[FILM REVIEW] VIOLENT NIGHT Review (2022)

Summary:  When a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family, Santa Claus must step in to save the day (and Christmas).Summary:  An alienated teenager learns to find meaning and purpose through the pain of love and loss.

Year: 2022

Cinema Release Dates:  1st December 2022 (Australia), 1st December 2022 (Thailand), 2nd December 2022 (UK), 2nd December 2022 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA, Canada

Director: Tommy Wirkola

Screenwriter: Pat Casey, Josh Miller

Cast: Can Aydin (Frosty), Leah Brady (Trudy Lightstone), Beverley D’Angelo (Gertrude Lightstone), Mike Dopud (Commander Thorp), Alexander Elliott (Bert), Andre Erikson (Gingerbread), Brendan Fletcher (Krampus), Phoen Giang (Tinsel), Cam Gigandet (Morgan Steel), David Harbour (Santa Claus), Alex Hassell (Jason Lightstone), Finn McCager Higgins (Jingle), John Leguizamo (Scrooge), Alexis Louder (Linda), Edi Patterson (Alva Lightstone), Mitra Suri (Candy Cane), Stephanie Sy (Sugarplum), Cha-Lee Yoon (Techie)

Running Time: 112 mins

Classification: MA15+ (Australia), 15+ (Thailand), 15 (UK), R (USA)

OUR VIOLENT NIGHT REVIEWS

David Griffiths’ Violent Night Review:

Despite what some people say violent Christmas movies are not exactly a brand new thing. If they were then we wouldn’t have the “Is Die Hard really a Christmas movie?” debate each year and we certainly wouldn’t have had films like Reindeer Games surface nearly twenty years ago. That argument aside what we should all agree on is that latest action film to have a Christmas theme – Violent Night – is perhaps one of the best alternative Christmas films we have seen over the past few years.

Directed by Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters) Violent Night’s plot centres around Santa Clause (David Harbour Stranger Things) who has just celebrated his 1100th birthday. As Santa heads out on Christmas Eve though he is jaded – kids are no longer the kind and grateful kids that he knew years ago – these days they actually leave out letters demanding cash and it seems that he is also tired of delivering gifts like video games as well. His jaded, depressed mood has lead him to drink to excess and it seems a wonder if he completes his Christmas journey this year.

However Santa’s night soon makes an interesting turn when he arrives at the luxurious estate of the Lightstone family. He soon discovers that one of the few remaining nice kids, Trudy (Leah Brady – The Umbrella Academy) is in peril.

Trudy was hoping that this Christmas would see her parents, Jason (Alex Hassell – Cowboy Bebop) and Linda (Alexis Louder – Copshop), re-ignite their failing marriage as they spent the holiday period with her tough-yet-rude Grandmother (Beverley D’Angelo – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation). However, those plans go right out the window when the estate is raided by a group of criminals, led by a gangster calling himself Scrooge (John Leguizamo – The Menu), hell-bent on stealing the family’s fortune.,

With her belief in Santa still very strong Trudy calls upon Santa to help rescue her and her family and the jaded Santa has to decide whether to enter what looks like a losing battle or do his best to help out.

Films such as Dead Snow and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters have previously revealed that Tommy Wirkola is one of the most creative directors currently working in the industry and Violent Night only goes even further to show his creativity.

Given the premise of this film it couldn’t have turned B-Grade really, really quickly but the good news is that it doesn’t. If anything Violent Night does all it can to separate itself from other alternative Christmas films out there by capturing that special magic and life lessons encased in movies like The Santa Clause or even It’s A Wonderful Life but then adding a violent element that sees major carnage and blood splatter all throughout the film. It’s a mix that doesn’t sound like it should work – but by some Christmas miracle does.

It’s at this point that we should point out that if you are a little bit squeamish when it comes to blood and horror that this isn’t the film for you. Yes, there is a lot of blood but to the credit of Wirkola and his screenwriters, Pat Casey (Sonic The Hedgehog 2) and Josh Miller (Sonic The Hedgehog 2), every single kill in this film is creative as characters look to use whatever around them as weapons. One standout is certainly Santa’s kill on a thug with a Christmas star… that will stay in people’s minds for a long time to come.

