What really makes this film great, besides the "David Harbor as killer Santa Claus" premise, is that it's somehow kind of an earnest Christmas movie, too.
The way a little girl goes "Skullcrusher!" in the same way she'd go "Rudolph!" of "Santa!" in a normal Christmas movie just sums up how this movie works for me. Because somehow it makes sense in context and you believe it.
That's exactly why this works for me. If it didn't have at least a hint of that "Christmas sweetness/spirit" and it was just violent santa claus the whole time I don't think it would have worked as well for me
You left out one of my favorite lines in the film. _"He might actually be a decent actor. He's doing an Oscar worthy job of pretending to find my sister appealing."_
Cannot overstate how much I love the creative decision they made to have Santa totally not know how guns work - because, regardless of him being an ancient warrior, why would he? Makes his methods much more interesting and versatile than just spraying and praying.
Okay, that last kill is the most creative in the whole movie. The fact he could only successfully use that power is if someone nearby believed in him and therefore Christmas, was really clever.
I saw Violent Night in theatres and that scene had the theatre cheer. True story: I was thinking that Santa was going to use his magic to go up the chimney and then jump down WWE style and use his sledgehammer to smash Scrooge's face like a watermelon. I didn't not expect Santa to take villain with him up the chimney. When that happen, I turned my head left and met the eyes of another guy in the theatre with a surprised look on both of our faces. This film certainly subverted our expectations.
The best thing about this film (besides David) is that it knows exactly what kind of film it is and does not hold back. It knows what it's doing. It is exactly what the trailers made it out to be and I love that!
I know, right? The trailers sold it in perfectly, and the movie hits every note! My brother-in-law hasn't seen it yet, watching this when we're at his house this Xmas will be his present! 🤣
It's like the studio asked for "Santa movie but stabby and cussy" and everyone on the team said "okay, but what if we actually flexed?" Because they didn't have to go as hard as they did, but I love that they did.
I love the surprising amount of heart this movie has. Like yeah it’s a violent action comedy with Santa as an action hero, but it still keeps that heart warming Christmas feeling in it which is so cool.
8:20 - Boxing Day is named after a Victorian tradition, when the wealthy people gave their servants the day off and little gift boxes as thanks for working hard on Christmas.
John leguizamo is so perfectly evil in this movie! Like he really feels like someone that got burned on Christmas and just let that badness fester and infect him. And when he’s presented with the real life icon of Christmas what does he do? Repent? Find forgiveness? No, he decides to end Christmas there and ruin it for everyone like it was ruined for him. So evil!
This has quickly become a personal favorite Christmas movie. I was raving about it last year and plan to tell everyone this year to see it. It’s not perfect but I love how it uses Santa mythos to do interesting things in its action sequences.
Fun fact! Originally they were supposed to be a post-credit scene which would have had Santa returning to the house that had the drunk alcoholic father with his poor little girl in a crib. Santa would have woken him up and informed him that he was going to have to give that little girl a better life because Santa had decided that he was going to become more proactive as the protector of children
The scene in Stranger Things 2x1 where Murray is talking to Hopper about the ‘Russian Girl” and Hopper trying to mislead him asks him if he’s heard of a fat guy in a red suit hits a bit different now.
Christians stole the holiday from norse pagan holiday called Yule. We still call the holiday Jul in nordic countries. They just made the myth more christian aka changing it to Saint Nicholas.@@chrischan9318
@themedicalmasta Even though that yule and Christmas has two different days, it's like saying that mothers Day and Memorial Day are the same because they are in the same month. Plus, we know what Saint Nicholas looks like because we documentations, writings, and even drawing and painting of him.
Took my (at the time) 15 and 10 year olds to see this last year in theater! They absolutely loved it. My eldest and I were geeking out about the Norse references, my youngest and I were geeking out about the takedowns. Instant holiday classic for my family! Been WAITING A YEAR for this reaction and I'm so happy it's here. 🎉
In most films people will be given a choice AFTER they’ve done what they’ve done with whatever they’ve been given so it could’ve started out he felt like it was a curse but by the end started to like what he did and when given the option to leave he decided to stay
Its more of a little point nudging at ONE of the potential origins of Santa Claus. In the Viking era, Thor would journey to Midgaard and give gifts to children every Yule, which was Thor's birthday. Some depict Thor, some depict Odin.
5:49 that’s Ellen Griswold from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. 13:54 remember kids to put a Molotov cocktail on your list for Santa. 36:29 it said his mothers heart.
