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Violent Night

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Violent Night

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• Comedy
• Thriller

• 2022
• Tommy Wirkola
• 107 mins
• 15

Summary

Action fantasy comedy starring David Harbour. It's Christmas Eve but Santa Claus is not feeling his usual cheery self plying his gift-giving trade in an increasingly cynical and materialistic age. However, when he arrives at the mansion of the super-rich Lightstones, just as ruthless mercenaries have taken the family hostage in order to rob their vault, he resolves to rescue them and hand out some season's beatings.

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Jeremy Aspinall

Die Hard meets Home Alone in this festive cracker from director Tommy Wirkola. However, instead of a wisecracking cop or a crafty kid tackling bad guys, it's Santa Claus himself, in the shambling shape of Stranger Things star David Harbour. He's forced to take lethal action when murderous mercenaries gatecrash the celebrations of the wealthy if dysfunctional Lightstone family. ("Welcome to your worst Christmas ever!" declares John Leguizamo's head baddie.) But first Santa must recover his mojo, paving the way for a breathlessly entertaining and increasingly bloody battle of wits within the maze-like Lightstone mansion. Wirkola has form for tongue-in-cheek action-movie makeovers (the Dead Snow franchise, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters), so Harbour's transformation from depressed drunk to badass Santa should come as no surprise. Beverly D'Angelo (as the acid-tongued family matriarch) and Cam Gigandet (as a lunkhead film star) have their moments to shine, but it's Harbour's big, bold and ultimately heart-warming performance that anchors this fast-moving, laugh-out-loud romp.

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6.7/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• NOW
• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameSanta ClausDavid HarbourScroogeJohn LeguizamoGertrude LightstoneBeverly D'AngeloJason LightstoneAlex HassellAlva LightstoneEdi PattersonMorgan SteelCam GigandetLindaAlexis LouderTrudy LightstoneLeah BradyBertAlexander ElliotCommander ThorpMike DopudKrampusBrendan FletcherCandy CaneMitra Suri

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Crew

rolenameDirectorTommy Wirkola

Details

Theatrical distributor

Universal

Released on

2022-12-02

Languages

English

Guidance

Violence, swearing

Formats

Colour

News & features about Violent Night

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  Violent Night director on why David Harbour was perfect for Santa
  
  "We wanted somebody who can come in a room and you feel like they can take you apart with their fists."

• 
  
  Violent Night review: An irreverent, witty and brutal action fantasy
  
  David Harbour's brand of gnarly world-weariness is just the ticket as he slips into Santa's iconic red suit.

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• 
  
  Violent Night’s John Leguizamo channelled Alan Rickman for villain role
  
  Leguizamo plays an antagonist aptly codenamed Scrooge in the new festive action-comedy – and he looked up to another classic Christmas baddie.

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