Harry Situation Reviews: Violent Night
Happy Holidays everyone!
This holiday season is a good time to sit around, enjoy good company, and watch some Christmas movies. Oddly enough, here's a movie that just right with the season. It's a new movie in theaters right now featuring a ass-whooping Santa Clause. So all you naughty people better watch out...
Violent Night is the action-comedy film directed by Tommy Wirkola (best known as the director of the Dead Snow films), and stars David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Cam Gigandet, and Beverly D'Angelo. The plot centers around a group of mercenaries led by John Leguizamo, who raid the household of a very super rich and snobbish family and hold the family members hostage. Unbeknownst to everyone is the appearance of jolly ole St. Nick (played by David Harbour), who just happens to be delivering presents. Santa is now caught in the middle of this heist as he fights for his life and to rescue the innocent little girl among the family, who still believes in him.
You know, when I first heard about this movie, and I saw the poster for the first time I could help but roll my eyes like, "oh geez, another killer Santa movie. Didn't we outgrow that?" But then I saw the trailer when it first came out and I suddenly was completely onboard. It's basically Die Hard but with Santa Claus. And it was hella fun to watch.
First positive, I got to give props to David Harbour. He was pretty good as Santa Claus. The movie does a good making you feel for Santa. In the beginning he's drinking away his sorrow while he laments on how people have gotten too greedy and all they do is want instead of giving. But he does build a connection to the little girl that's one of the hostages, which is very touching. Plus, it is so much fun watching him kick ass as Santa.
Seriously, ho, ho, ho-ly shit this movie lives up to its name because it is pretty fucking violent. There's a good amount of blood and even a little gore that Santa himself delivers. The movie does give a little backstory into Santa Claus that helps you buy into the idea that this guy can really do some damage against the bad guys, and probably has no qualms about doing so. He even gets creative with his kills too. I don't think I've ever seen a movie where someone gets stabbed in the eye with a Christmas tree topping, followed up with getting electrocuted. Shit, there's even a moment where it kinda pays homage to Home Alone, but the traps really show how violent that film could have been if Home Alone was R-rated. I mean, yikes. Kevin McCallister could have been a psychopath.
Honestly, this film is just a good fun to watch. It doesn't take itself too seriously and it has fun with the concept of a Santa Claus killing some bad guys. I don't really think it needs to be anything deep or thought provoking. It just needs to be a fun popcorn flick that most audiences can enjoy.
I will say that the only issue I had was that the film is pretty predictable. There's a moment where more guys with guns come in to the film and they hint that they are apparently a kill squad for the rich family. And you can safely assume they're with the mercenaries, which they are. I'm not really spoiling anything at this point because you could probably guess exactly how this movie will go from start to finish, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it.
Overall, I think I will add Violent Night to my list of oddball Christmas movies to watch each year. It will fit nicely with Gremlins and Krampus. Give it a watch, just so you can end on Santa's nice list.
Positives:
-David Harbour as Santa Claus
-Santa kicking ass
-Holly jolly fun
Negatives:
-Pretty predictable
Final Grade: B-
So those were my thoughts on Violent Night. Have you seen it? What were your thoughts on it? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, have a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Best Quote:
Santa Claus: "Santa's gonna devour them like a plate full of cookies."
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