The 2022 "Christmas" movie VIOLENT NIGHT was mis-marketed a year ago as ads made it appear that this was just another "slasher" flick, when...in fact...it is a fun action flick that settles the DIE HARD Christmas movie debate once and for all.
Compared to VIOLENT NIGHT, DIE HARD is not a Christmas movie for VIOLENT NIGHT (which is a DIE HARD knock-off) is MOST DEFINITELY a Christmas Movie, but instead of former Cop John McClane thwarting bad guys, it is SANTA CLAUS.
Yes, you read that right, Santa Claus.
Director Tommy Wirkola got the idea for VIOLENT NIGHT when watching another Christmas Classic - HOME ALONE. He thought that the traps Kevin sets up for the crooks would really do some physical damage to people and decided to make a movie that did just that...add a dash of "Die Hard with Santa Claus" and...voila...you got yourself a fun action flick.
David Harbour (STRANGER THINGS) hits just the right notes as a burned out Santa Claus who just wants to get through the night, but when he is stranded in an isolated compound (when his reindeer are scared away by gunfire) he must decide to stay and help or stay out of the way.
Jon Leguizamo (MOULIN ROUGE) is the "Hans Gruber" of this piece - a mercenary named SCROOGE and he is a "good enough" villain. While Leah Brady is "charming enough" as the little girl that Santa decides to help. All the rest of the hostages and mercenaries (including CHRISTMAS VACATION's Beverly D'Angelo) are underwritten "cannon fodder" for the action that takes place.
And...that is just fine as this is an action/comedy flick, so the enjoyment lies in the creativity that Santa (and others) use in dispatching the bad guys. Candy Canes, Christmas Stars, Ice Skates and...yes...SnowThrowers are all used to the advantage of the good guys (and the ultimate demise of the bad guys).
It's not going to win any Oscars, but Violent Night is a fun "anti-Holiday" action film that the older folks in the crowd will enjoy later at night after the kiddo-s go to bed.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
P. S.: Violent Night is streaming for free (with your Amazon Prime subscription) or you can rent or own it in many of the usual ways.
Compared to VIOLENT NIGHT, DIE HARD is not a Christmas movie for VIOLENT NIGHT (which is a DIE HARD knock-off) is MOST DEFINITELY a Christmas Movie, but instead of former Cop John McClane thwarting bad guys, it is SANTA CLAUS.
Yes, you read that right, Santa Claus.
Director Tommy Wirkola got the idea for VIOLENT NIGHT when watching another Christmas Classic - HOME ALONE. He thought that the traps Kevin sets up for the crooks would really do some physical damage to people and decided to make a movie that did just that...add a dash of "Die Hard with Santa Claus" and...voila...you got yourself a fun action flick.
David Harbour (STRANGER THINGS) hits just the right notes as a burned out Santa Claus who just wants to get through the night, but when he is stranded in an isolated compound (when his reindeer are scared away by gunfire) he must decide to stay and help or stay out of the way.
Jon Leguizamo (MOULIN ROUGE) is the "Hans Gruber" of this piece - a mercenary named SCROOGE and he is a "good enough" villain. While Leah Brady is "charming enough" as the little girl that Santa decides to help. All the rest of the hostages and mercenaries (including CHRISTMAS VACATION's Beverly D'Angelo) are underwritten "cannon fodder" for the action that takes place.
And...that is just fine as this is an action/comedy flick, so the enjoyment lies in the creativity that Santa (and others) use in dispatching the bad guys. Candy Canes, Christmas Stars, Ice Skates and...yes...SnowThrowers are all used to the advantage of the good guys (and the ultimate demise of the bad guys).
It's not going to win any Oscars, but Violent Night is a fun "anti-Holiday" action film that the older folks in the crowd will enjoy later at night after the kiddo-s go to bed.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
P. S.: Violent Night is streaming for free (with your Amazon Prime subscription) or you can rent or own it in many of the usual ways.