David Harbour may be most known for Stranger Things and the MCU, but his John Wick-style Santa movie is a holiday classic. Despite audiences sleeping on Violent Night when it came out, the Santa rampage movie has found a cult status. Harbours turn as Jolly Old Saint Nicholas is a fun experience and something new and never seen before for the holiday season.
Violent Night looks at what it would be like if Santa were down on his luck and stumbled upon a child who needed help while their family was being held hostage. Not only does the movie tell a version of a classic Christmas tale, but it also weaves in an over-the-top action movie and a unique origin for Santa. Fans who haven’t seen Violent Night are missing out on a movie that could easily be a holiday viewing tradition.
Violent Night Puts a New Twist on a Classic Story
Violent Night starts out as a normal enough Christmas movie. A family brought back together at Christmas, while a child writes a letter to Santa to help get her parents back together after a divorce. It feels like a classic holiday movie trope, one that fans may have seen numerous times before. Yet, that is about the only “classic” thing about the movie.
From that point onward, the movie only veers further and further away from what audiences look for in regular holiday films. Santa is depressed by consumerism, the state of the world, and Christmas. The Lightstone family is broken and more concerned with wealth than being with each other at Christmas. This is headlined by the matriarch, Getrude, played by Beverly D’Angelo, who also starred in the Christmas classic, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
John Wick star, John Leguizamo, takes the role of the lead antagonist, a villainous thief who is looking to steal the Lightstone fortune and ruin their holidays and their lives. The only person who is standing in his way is Santa Claus himself, after he finds himself in contact with Trudy, the youngest Lightstone family member, and the only one who still believes in Christmas.
Santa becomes a nearly unstoppable force of violence as he brutally dismantles the criminals who broke into the house. Not to mention how he decimates their reinforcements using a hammer and skate. The fight scenes are gruesome and brutal, which creates an oddly comedic feeling, seeing Santa commit these violent acts.
This new spin on a holiday movie, though, is what makes it so endearing. It takes the themes of family and holiday spirit and wraps them in an unusual package of blood and Santa. It takes its hints from Home Alone, John Wick, and Elf, bringing the discovery of Christmas magic and intense action together in a delightful blend.
Violent Night is One of the Most Interesting Christmas Movies in Years
Image via Universal Pictures
Audiences aren’t used to getting many creative films released around the holidays anymore. While there are always a couple that stand out, the majority of them are predictable “Hallmark” films about small towns, falling in love, and enemies becoming friends. This helps Violent Night stand out even further as it’s a fresh and new concept.
David Harbour really shines as Santa in this role. The movie doesn’t just throw Santa in and have him be inexplicably amazing at fighting; it delivers a chilling backstory in only a few short scenes. Violent Night gives Santa a history as a bloodthirsty Viking warrior who spent years killing with a hammer, long before he became Santa Claus.
The film is a simple concept, really, but it is well executed, which helps to pull off its premise. Harbour fully commits to the action and comedy, a dual role that really suits him. It’s refreshing to see a movie break away from the usual holiday movie mold, fitting in that same style Christmas movie as Die Hard, except even more dedicated to the holiday theme.
Violent Night’s Sequel Can Solidify Its Holiday Legacy
Image via Universal Pictures
Violent Night wasn’t a runaway success at the box office, but it did still manage to make a profit thanks to its small budget. Fortunately, that also means that Violent Night 2 was greenlit and has already filmed. Getting a sequel is a big step for the Santa-centric franchise and can help to cement its yuletide legacy.
It now has the leeway to take bigger risks, create a bigger story, and have larger action scenes. The sequel will make or break the franchise in its infancy. If Violent Night 2 is able to properly apply the lessons learned from the first movie, it has the potential to be something truly special and immensely entertaining.
Release Date
December 2, 2022
Runtime
101 minutes
Director
Tommy Wirkola
