Violent Night is a Christmas-action-comedy where Santa(David Harbour) gets trapped at a large estate during a home invasion.
Harbour is a great drunken Santa with an edge. He's able to balance the comedy and the gory action with a believable level of heart. John Leguizamo as the heavy is having a blast and is equally comfortable with the humor and the gruesomeness. The supporting cast are all fun and effective- Beverly D'Angelo as the matriarch of the rich family that's being robbed, Edi Patterson as Ava her daughter, Cam Gigandet as Ava's husband etc.- all solid and serve to achieve the odd tone. Leah Brady as Trudy is probably the most committed(and oddest) as the kid-with-a-heart-of-gold who still believes in Santa and gives him the inspiration he needs...to kick ass!
Although mostly contained in one location the production design is crisp and festive, the gore comically gory, the fight choreography sometimes inspired, sometimes typical shaky-cam but in aggregate mostly thrilling. It's an odd mix of tone part campy horror, part action, part genuinely(but still R rated) sentimental holiday movie and the alchemy mostly works.
Exciting, effective, adult holiday offering, good counter programing to the glut of underproduced Christmas romcoms.
Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.
Rent It.
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