Violent Night is a new action comedy film that stars David Harbour as Santa Claus and the supporting cast includes John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Cam Gigandet, Beverly D’ Angelo, Edi Patterson, Andre Eriksen, Brendan Fletcher and Mike Dopud. The film is helmed by Tommy Wirkola who has directed films like The Trip, What Happened to Monday, Dead Snow and Dead Snow 2. The film’s premise is absolutely hilarious and unique, “An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”
The film recently had its premiered and has also released today and we have gathered early reviews fresh out of the oven for you to understand the vibe around the film. So, without any further let’s dive in.
Violent Night Reviews Round-Up: David Harbour is an Awesome Santa?
Violent Night has gathered good reviews for the most part, there have been some negativity around the film however, I suspect that is because of the political atmosphere of the nation. As this is a film that has elements of Christmas lore- a character like Santa Claus shown in a violent manner. The people supporting a particular ideology and leaning towards one strada of politics will find this movie as offensive and wrong. However, if you don’t invest in politics then as a film this is a treat to watch as it is from the producers of Nobody.
The film has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 66% and an IMDb rating of 7/10. Scores aside, lets see what are the critics saying about the film:
Charles Bramesco
Guardian
“Harbour’s grizzly-awoken-from-hibernation gruffness suits the role well. Yet he’s stuck in a drama that has nothing to do with him, populated by wrapping-paper-thin archetypes masquerading as human beings.”
Original Score: 2/5
Radheyan Simonpillai
Globe and Mail
“A witless movie that is too easily satisfied with its own premise and often feels like it’s elbowing you in the ribs trying to get you to laugh along with it.”
Adam Graham
Detroit News
“Simultaneously so over the Christmas season but also wants to believe in and celebrate the magic of it all. It’s planted firmly in the middle, which is how it can feature multiple dismemberments and also carry a gooey message of holiday hope.”
Original Score: D+
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
“There was a good idea behind “Violent Night,” but then they spoiled it by making the movie.”
Original Score: 2/4
Soren Andersen
Seattle Times
“A hugely entertaining crowd-pleaser studded with laugh-out-loud moments from beginning to end. Ho hos aplenty in this one.”
Original Score: 3/4
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
“To say “Violent Night” isn’t for everyone overstates the obvious. But if you’re looking for a bracing antidote to Hallmark Christmas movie treacle overload, it’s a holiday treat.”
Original Score: 3.5/5
Eric Francisco
Inverse
“Watching Santa break, impale, and eviscerate faceless bad guys has its charms, but the gore frequently eclipses its grace, and even action aficionados will be left wishing for more.”
Derek Smith
Slant Magazine
“Ultimately, it’s the filmmakers’ insistence on both subverting the expectations of the family Christmas film and upholding them that leaves Violent Night feeling like it wants to have its Christmas cookies and eat them too.”
Original Score: 1.5/4
Meagan Navarro
Bloody Disgusting
“Wirkola infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering in a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”
Original Score: 3.5/5
Mark Kennedy
Associated Press
“Few films have earned their R rating better. All that’s missing is you as long as you think it’s time to add a little blood to Christmas?”
Original Score: 2.5/4
Jake Cunningham
Empire Magazine
“With such a fun riff on the Santa story, it should’ve been good for goodness sake!”
Original Score: 2/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
“Die Hard meets Miracle on 34th Street. That’s it. That’s the pitch. And most of this blood-soaked action comedy neatly fulfils those expectations.”
Original Score: 3/5
Kyle Smith
Wall Street Journal
“This one gets bogged down with people sitting around talking, and when we finally reach a series of climactic confrontations, they’re lazily written and thoughtlessly staged.”
A.A. Dowd
Chron
“What a boon to larger-than-life Hollywood action figures Harbour is! We take him seriously, even when swaddled in the red of a Hellboy, a washed-up super spy, or a hammer-swinging Kris Kringle.”
Matthew Monagle
Austin Chronicle
“The result is a Santa Claus uncomplicated by backstory, which gives Harbour all the latitude he needs to find a winning character amidst the madness.”
Original Score: 3/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
“If all this mayhem was meant as a deliciously nasty antidote to seasonal schmaltz, they bottled out. The action’s dingy and the sugar content is equally grim.”
Original Score: 2/5
Katie Walsh
Tribune News Service
“Tries to be both naughty and nice and as it turns out, when it comes to those lists, it’s either one or the other.”
Original Score: 2/4
Elisabeth Vincentelli
New York Times
“A terminally cynical movie that tries to pass off lamebrained sadism as edgy comedy. Please — there is not enough edge here to cut through a fruitcake.”
Jack Smart
AV Club
“Although too many anachronistically cheery needle drops during gruesome fight sequences abound, there’s plenty to milk from the juxtaposition of family-friendly Christmas spirit and R-rated action and comedy.”
Original Score: B
Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune
“It’s not very good.”
Original Score: 1.5/4
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
“David Harbour’s slick new action movie combines slaughter and sleighbells. It’s brazenly amoral and outrageously sappy. Thanks to the Stranger Things star, it’s also a blast.”
Original Score: 4/5
Angie Han
Hollywood Reporter
“Delivers exactly what it promises on the box. It does not necessarily deliver much more than it promises on the box, but then it doesn’t need to.”
Owen Gleiberman
Variety
“Have yourself a bloody little gonzo action Christmas.”
Kate Erbland
indieWire
“For a film that finds its deepest joys in something as slam-dunk as an angry Santa Claus garroting a bad guy with a string of Christmas lights, “Violent Night” often muddles its best ideas with one heck of a convoluted plot.”
Original Score: C+
Alonso Duralde
TheWrap
“One of the Yuletide season’s most delightful surprises, not just for what it gets right but also for the many ways the whole production could have gone very, very wrong.”
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
“Guys, if you’re going to trash the spirit of Christmas, just trash it, OK? If you’re old enough for this kind of movie, you’re too old for a nostalgic yearning to be sitting in anyone’s lap.”
Original Score: 2/5
Violent Night is currently playing in theatres near you.
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