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movie review - Violent Night

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

This is an off-beat X'mas movie about a deeply revised Santa Claus who fell into the job at some point in the 12th Century after a mortal lifetime as a Scandinavian warrior-chieftan. While he's delivering gifts, he encounters a home invasion in the mansion of a bickering family that is fighting over money. Involved in one violent showdown after another, Santa quickly takes on the role of protector for a child that has managed to sneak off. Abandoned by his reindeer and with no weapons at hand, Santa begins to take back the house -- and with it, X'mas!

The movie is as violent as the name suggests, and while that is mostly in a cartoonish, over-the-top way the tone wanders quite a bit and the result is somewhat darker than the premise might suggest. There are some nice touches, such as when two hardened criminals reluctantly come to the realization that it is in fact Santa -- something that takes them both back to a more child-like outlook. But, as an example of the erratic tone, both of those are killed off regardless.

On the whole, it's a bit of a mess. I liked the portrayal of Santa but didn't find it very sympathetic and the rest of the characters were inexplicably terrible.

Not recommended.