The character, created by writer-director Glen Morgan and portrayed by actress Katie Cassidy, serves as a replacement to Jess from the original film.

Some considered her to be likable and sympathetic,[2] whereas others criticized her for being bland, generic and unoriginal as well as being inferior in comparison to Jess from the original Black Christmas.

After arriving back at the Delta Alpha Kappa sorority house, Kelli and her sisters are called by someone using Clair and Megan's phones.

When their housemother Mrs. Mac and Heather decide to take the car and reach the police station themselves, Kelli, Leigh and Melissa all go to Lauren's room to watch through the window and make sure they leave safely.

Going back to Lauren's room, Kyle has returned and, after a quick confrontation between him and Leigh, they decide to go to the attic in case any of the girls are still alive.

[12] Horror website Dread Central, when comparing the two films, described Kelli as "an awful character [who] exists in stark contrast to the very likable and level-headed Jess of the original".

[13] Despite this, Screen Rant, in their list of the best final girls, when talking about Jess from the original film, praised Kelli for being able to defeat both antagonists by herself.

[17] Similarly, while The Film File stated that despite the sorority girls "few of them [are] likable or developed enough for the viewer to care about their fates", with Kelli having few personality traits, Cassidy does show a promising spark.