While Tommy Wirkola certainly does a lot to show what a talented director he is with Violent Night this film would have failed if the  actor playing Santa didn’t get everything 100% correct and luckily David Harbour steps into that role sensationally well. Harbour is the perfect actor for this role as he is someone who can show heart in the more touching scenes, be dramatic when the films calls upon him to show Santa’s depression and most important for this role can hold his own in an action sequence. Sure this isn’t the kind of role that people will talk about when it comes to Oscars but here Harbour is sensational and is one of the reasons why this film will be long remembered.

If you are an action fan than Violent Night is set to become a cult classic for you. This film delivers everything that you could possibly want from it – from comedy, through to crime capers, quips about other Christmas films and some amazing action/horror sequences. Tommy Wirkola you have done it again.

Dave’s rating Out Of 5

Kyle McGrath’s Violent Night Review:

It’s Christmas night and Santa Claus (David Harbour) has had enough of the greed, selfishness and consumerism of the season. Downing beers just to work up the courage to face it all he intends for tonight to be his last outing. Meanwhile the extended Lightstone family have gathered for the yearly Christmas tradition of paying tribute to matriarch Gertrude Lightstone (Beverly D’Angelo). Among them favourite son Jason (Alex Hassell) and his estranged wife Linda (Alexis Louder) are putting on a show for the sake of daughter Trudy (Leah Brady).

While eating the cookies Trudy left for him Santa passes out in a recliner. He is quickly awoken by gunfire and screaming as the Lightstone mansion is assaulted by heavily armed thugs. Using Christmas code names and led by ‘Scrooge’ (John Leguizamo) they have eyes for the hundreds of millions of dollars in Gertrude’s vault. Finding himself trapped Santa must regain his jolly spirit to save the day and Christmas itself.

While Christmas movies made for mature audiences are nothing new there has definitely been an influx of them in recent years. I was worried ‘Violent Night’ would be nothing more than a throwaway novelty example of this with a pun title. What got me more excited however was director Tommy Wirkola’s involvement. Wirkola has a penchant for making irreverent violent comical movies such as Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters. Added to this is his unlikely pairing with writers Pat Casey & Josh Miller, the duo behind the Sonic the Hedgehog films. With those being a guilty pleasure of mine I had high hopes to see what they could do here.

‘David Harbour’ takes a role which has been played countless times before and manages to do something different with it. While close at times to Billy Bob Thornton’s ‘Bad Santa’ Harbour’s portrayal never comes off as derivative. His Santa is a worn down, alcoholic coward who needs to be reminded of who he used to be.

Assisting him here is Leah Brady who is adorable as the innocent, definitely on the nice list, Trudy. There is an earnestness to their interactions and a surprising amount of heartfelt moments as a result of it. It is a shame that much of the family drama surrounding Trudy’s parents and its resolution falls flat.

‘Violent Night’ is at its best when it throws all pretence aside and focuses on being a fun gory action comedy. Wirkola struggles connecting ‘Violent Night’s silly premise with its more serious moments. It’s difficult to find his villains laughable one moment and still a terrifying threat to the Lightstones the next. Leguizamo who has played some of my favourite over the top characters doesn’t help here in a mostly phoned in villain role.

But when Wirkola is allowed to finally let loose you can see where his passion lies. Giving us a Santa who checks baddies off his naughty list in ridiculously violent ways using ornaments as makeshift weapons. Writers Casey & Miller are in their element too giving Santa eye rolling yet still hilarious festive one liners. This is what people want when they see this type of movie and the filmmakers give it to us with glee.

Beyond this the plot of the film as well as many of its chief characters are weakly developed. I was shocked there wasn’t more reference to ‘Die Hard’ considering the overall shameless plot similarities and status as a Christmas movie. Through Trudy it does however embrace its similarities to ‘Home Alone’ and this is where some of the film’s biggest laughs come from.

‘Violent Night’ is a movie which delivers exactly what it promises and little else. A cheesy action story starring a badass Santa. While I believe that the film’s set up could have allowed for more Christmas magic I was impressed by its ambition. Its a tall order mixing extreme violence with wholesome ‘Hallmark movie’ goodness and somehow this still works more often than it doesn’t.

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other Subculture Violent Night Reviews:

You can find the review of Violent Night that Subculture did for The Phuket News right here – https://www.thephuketnews.com/violent-night-brings-an-action-packed-christmas-86427.php

Trailer: