In 2020, Universal bought the rights to a script by Pat Casey and Josh Miller of Sonic the Hedgehog fame. The genesis of this script came from a decades-long debate: is Die Hard a Christmas movie? With this in mind, they wrote an action movie like the Bruce Willis classic that was undeniably a Christmas movie. In the director’s chair was Tommy Wirkola, most famous for his Dead Snow movies and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. For the role of the violent Santa, David Harbour of Stranger Things fame was hired, though he was initially reluctant. What drew him to the script was that amidst the bloody violence was a message about the spirit of Christmas. With the rest of the cast in place, filming lasted from January to March 2022 in Winnipeg. After premiering at New York Comic Con in October, Violent Night hit theaters nationwide in December.
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Synopsis
Santa Claus (David Harbour) contemplates quitting at an Irish pub on Christmas Eve, given how rotten the kids have become. Elsewhere, Jason Lightstone (Alex Hassell), his estranged wife Linda (Alexis Louder), and their daughter Trudy (Leah Brady) visit his family. Gathered at the mansion of his foul-mouthed mother, Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo), are Jason’s sister Alva (Edi Patterson), and her family. Santa eventually arrives at the mansion, only to see the staff executed by mercenaries led by “Mr. Scrooge” (John Leguizamo). Scrooge and his cohorts are there to steal the $300 million that Gertrude stole from her own company. Using a walkie-talkie, Trudy tells Santa what’s going on, so he reluctantly attacks the mercenaries, killing them off one-by-one. As Santa’s rampage continues, Scrooge wonders if he’s the real deal as he tries to eliminate the jolly would-be hero. These bad guys better watch out because Santa Claus is comin’ to town!
Review
Since the trailer was first dropped, Violent Night has gotten much attention based solely on the ridiculous premise. Well, I’m here to let you know that this movie is exactly what you think it is, and it’s fantastic. First, David Harbour gives one of his best performances as a disgruntled Santa, questioning whether or not he should continue. Not only does he deliver when it comes to the action, but he adds tons of humanity to the role. Also noteworthy is Leah Brady as Trudy, the young girl who still believes in Santa even when things are bad. The relationship she and Harbour build gives the film much more heart than expected from such a bloody movie. As the villain Scrooge, John Leguizamo chews through the scenery and has a blast playing this larger-than-life character. The scenes between him and Harbour are easily the film’s best parts.
As the marketing would lead you to believe, this is one violent and bloody Christmas film. This isn’t surprising, considering that David Leitch, who directed Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train, produced the movie. Like those movies, the action is very fluid, well-shot, and well-choreographed, making them a spectacle to behold. The action sequences complement the story, especially when we learn little tidbits about Santa’s history as a Viking warrior. If I had any complaints, I’d say that most other characters feel more like caricatures than actual people. Aside from Trudy’s parents, none of the other characters are likable, though that may have been the intent. Also, despite the film clocking in at under two hours, a good 5-10 minutes could’ve been trimmed without ruining anything. Overall, Violent Night is a bloody, violent, and surprisingly heartfelt Christmas movie that will get you in the holiday spirit.
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