Movie Review: ‘Violent Night’

Punching into theaters on December 2nd, ‘Violent Night’ represents the kind of Christmas film that’s actually not festive enjoyable for the entire household. But for these whose tastes run extra in the direction of the extra brutally entertaining likes of ‘Atomic Blonde’ or ‘Bullet Train’, it’s bought some enjoyable lurking in Santa’s sack.

Father Christmas on this case is performed by ‘Stranger Things’ David Harbour as a grizzled, jaded type launched drowning his sorrows at a pub in England between “shifts” delivering presents to the ungrateful spawn of the world. A Nordic warrior who has been handing out presents for greater than 1100 years now, he’s seen all of it.

And because the world has moved on from extra conventional Christmases in the direction of money items, Amazon deliveries and video video games, he’s turn out to be more and more disillusioned, ranting about youngsters who “want, crave and consume”. The film’s cynically playful tone is about early on when the barkeep, involved that the sozzled Santa has headed to the roof, is overjoyed to find him flying away on the standard reindeer-pulled sleigh, solely to be drenched in vomit by the overindulging Claus.

So what can assist Santa regain the enjoyment and perception in himself if fewer and fewer are believing in him? Tommy Wirkola’s new movie, written by ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ script duo Pat Casey and Josh Miller, posits that what he wants is a ferocious encounter with thieves who wish to rob a rich household.

Led by John Leguizamo’s Scrooge – his code identify – this bunch of Naughty List-dwelling robbers have finagled their approach into the swanky, well-defended Lightstone compound posing as caterers and entertainers. Before lengthy, the squabbling brood overseen by Beverly D’Angelo’s Gertrude Lightstone (who’s way more a feminine Logan Roy from ‘Succession’ than ‘National Lampoon’s candy Ellen Griswold) are being held at gunpoint whereas the gang look to raid their vault.

Of course, Santa reveals as much as ship items (and pattern some costly whiskey) and has to assist save these largely irredeemable varieties from the even nastier menace that has invaded their residence. His actual motivation, although, is younger Trudy Lightstone (Leah Brady), a sweet-natured lady who simply needs her dad and mom Jason (Alex Hassell) and Linda (Alexis Louder) to reconcile.

It’s a arrange that guarantees loads of alternatives, however the film tends to squander them with first-draft household dynamics and mugging from a number of the forged (although others, similar to ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ Edi Patterson seize the prospect to be despicable and run with it).

When the saccharine stuff ultimately creeps in, it’s largely manageable and never too sickly, largely balanced by the violence that has been perpetrated earlier than.

While the story can’t fairly maintain every thing collectively, the set-pieces have way more worth. Which is probably not shocking given each director Wirkola’s previous motion pictures similar to ‘Dead Snow’ and ‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’ and the group from 87North.

Spawned from the stunt coaching facility co-founded by David Leitch (who produces right here) and Chad Stahelski after their days engaged on the unique ‘Matrix’ trilogy, it has since turn out to be one of many go-to locations for actors trying to whip themselves into combating form. And to design memorable motion moments for each the founders and different filmmakers.

Here, the main focus is on creative methods to off anonymous (or codenamed) goons with completely different takes on Christmas staples or different gadgets. So Harbour’s Santa battles armed thieves with a stocking stuffed with pool balls, festive decorations and, in a single notably stabby/slashy second, an ice skate.

And there’s essentially the most creative, splashy use of Santa’s chimney transport trick to homicide somebody that we’ve seen within the cinema. Which shouldn’t be shocking, as Santas outdoors of the odd horror film don’t usually go on killing sprees.

Harbour completely commits to the position of a Santa Claus who used to spend his days smashing heads with a hammer, and regardless of being drained from years of Christmas responsibility, nonetheless relishes the prospect to punish the naughty with extra than simply coal. Cue plenty of spins on Christmas tune lyrics changed into catchphrases.

‘Violent Night’ additionally suggestions its hat early on to its huge influences – ‘Die Hard’, clearly, with Harbour’s character having greater than just a little John McClane about him – world-weary protagonist dropped into a tricky state of affairs who usually has to sew himself up. And then there’s Trudy making an attempt out some ‘Home Alone’ booby traps in opposition to the baddies with much less cartoony outcomes than Kevin McCallister ever dreamed of.

Forced to do quite a lot of the heavy lifting, the struggle scenes don’t at all times steadiness out the truth that the plot is skinny and the characters lower than stimulating. The baddies are principally simply inventory criminals ready for Santa to kill them off. There are instances when all of it appears like a online game as Harbour ploughs by the completely different degree of challenges, which is in some way becoming given the writers’ ‘Sonic’ expertise.

Yet even Leguizamo, bringing a welcome cocktail of rage and humor to the principle villain, can’t fairly make all of it grasp collectively, leaving the story to droop like an outdated Christmas tree.

Plus the twists and turns are fully predictable, leaving Santa as the principle motive to maintain watching. Wirkola has some enjoyable with the state of affairs, and the needle drops characteristic some extra eclectic selections alongside the requirements, it’s simply disappointing that the film doesn’t do extra with what it has.

Yet like a barely overdone gingerbread cookie, it nonetheless has its pleasures, principally at any time when Harbour is on display screen. Or when a nativity scene is utilized to take out some villains in a approach that may most likely give the Pope a conniption match.

It might actually profit from just a little extra of the Christmas magic that Santa retains speaking about, however ‘Violent Night’ is value unwrapping on the cinema when you ever puzzled what ‘John Wick’ at Yule would appear to be.

‘Violent Night receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.