There is no better way to celebrate the end of the civil year, when families all over the world gather to celebrate Hanukkah, or in the case of this film – Christmas, with decorations, songs and lots of baked goods. As 2022 ends, Universal Studios is releasing a new kind of Christmas movie, starring David Harbour (Best known for his role as Hopper in the series “strange things” of Netflix), as a barbaric version of Santa Claus – with a foul mouth and a strong desire for alcohol. The director Tommy Wirkula leads the film which reminds on the one hand a painting of Jackson Polkand on the other hand from a screen of “die Hard“ With “they forgot me at home“, based on a script by Pat Casey and-Josh Miller. A nice balance between thriller and action comedy, in “Who’s afraid of Santa?” Harbor is seen running at burglars with a sledgehammer. The film contains brutal action sequences and gruesome physical horror, but it is definitely entertaining entertainment for Christmas fans.
Santa Claus played by Harbor teaches that he once loved his career as Saint Nick. Mr. Claus reluctantly continues with his Christmas duties, feeling disheartened in his faith in humanity and tired of having to fill the stockings of bratty children. When he visits Lightstone Manor, where Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo) hosts her daughter – Alva (Eddie Patterson), her son – Jason (Alex Hassell) and their close family members, a violent surprise awaits them. A team of mercenaries, led by Mr. Scrooge (John Lagoizmo) break into the Lightstone mansion in search of three hundred million dollars. Santa Claus seems to be the only one who can save them, along with a little help from the spirited and good girl, Trudy (Leah Brady).
“Who’s afraid of Santa?” is unlike your average Christmas movie. The director’s historical feature boasts violence and hostile family dynamics unlike anything audiences have seen in a long time. From film producers like “John Wick“, The Christmas Movie contains detailed action sequences with excellent camera work and great choreography. It’s the best of Christmas silliness with just the right amount of witty and corny punch lines, but it also contains the perfect amount of jaw-dropping carnage. Basically, it’s experimental , yet fulfills its obligations in a genre that is not necessarily suitable for the young. Combining these elements is no easy feat, but thanks to Casey and Miller’s exciting script and Wirkula’s direction, this new Christmas classic is non-stop fun.
Although it is easy to recognize the film of “Who’s afraid of Santa?” as an entertaining movie-influenced showcase, like “they forgot me at home“, the script goes beyond the bare minimum to embrace the required basics. The film doesn’t shy away from spilling on the sentimental, yielding some genuinely heartwarming scenes when characters aren’t brutally murdered by Mr. Claus himself. However, there are some pacing issues that become apparent when these moments begin to intersect . At times, they overextend their stay; during other scenes, they’re interrupted as soon as they start. A balanced approach would have strengthened the feature further, but ultimately there’s no real barrier that interrupts the overall enjoyment.
While there have been several actors who have taken on the mantle of Santa Claus to great effect over the years, it is Harbor who brings a layered performance to reveal a new side to the gift-giving Christmas, and his performance is simply wonderful. He combines humanity into a character whose motto is holiday cheer and whose existence comes from the magic of Christmas. It is evident throughout the film that Harbor enjoys playing this evil version of the hero. While his co-stars don’t often have opportunities to match the energy, their acting doesn’t detract from the quality of the film’s star.
Loaded with crude dialogue and bloody action sequences, “Who’s afraid of Santa?” is a crowd-pleaser and a great time at the movies. It’s not your average Christmas movie, but that’s exactly why this amusing parable of a hammer-wielding Santa will catch viewers by surprise. The film doesn’t always hit the mark when it comes to proper pacing, but there are plenty of highs that overcome the lows in time Good and Delightful As the icing on the cake, Harbor delivers an exciting character when he’s not squirmingly killing, leading to a lively cinematic experience worth every second on the big screen.
“Who’s Afraid of Santa | Violent Night” – now in cinemas.