Violent Night. 'It's a Christmas movie, but not as we know it, Jim.'

https://youtu.be/a53e4HHnx_s

This is going to be in a slightly different format from usual.  The remarks below were posted direct to Facebook after I had seen the film, but I think that it sums it up pretty well – and will certainly tell you if it is the sort of film that you would enjoy!

The film contains all the following genre tropes and characteristics :

  • Child's innocent total belief in Father Christmas. TICK

  • Bone- crunching violence throughout TICK

  • Split and dysfunctional family comes together in the seasonal spirit. TICK

  • Knowing references to the Die Hard movies. TICK

  • Tribute to the booby traps of Home Alone. TICK

  • Depiction of blood and graphic real -life results of said booby traps e.g. bowling balls to the head .TICK

  • Features lovable Christmas characters such as Santa's reindeer. TICK.

A smart original point made that the existence of Santa and his sleigh would most likely be proven by piles of reindeer crap on roofs.

The Zone of Interest. Remarkably powerfully understated exploration of the inexplicable.

The Good Liar: Gripping and masterfully performed slow-burn thriller.