. Classic! But he's certainly not doing well.

Steph plans to pop in and check on her pup before spending Christmas with her boyfriend's fancy family. As she tells her therapist, everything at home is her family's fault and she can't bear to be around them.

Upon returning to the suburbs, things quickly derail as she enters the 'drama' of her family home.

Verbst and Owen are the creative minds behind the film, and they shine in their respective roles as cousins Steph and Shayla. It's clear they're ones to watch as they continue developing new projects in the Aussie entertainment industry.

But the ensemble cast was so perfectly selected, the familial bond screeches through the screen.

Gia Carides (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Austin Powers) plays Steph's mum Jodie, who brings the well-known and well-loved energy of the mother who just wants Christmas to be joyful but is definitely one bad moment away from cancelling the holidays altogether.

"Now I'll have to go into the attic," she complains when Steph arrives sans-luggage, immediately launching into questioning over when she plans to make rum balls and when her boyfriend will arrive while also saying she's thrilled her daughter is home.

Carides' heartfelt performance made me feel for all the mums out there bringing Christmas magic to life. Even if their mayhem makes you frazzled simply by association.

The rag-tag bunch are all here. Image: Stan.

Damien Garvey (Jack Irish, The Leftovers) plays the classic emotionally repressed suburban dad. Stoic and weathered, he's working through his split from Jodie… despite the fact that they still live under one roof. He's got a whole lot of love and doesn't exactly have the words to show it.

While Jodie is the wound-up mother struggling to connect with her daughter, Steph, Auntie Ros is the gentle and easygoing mother who has a beautiful friendship with her daughter, Shayla.

As they sit and giggle and support one another, I felt a pang of appreciation for my own mother who champions me like I'm some kind of amazing, iconic child. Even if I'm no Shayla.

Stage and screen legend Mandy McElhinney shines as always in the role of Ros, bringing humour and relief to some of the more… tear-jerking scenes.

Rounding out the cast are Tara Morice, Kerry Armstrong, Damien Garvey, Alec Snow, Priscilla Doueihy, Ed Ozenbould, Claude Jabbour and Steve Rodgers.

Mandy McElhinney and Gia Carides are perfection in Nugget Is Dead. Image: Stan.

This film feels intimately familiar at times.

At one point, I genuinely quoted the Euphoria scene: 'Wait? Is this play about us?'

Firstly, there's the whole… you know… dog situation.

Like Steph, I also love boxy blazers and my family makes fun of them.

I've dated a rich mama's boy.

I've stormed out of one too many family functions because I'm overstimulated by the chaos.

I'm well versed in big family festive cheer… we do a themed Christmas celebration every year. Like, there are costumes involved and every year I say 'hey what if the theme was just Christmas' and no one listens to me.

But in the end I also know I'm incredibly lucky to have this kind of family.

And I'm sure many of you will relate — I certainly wasn't alone in leaving the Stan screening feeling like I'd recognised myself in a multitude of characters and tiny, perfect moments. We're all a little bit like the Stool family, in one way or another.

If you love the unhinged drama and comedy of a Christmas movie like The Family Stone, you'll appreciate this one.

The Stan Original Film Nugget Is Dead: A Christmas Story is like if you take that same frenetic energy, add a sick dog, and localise it to Australia. It's the perfect festive film to watch with your loved ones this year.

The Stan Original Film Nugget Is Dead: A Christmas Story is now streaming on Stan.

Feature Image: Stan.