VIOLENT NIGHT – “A wildly entertaining yuletide bloodbath”

vn

RATING

DIRECTOR

Directed by: Tommy Wirkola

MAIN CAST

  • David Harbour as Santa Claus
  • John Leguizamo as Mr. Scrooge
  • Cam Gigandet as Morgan Lightstone
  • Alex Hassell as Jason Lightstone
  • Alexis Louder as Linda Matthews
  • Edi Patterson as Alva
  • Beverly D'Angelo as Gertrude Lightstone
  • Leah Brady as Trudy Lightstone
  • André Eriksen as Gingerbread

SYNOPSIS

An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint.

REVIEW SUMMARY

As advertised, Violent Night is a wildly entertaining yuletide bloodbath. Hide the kids, this one is strictly for the adults! Yep, if you are willing to embrace the campy set-up and ludicrous actions, then you are all but guaranteed to have a blast. It helps that the actors involved are genuinely great. Kudos to stellar casting! David Harbour is the schlocky Santa turned bad ass saviour of your dreams, while John Leguizamo makes for a pitch perfect holiday hating, scenery chewing villain du jour. Oh, and Beverly D’Angelo is an absolute scene stealer in the cold and calculating matriarch role (this is definitely NOT Helen from those National Lampoon’s Vacation flicks). Everyone is clearly having fun with the off-kilter material at hand. That “material,” by the way, is crude, gruesome, and cheeky - often all at once. Yes, this is a movie that delivers death by candy cane, death by Christmas tree star, death by snowblower, death by Nativity scene… ok I think you get the picture. Unfortunately, not all the action sequences are equally inspired, and it admittedly does get fairly tedious by the end. And while there isn’t much depth to the story (to put it mildly), it’s important to remember that this is a popcorn action romp about Santa taking out “bad guys,” not some life affirming holiday thought provoker. Plus, fans of Home Alone are sure to get a kick out of all the homages being paid to the Macaulay Culkin classic throughout. You heard me you filthy animals, Violent Night is a total scream!

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