Violent Night

Violent Night

It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, or is it?  That’s the crux of Santa’s (David Harbour) existential crisis in the newest entry in edgy Christmas movies, Violent Night. Not being a big fan of the usual touchy feely, saccharine holiday films this seemed right in my wheelhouse.

Admittedly, Violent Night wasn’t entirely what I expected.  It’s billed as a comedy and the trailers really lean into that. However, while comedic, it’s far from the laugh your butt off hilarious romp seemingly advertised. It’s definitely amusing to funny, but a bit of a letdown in that regard.  

Violent Night is also surprisingly more deep, sentimental, and emotional than expected.  Not a bad thing in and of itself, but the lack of follow through left me unsatisfied and wanting more. Getting a glimpse of who Santa was in his former life? Intriguing.  How did he become Santa? How does the magic work? Enough teasing, more answering. Are they saving things for a prequel?  

Harbour is perfectly cast as Santa, so you won't be disappointed. And the scenes with Trudy (Leah Brady) and Santa bring all the feels. Nicely done. Beverly D'Angelo is plain dreadful as Gertrude Lightstone and couldn’t be more fun to watch. The ultimate anti Ellen Griswold. Can you say wicked good!?  There’s no goodness or light to be had in her and I was all for it.  Not to be left out, John Leguizamo also shines as our big bad, Scrooge. The two of them (D’Angelo and Leguizamo) squaring off makes for big entertainment.

Violent Night goes all in on the violence and gore justifying its R rating, so not a film for the squeamish. Think Home Alone the Tarantino style. The action sequences are good, and the holiday flair adds a nice festive and demented touch. 

The pacing can drag here and there, particularly the first half of the film but isn’t terrible.  You feel it but it's bearable. 

When all is said and done, Violent Night works well but isn’t as strong a film as I hoped.  Some of the exposition is labored and most of the secondary characters are cut and paste cutouts that add little to the story.  Fairly predictable and expected, nevertheless a fun watch.

Violent Night gets a 6.5 from me.