A Christmas film that has been dubbed “Santa meets Die Hard” by fans is set to air on Film 4 tonight.
Violent Night, a 2022 release, has rapidly gained popularity with its gritty action sequences and festive twist. The plot revolves around a gang breaking into a family compound on Christmas Eve and taking everyone hostage.
However, they are unprepared for Santa Claus, who happens to be on the premises and is far from saintly.
The star-studded cast includes Stranger Things actor David Harbour as Santa Claus, alongside John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo, Cam Gigandet, Edi Patterson, Alex Hassell, and Alexis Louder.
Filmed in the freezing conditions of Winnipeg, Canada, which doubles for Connecticut, the film is peppered with references to other Christmas and action films, much to the delight of eagle-eyed fans.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film, which runs for 1 hour and 52 minutes, boasts a solid rating of 74 percent based on over 214 reviews, many of which award it four or five stars. One glowing five-star review read: “I seriously love this movie. The balance between the Christmas spirit and the don’t mess with this Santa is perfect. The story is amazing and I love how it all is brought together.”, reports the Mirror.
Another posted: “So much fun! Santa meets Die Hard! All the action you could want with all the Christmas spirit to follow! ! Worth it!”.
“Extremely entertaining movie that I love to revisit every Christmas. For what it is, a fun action flick centered around jolly ol’ St Nick, it’s entertaining and surprisingly full of heart and strong character development,” said a third.
Another shared: “If you love Bad Santa [2003], this movie is definitely for you! One of the funniest movies of 2022 and is on my list to rewatch every christmas eve.
“Die Hard but John McClane is Santa and Santa loves his sledgehammer!” praised another.
Another wrote: “Violent Night” (2022) delivers a thrilling blend of action, humor, and holiday spirit. David Harbour shines as a gritty, no-nonsense Santa, bringing heart and chaos in equal measure.
Packed with intense fight scenes and dark comedy, it’s a wildly entertaining twist on Christmas classics. A must-watch for fans of action-packed holiday films!
“Others wished for a sequel as one person shared: “This movie is for adults. It is very good, very bloody and violent. I love the back story, which should be a prequel movie in itself. A prequel and a Silent Night 2 should definitely be in the works.”
Violent Night airs on Film 4 at 9pm on Monday 1 December.
