There are a few holiday traditions that some people just can’t seem to agree on. Some people love fruitcake while others despise it. Some people love hearing Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You on repeat while it drives others crazy. And some people don’t think Die Hard is a Christmas movie even though it totally is.
That last group of people won’t make the same mistake with Violent Night, which will give us a version of Santa Claus that is both naughty and nice.
What is Violent Night About?
Billed as a “coal-dark holiday thriller,” Violent Night sounds like the unholy combination of Home Alone, Fatman and Die Hard. Here is the official synopsis for the crazy action-packed Christmas movie from Universal Pictures:
When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.
Based on that description (and the title, poster and literally everything else known about the film), this holiday movie will certainly not be fun for the whole family. However, those along for the violent over-the-top ride are guaranteed a good time, at least according to the film’s star.
David Harbour Is Santa Claus
Best known as Hopper in Stranger Things, or more recently as Red Guardian in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, David Harbor stars as a different type of red guardian, Santa Claus. David Harbour has shown that he can pull off both comedy and action with ease, and has an extremely likeable persona, which should make for a very interesting take on Santa.
In addition to David Harbour, the impressive cast list includes John Leguizamo, Edi Patterson, and Beverly D’Angelo. D’Angelo is perhaps the most interesting bit of meta-casting here considering she is Christmas movie royalty thanks to her role as Ellen Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Violent Night also features a vast range of talent behind-the-scenes. Violent Night is produced by 87North, the same producers behind John Wick, Atomic Blonde and another jolly guy in a red suit in Deadpool 2. Director Tommy Wirkola previously helmed the chaotic action-horror-comedy hybrid, Hansel & Gretel: Which Hunters, as well as both films in the ridiculously fun Dead Snow franchise, which managed to breathe new life into the zombie genre.
Violent Night Trailer
Universal Pictures has released the trailer for Violent Night, which you can view below. Judging by the trailer, we are in for many holiday puns, and the most holiday action since Die Hard. This is certainly going to be a wild Christmas movie with a very different type of Santa Claus. And you certainly don't want to end up on his naughty list.
You Better Watch Out for Violent Night
Violent Night will be released exclusively in theaters on December 2, 2022. There is no word yet if it will be available to stream shortly after; however, comic fans may be able to attend an early screening at New York Comic Con in October.
This is one Christmas flick the Elf Squad can’t wait to check out, after putting the little ones to bed of course. Will a violent and crazy David Harbour end up becoming the next iconic portrayal of Santa Claus?
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