Directed by Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters; Dead Snow; The Trip) and starring David Harbour (Stranger Things (TV Series); Suicide Squad; Black Widow; Hellboy), John Leguizamo (Carlito's Way; John Wick; The Lincoln Lawyer; The Menu), Beverly D'Angelo (National Lampoon's Vacation; High Fidelity; The Man Who Fell to Earth) and Alex Hassell (The Tragedy of Macbeth; Suburbicon; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Big Thunder).
Action comedy; 112 mins; 16+
Violent Night could be compared to Die Hard / John Wick meets Home Alone... It's Christmas Eve and a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family's compound, taking everyone hostage as they try to break into the vault and steal their money. A simple premise, really, but does anything ever go exactly according to plan?
The story starts in England, with Santa Claus "between shifts" as he enjoys a pint (or two) in a pub after delivering presents there. He does not appear to be the happy, cuddly Santa that we have learned to love, rather a disgruntled old man who would rather be off doing something else. He delivers presents, without too much care - he reveals at one state that he has been doing this for 1,100 years under some guise or another (the backstory itself is fascinating when revealed). He then flies off and ends up in Conneticut in the USA; after delivering presents to one house, he sits down for some milk and cookies, then helps himself to the whisky, and nods off...
Matriarch Gertrude (Beverly D'Angelo) has her son Jason (Alex Hassell) and daughter, and their families, to visit for Christmas. Scrooge (John Leguizamo) and his henchmen storm the house; they are there for the money and kill all the staff, including security. However, they are not prepared for Santa Claus (David Harbour), who is making his rounds...
As the story evolves, the tensions within the family of seven start to come to the surface... It may be gory and gruesome in places, but it is highly entertaining. An the soundtrack is wonderful!
Currently screening in Luxembourg at Kinepolis.
