MOVIE PREVIEWS
VIOLENT NIGHT
Rated: R
Release Date: 12/02/2022
Production Company: Universal Pictures

Cast:
David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Cam Gigandet, Beverly D'Angelo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder and Edi Patterson.

Crew:
Director: Tommy Wirkola. Producers: Paul Berry, Guy Danella, Brandy Hagborg, David Leitch, Kelly McCormick and Scott Watson. Executive Producers: Marc S. Fischer and James Lin. Screenwriters: Pat Casey and Josh Miller. Cinematographer: Matthew Weston.
Plot:
By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

It's not likely "Violent Night" will land on my favorite Christmas movies list. Although, I admit I liked it much more than I expected to, violence and all. The main reason is because it stars the remarkably versatile and talented actors David Harbour (TV's "Stranger Things") and John Leguizamo ("The Menu.")

With "Violent Night," director Tommy Wirkola ("Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters") and screenwriters Pat Casey and Josh Miller ("Sonic the Hedgehog 2") borrow a page or two or three from "Die Hard," (1988), "Bad Santa," and "Home Alone" and kick up the bloody mayhem several notches.

This one is not for the kiddies.

Harbour plays Santa Claus, but he's had enough of the Ho, Ho, Ho scene and being jolly old St. Nick. He's become jaded in his old age and disenchanted about Christmas in general because kids are spoiled, greedy and don't appreciate its meaning. So, Santa spends his free time bellying up to bars and drinking to try and take the edge off. It's a good thing his reindeer do most of the heavy lifting/steering because on most nights this guy is plastered.

The only thing Santa wants is to get through this holiday season because he's considering hanging up his suit for good. It's Christmas Eve and, well, there are still plenty of stops to make.

Meanwhile, Jason Lightstone (Alex Hassell, "The Tragedy of Macbeth"), his precious young daughter Trudy (Leah Brady, TV's "The Umbrella Academy") and his ex-wife Linda (Alexis Louder, "Copshop") aren't thrilled about visiting Jason's foul-mouthed and wealthy mother Gertrude (a funny Beverly D'Angelo, "The Good House") who has about $300 million cash sitting in her home vault.

There are a group of ruthless thieves led by a cold-blooded killer named Mr. Scrooge (Leguizamo). They know everything about Gertrude and her family. They plan to break into their heavily secured mansion and steal all that money.

Wouldn't you know that Santa has just arrived at the Lightstone's mansion at the same time the heist is about to go down. Mr. Scrooge and his crew are serious as they shoot, slash, and kill the hired help to get into the residence.

The drama spooked the reindeer so badly, they dashed away leaving Santa behind and left to fend for himself. Old Santa isn't one to mess with either. Although Mr. Scrooge's henchmen get in some good licks on him, Santa manages to hold his own by outsmarting them at almost every turn. He has a special bit of "Christmas Magic" at his disposal that comes in handy too.

Santa also gets an unlikely assist from Trudy who is able to communicate with him thanks to a walkie talkie she got from her dad. She and Santa devise a plan to take down the bad guys in a "Home Alone" type fashion as the rest of the frightened and extended family that includes an egotistical teenage influencer (Alexander Elliot, TV's "The Hardy Boys"), an overrated movie star (Cam Gigandet, "Blowback") and Gertrude's spoiled daughter (Edi Patterson, "Knives Out"), all wonder if they'll survive this Christmas Eve nightmare.

"Violent Night" earns its R-rating as it is filled with a bunch of shootings, impalements, and lots of dismembered, bloody bodies. It's not a warm and cuddly holiday film by any means, but by the end of it, it makes a valiant effort to be.

Look At This Trailer For "VIOLENT NIGHT"

Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.

OLD SCHOOL VIDEO PICK OF THE MONTH

<b>MAHOGANY</b> Title: MAHOGANY
Year Released: 1975
Running Time: 109
Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Director: Berry Gordy, Tony Richardson and Jack Wormser
Director of Photography: David Watkin
Screenwriter: John Byrum and Toni Amber
Author: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

REVIEW: DIANA ROSS AND BILLY DEE WILLIAMS DAZZLE IN "MAHOGANY"

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for? When you look behind you, there's no open doors. What are you hoping for? Do you know? "Theme from Mahogany...
  MOVIE TRIVIA
 
The "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" was sung by Diana Ross in the 1975 movie "Mahogany." But, who initially recorded the song in 1973?
"Roberta Flack"
"Natalie Cole"
"Deniece Williams"
"Thelma Houston"