From Black Christmas to Krampus, the Christmas horror genre is a constantly growing subgenre. And we are here for it. These off-brand holiday treats always seem to offer audiences just what they want this time of year: to get in the spirit, but with a little “elfed” up humor.
Violent Night offers more than usual, though. An amalgamation with a slew of references from other Christmas classics makes this one a super fun time. Just looking at the name, audiences know they are in for a gory and twisted time. Or at least a little bit of holiday violence.
The dichotomy between Christmas classics such as Die Hard and Bad Santa is hard to miss. But the film also borrows from the likes of Home Alone. Serving up as kind of an adult Home Alone, if you will.
Alas, Santa is actually not that bad of a guy. Unlike Billy Bob Thorton’s previous portrayal in Bad Santa, where Santa is on a mission to create mischief, this Santa, played by the perfectly cast David Harbour, is all about Christmas, despite his appearance that suggests otherwise.
We are first introduced to our jolly ole Saint Nick in a random pub tucked away in Bristol, England where our Santa is taking a “break” on his long Christmas Eve with a nice pint of lager. Frustrated by the paradigm shift from kids wanting classic toys to them only wanting cash or video games, he feels as though people just don’t believe in the magic of Christmas like they used to. Until, of course, he hits the chimney of one the wealthiest families in the world. But what this family lacks in necessity, they make up for in dysfunction. The opening establishes a parasitic dynamic between the children and their mothers. And it ain’t pretty.
Beverly D’Angelo is the matriarch of the family. Although she is much different here than in her Griswold days, that’s for sure. But the fact that De Angelo is even in it is just a testament to all the throwback surprises within the film.
Plus, there are plenty more fun Easter Eggs (or maybe I should say Christmas Eggs) that act as references to other holiday classics hidden in plain sight within the film.
Of course, what Christmas movie would be complete without some social commentary on greed and our society’s sensationalized consumerism? This is where we see more influences from Mel Gibson’s Fatman- where see Santa as more of a marksman than a holiday icon. Harbour does lean into his Viking aesthetic in order to push an extremely clever backstory on our Kris Kringle.
But the real star of Bethlehem is the adorable Leah Brady, whom you may remember from The Umbrella Academy. Brady gets to play the favorite granddaughter who all she wants for Christmas is for her parents to get back together.
Of course, what Christmas tale would be complete without a villain or scrooge in this case? John Leguizamo does a fine job of filling those shoes as the mastermind behind the heist. Leguizamo slips seamlessly into his naughty role and reminds us of his past gun-slinging work in Carlito’s Way.
Overall, Director Tommy Wirkola makes it work. He borrows from this and that, but then gives us something completely original. While the references truly add to the film’s entertainment value, writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller do a spectacular job of making this one of the funniest films to grace the genre since Bad Santa.
Grade: B-