Violent Night: When Santa Fights Ala Die Hard
Violent Night could be the
first film in 2022 that managed to make the writers laugh heartily, clap their
hands and wince non-stop throughout the film. Director Tommy Wirkola (Hansel
& Gretel: Witch Hunter) really delivers violence without being superficial
in this 1 hour 52 minute film.
Uniquely, even though it
carries god-level blood and gore, there are still elements of sweet and
innocence in Violent Night. The audience is not only entertained by the various
creative ways that Santa kills his enemies, but also given warmth from various
unique relationships related to love and family. Like what?
IT'S VERY VIOLENT
Santa Claus (David Harbour,
Stranger Things) spends most of his evenings drinking in a bar and continues on
his way to hand out Christmas gifts to well-behaved children with a heavy tread.
He looked bored and unmotivated. Annoyed when the cookies and milk served are
not good, and annoyed with the series of videogame gifts he has to share.
According to Santa, today's children just want, ask, and ask.
With that mentality, Santa
finally arrived at a big mansion and fell asleep shortly after he drank the
alcohol that was available in the big house room. Santa's break was disturbed
by the sound of gunshots which suddenly erupted several times. Not wanting to
get into trouble, Santa tries to escape, but it's too late, he is caught by one
of the thugs.
On the other side of the
house, the thugs led by Mr. Scrooge (John Leguizamo, The Menu) is holding back
the large Lightstone family. Ada Gertrude Lightstone (Beverly D'Angelo, Law
& Order: SVU), Alva Lightstone (Edi Patterson, The Righteous Gemstones),
Morgan Lightstone (Cam Gigandet, Twilight), Bert Lightstone (Alexander Elliot,
The Hardy Boys) Jason Lightstone (Alex Hassell, Cowboy Bebop), Linda Lightstone
(Alexis Louder, The Tomorrow War) and their daughter Trudy Lightstone (Leah
Brady, Erin's Guide to Kissing Girls).
Santa, who manages to defeat
one of the villains in a very creative way, doesn't run away because he feels
sorry for Trudy Lightstone. There was no way she could leave Trudy on the good
girl list in the hands of Mr. Scrooges. Santa finally decided to save the
Lightstone family. Did he succeed?
BUT IT'S ALSO VERY SWEET
It's very entertaining to
watch a film whose script was written by the duo Pat Casey and Josh Miller who
used to be part of the writing team for the Sonic the Hedgehog film. Not only
is the level of violence incredibly crazy, but the sweet and Christmasy
elements also feel very thick.