I’m always here for killer Santas!
Piggy-backing off of my Christmas Bloody Christmas review, I love alternative Christmas films because they provide an artistic outlet for those who don’t celebrate Christmas like myself. Plus any action film with practical gore effects is gonna have my attention. There’s a common trope for action films to use Christmas as a backdrop, contrasting the joy of the aesthetic with the cynicism of the story and characters. Films like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Cobra, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang are the most well-known examples, and Violent Night wears its Die Hard influence on its sleeve. Fortunately, Violent Night is more than just a gimmick; it’s a wild kick-ass action flick perfect for welcoming in the holiday season.
Starring David Harbour as the Santa Clause, the film sees a cynical, burnt-out Santa rescuing Trudy Lightstone (Leah Brady) and her family, whose home is invaded by thieves led by Mr. Scrooge (John Leguizamo). The straightforward plot allows director Tommy Wirkola of the Dead Snow films to focus on his strength, the action. The action in Violent Night is hilariously brutal, gloriously gory, and creatively visceral without feeling cartoonish. Santa feels like an actual threat, aided by David Harbour’s physical and passionate performance. He shifts from cynical to heartfelt to terrifying effortlessly, feeling like a Santa with a history and layered personality. Harbor plays straight for such a ludicrous film, delivering the movie’s most hilarious and engaging performance. Many of the film’s highlights include his scenes comforting the scared Trudy, as Habour and Brady’s bond is genuinely sweet. Jon Leguizamo also goes all in with his hilariously over-the-top performance, as he balances being funny and menacing like the pro he is.
The movie is consistently fun, and it feels like everyone had a good time making it. The film’s strengths are when it leans in on its Die Hard-clone aesthetic and the friendship between Santa and Trudy. However, when the film dives into the subplots between the Lightstone family drama, I lost interest. The performances were too unlikably cartoonish and mean-spirited, and the drama was irritating, even if it was intentional. The family felt like they were in a completely different film, as their aggressively cartoonish performances clashed with the more earnest David Harbour and Jon Leguizamo. Thankfully these scenes are brief, as the film immediately picks up once Santa returns.
You basically get what you pay for, if you’re in the mood for killer Santa, you’re gonna get killer Santa. David Harbour and Jon Leguizamo elevate the film with their committed performances, along with the creatively fun fight choreography and death scenes. Violent Night makes a fun addition to any holiday movie marathon.
Violent Night will be released in theaters on December 2nd
