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Violent Night is a very meat-and-potatoes kind of action picture. You want to see David Harbour’s Santa Clause kick some ass, and he does just that. You’ll hear it described as a cross between Bad Santa, Home Alone, and Die Hard. Directed by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters) and written by Sonic: The Hedgehog scribes Pat Casey and Josh Miller, what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in gore and entertainment. Those looking for an old-school action movie with some clever comedy and references to popular Christmas movies past will be delighted. John Leguizamo seems to be having a blast as the villain. It was hard to envision David Harbour not landing this role, and he does with enthusiasm. Mrs. Griswold Beverly D’Angelo is in it. She gets to have fun playing the loathsome matriarch. One might wish Violent Night was a bit sharper regarding the screenplay. It doesn’t particularly have the satirical bite of taking down rich people like Ready or Not or, more recently, The Menu. It might not become a new holiday classic as it’s too forgettable for that, but time will tell.
