The ‘Violent Night’ Trailer Pits David Harbour’s Santa Against Mercenaries
The new Christmas action film is from ‘Dead Snow’ and ‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’ director Tommy Wirkola.
As the song goes, “You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout…” We’re telling you why – Santa Claus is not just coming to town. He’s going to town battling baddies who decide to take hostage and rob a wealthy family.
That’s the basic concept for ‘Violent Night’, the new film from ‘Dead Snow’ and ‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’ director Tommy Wirkola.
‘Stranger Things’ David Harbour stars here as Father Christmas, who when we first meet him in the trailer, is drowning his sorrows. He’s the OG Santa, and has been at this game a long time, starting to lose some self-belief.
What could restore his Christmas spirit? Try showing up at the home of young Trudy Lightstone (Leah Brady), whose wealthy family have gathered at their remote compound to celebrate the season.
(L to R) Jason (Alex Hassell), Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo), Alva (Edi Patterson), Linda (Alexis Louder), Trudy (Leah Brady) and Santa (David Harbour) in 'Violent Night,' directed by Tommy Wirkola.
Yet when their party is rudely interrupted by a group of mercenaries led by John Leguizamo’s Ben – a gang who want to rob the family of the $300 million sitting in their vault – Santa will have to dish out some season’s beatings.
Expect a lot of Christmas puns in this one, which comes across as ‘Die Hard’ meets ‘Bad Santa’. While Harbour’s take on the character isn’t as badly behaved as Billy Bob Thornton’s, he’s certainly not your average, jolly Kris Kringle. This Santa knows how to fight.
With David Leitch – who became friends with Wirkola after running second unit and stunts for him on 'Hansel & Gretel' – producing alongside his partner Kelly McCormick and their 87North company, you know the combat scenes are going to be intense and inventive.
Boasting a host of Christmas decorations around to use as weapons, Santa will be dishing out rough justice to all those the naughty list, and even swapping out the usual lump of coal for a grenade down someone’s pants. Christmas lights, decorations and candy canes are all utilized to take out the baddies.
David Harbour in 'Violent Night,' directed by Tommy Wirkola.
The cast for ‘Violent Night’ also includes Cam Gigandet, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, and, because Wirkola is a big fan of ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’, Beverly D’Angelo, here playing a much frostier character than her beloved, easygoing Ellen Griswold.
Expect a load of references and Easter Eggs – though perhaps that should be Christmas baubles – to other festive films here, including ‘Home Alone’ and as mentioned above, ‘Die Hard’.
The tone is silly fun with a side order of furious chaos; after all, how many other films have Santa beating someone up with a sock filled with pool balls and then a joke about stepping in reindeer poop? You know what you did, Prancer.
With a script by ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ franchise veterans Pat Casey and Josh Miller, ‘Violent Night’ will be in theaters on December 2nd. Always bet on red…
(L to R) David Harbour and director Tommy Wirkola on the set of 'Violent Night.'
(L to R) David Harbour and John Leguizamo on the set of 'Violent Night.'
