A Bit Naughty, A Bit Nice, ‘VIOLENT NIGHT’ Lives Up to Its Aggressive Holiday Title

There is perhaps no man in Hollywood who more perfectly exemplifies the idyllic dad bod than David Harbour. There’s something inimitable about his physique – not quite towering at 6’3” but still imposing; a man of considerable mass. From his turn in the mega-hit Netflix series Stranger Things to roles in Black Widow and as the titular figure in Neil Marshall’s ill-fated Hellboy reboot, Harbour leans into the physicality of his characters. It informs his intimating demeanor – or is just cheaply poked at for “fat jokes” (for shame Marvel, for shame.) Even when playing a gritty version of Oscar the Grouch on an SNL digital skit, Harbour imposes.

In almost every sense, Harbour is perfectly cast as a washed-up, alcoholic Santa Claus in Tommy Wirkola’s tongue-in-cheek black comedy Violent Night. From the first time we encounter him saddled up to a bar, drowning pints, this Santa Claus borrows as much from the legend of the man in the suit as it does from our familiarity with Harbour. He’s the film’s lucky penny, a glass slipper fit even in a movie that can beat you over the head with puns, winks, and nods.

The Dead Snow director applies a childlike wonder, demented sense of humor, and gory sensibilities to this story about a not-so-Jolly Saint Nick who gets caught up in the midst of a kidnapping scheme. His approach makes for a hyper-self-aware, modern redux of the character in a film that pays as much homage to films like Deadpool as it does to Die Hard and Home Alone. It doesn’t always work but when it applies the combination works, it works rather nicely, mustering up some hearty laughs of approval from my audience.

In the midst of his Christmas Eve present delivery, Santa is blasted on booze. He stumbles from chimney to chimney, lamenting about how fewer and fewer kids these days are making the nice list. Video games and cash being the principal item on their wish lists. When he lands at the Lightstone residence, chugging down their stash of top-shelf cognac, ole Kris Kringle finds himself holed up in the midst of an attack. Downstairs, Trudy (Leah Brady) and her dysfunctional family run by the stern and disapproving matriarch Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo) are held at gunpoint by a Christmas-hating mercenary played by John Leguizamo, who wants the 300 million dollars he suspects is located in a estate’s safe.

We learn that Santa Claus has a brutal backstory – and the full-body tribal tattoos to match that backstory – that involves him crushing the skulls of his enemies with a weapon befittingly called “Skull Crusher”. His days of dealing out death behind him, Santa must channel the rage of his previous life to make Trudy’s Christmas wish come true – and save her family.

Patently ridiculous, Violent Night thrives when it leans into the absurdity – though I could have done with less self-awareness and more intricate stunt choreography. The violence is stark – and Wirkola certainly doesn’t hold back on the blood – but there’s a one-dimensionality and simplicity to the action choreography that left me wanting more. I get that this Santa hasn’t seen battle in years but that doesn’t mean that his moves should look ancient. Fortunately, Harbour brings enough raw charisma to the role to overcome these naughty shortcomings.

The ensemble cast is largely charming – and it’s a particular pleasure to see The Righteous Gemstones breakout actress Edi Patterson on the big screen – even when everything is dialed up past 11. Perhaps most surprisingly, there’s enough spirit of holiday joy amidst all the bloodletting to make this a weirdly feel-good and crowd-pleasing delight. Good holiday movies are few and far between and while Violent Night isn’t top shelf, it’s a holiday actioner that gives its lumps with glee.

CONCLUSION: David Harbour shines as a beat-down Santa Claus who returns to his brutal ways in ‘Violent Night’. While a bit overly self-aware in spots, the film from Tommy Wirkola is an adult-oriented crowdpleaser that gifts action fans the Bad Santa movie they always wished for.