Bullet Points: Violent Night
One thing was immediately clear in the trailer for Violent Night that would ensure that the movie would not be stuck in the endless debate that Die Hard faces every holiday season… The protagonist in Violent Night is Santa Claus. There is only one other guy that is as associated with Christmas as much as Santa Claus, therefore there can be no question that Violent Night IS a Christmas movie… albeit an action packed, non-traditional, less than family friendly Christmas movie, but a Christmas movie none the less…
- Bad Santa: We get our first glimpse of David Harbour’s not so jolly Saint Nick sitting at a pub in jolly ol’ England. The years and the growing greed of the world at large have taken their toll on Santa Claus and even though it is Christmas Eve (his busiest night of the year) he needs to take a break and consume some alcohol to get him through. Santa makes a pretty memorable exit and with Europe taken care of it is time to fly over the Atlantic and make his way to the USA!
- Christmas in Connecticut: It is time to meet the Lightstone Family, who may be more dysfunctional than they are wealthy… and they are super wealthy. Jason Lightstone and his estranged wife Linda and their young daughter Trudy are heading over to celebrate Christmas at the Lightstone compound. The compound is the most secure private residence in the United States and it is where the matriarch of the family, Gertrude Lightstone (Beverly D’Angelo, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation), rules with an iron fist. Also at the party are three of the most unlikable characters in the film (which is saying something) Jason’s alcoholic sister, Alva.. Alva’s son Bert and Alva’s trophy husband, and the scene stealing Morgan Steel (Cam Gigandet, Never Back Down).
- Scrooged: Now rumor has it that Gertrude Lightstone has stashed $300 million dollars that she scammed from the United States government and has it locked up in her vault on the compound. And that’s the kind of money that could cause a group of mercenaries to want to plan an elaborate scheme that involves posing as a catering company to infiltrate the Lightstone compound on Christmas Even where they’ll terrorize the family and steal the $300 million dollars. The mercenaries all use Christmas related code names like Candy Cane, Gingerbread, Frosty and Krampus. They all report to the mastermind behind the whole plan, Mr. Scrooge (John Leguizamo, Die Hard 2), a fitting code name for a man who absolutely loathes Christmas and holds a grudge against the holiday… something that Leguizamo conveys quite convincingly.
- Die Hard: The mercenaries aren’t the only ones who have made their way inside the Lightstone Compound… It just so happens Santa Claus is there too and since he is having a rough night he was there a little longer than he normally would be, trying out some of the Lightstone’s expensive booze and massage chair… but this unexpected guest becomes the classic fly in the ointment where Scrooge’s plan is concerned and Santa goes into John McClane mode, with young Trudy eventually becoming his Al Powell on the other end of the walkie talkie! The action and gore that follows is over the top and unapologetic as Santa channels his dark past to brutally dispose of the mercenaries!
Violent Night makes the most of their holiday setting by creating some unique and unforgettable action sequences that are sprinkled with equal amounts of Christmas and 87North magic!
After watching the movie, I can say with even greater conviction (and first hand knowledge) that Violent Night IS a Christmas movie. It’s all about who is naughty and who is nice, the spirit of the season and believing in Santa Claus… even if he is blood soaked Santa that wields a sledge hammer! And while I am talking about Santa, David Harbour may be my new favorite Santa Claus… sorry Edmund Gwenn.
- If You Ever: …wanted to see Santa Claus throw up on a woman from high above in his sleigh, then Violent Night is the movie for you.
- Home Alone: At one point Trudy is inspired by the booby traps of Home Alone and her traps put Kevin McAllister’s to shame in the fatality department.
- Christmas Carols: There is plenty of Christmas music throughout including the underrated “Donde Esta Santa Claus” by Augie Rios