This movie was amazing to me when I saw it at the theaters!! Having Santa as a Norse Viking is so crazy to watch and the creativity to the deaths and stuff! It was just a fun time 😂
i knew this movie was going to be brutal, but i NEVER would have imagined that one of the most brutal deaths come from a trap a kid made😂 absolutely loved the reaction to that moment lol
This movie is over the top...and I love it! It does nothing except want to be a fun and entertaining Christmas movie. It's literally Die Hard meets Home Alone, but with Santa. It's such a damn fun movie and also has a great message to go along with it. This movie has definitely gone into my Christmas rotation of movies to watch around the holidays.
The old lady in that house is Beverly D’Angelo! She’s Best Known For Playing Chevy Chase’s Wife In The National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies! MIND BLOWN!!!
This movie is awesome. I knew going in it was going to be nuts thanks to seeing Tommy Wirkola's previous work in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (a kick ass film in it's own right) but this was even better.
I saw this movie with my dad and we were both very surprised by the amount of heart they worked into the story. We both really enjoyed everything about the movie.
David Harbour and John Leguizamo killed it for me in this movie. They were both so great. Also loved seeing the research put in as far as Santa's backstory. The Nordic version of Santa was not a happy jolly guy for sure. If you look more into the mythology this becomes more than just a Christmas themed action flick. It is a highly historical look at Santa Clause and his evolution over history.
I went with my best friend to this movie last year in the theater for a change of pace from the major tentpole movies. We had a blast. Felt like an awesome love letter to Die Hard and Home Alone. David Harbour as Santa was genius casting!
Apparently Around Christmas or on Yule was a day when it’s said that Odin on his horse would travel across the sky visiting each household and the kids would leave their shoes next to the hearth and leave and a sugar for him. Also a man in the community would volunteer and dress like Odin or ‘old man winter’ Another Yule yarn is that Odins son Baldr was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe and was resurrected by his mother by turning the mistletoe berries red. Around Christmas for three days in the northern hemisphere many celebrations with mentions of resurrection is usually representative of the darkest day, when the sun aligns the southern cross and when the sun starts it journey back to the north bring life with.
The Scrooge death had me yelling "Fatality! FLAWLESS VICTORY!" You should watch the video that has the hammer scene with Doom music overtop. Its hilarious
My only note for this movie would have been for the actor guy to never be seen again after jumping out of the window. As satisfying as it was to see him die I think it would have been funnier to not know if he made it, if he died, or if he just kept running and never looked back!
This is by far the most best I’ve ever seen on Christmas with a mixture of fighting and heartwarming. It feels like die hard and home alone came together
Great reaction to a great movie. Btw, Grandma Gertrude is also the mom/wife from the NATIONAL LAMPOON VACATION movies, especially CHRISTMAS VACATION: Beverly D’Angelo
I would totally want a prequel movie about his origins as a viking, that scene was awesome; never thought I would say this but I want this Santa in the next MK game as a DLC, those moves were dope
I'd actually JUST wached this for the first time last night and didn't notice it on the patreon posts the last few weeks. Makes sense because...well christmas, but still!
I would never have watched this movie on my own so I figured no harm in watching your reaction and the thumbnail made me really want to see it 🤣 but omg that was absolutely batshit hahaha
I can just imagine when the soldiers get to the afterlife and the person at the gate is like “and how did you die” … “death by Santa Claus ok definitely to Satan you go”
I am sooo happy that a lot of commenters share my thoughts on this movie. It never forgets the Christmas Spirit and still manages to convey everything the movie wants to be.
Saw this when it first came out, sadly i saw it with my now ex so i avoided even trying to remember this movie. Its good to rewatch it with you guys for a better memory
I remember watching this movie for the first time at a cinema staff party in 2022 and while the story wasn’t really anything interesting, it had so many of those moments that really sold and made this movie feel just a fun and brutal classic Christmas action comedy movie!!
Boxing Day became big during the Vitorian Era. Rich people would box up gifts for the poor. This was also the day given to the servants to celebrate the Christmas holiday. Today, in British Commonwealth, it is marked by post-Christmas sales in stores.
I don't mean to keep bringing Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn up, but the leader of the rescue team played the General that. And I didn't know that until I watched this. His imdb is an interesting one.
BEYOND members and Raw Rider Patrons can watch the Full Length Reaction HERE: blindwave.com/video/violent-night-movie-full
@2:40 Shouldn’t that be “a flyby puking”? 😁
So the creator of this absolutely just went: "People don't think Die Hard is a Christmas film, huh?" and ran with it.
And if Home Alone was R rated 😂
And mixed in a little Home Alone for good measure
This is INFINITELY more a Christmas movie than Die Hard.
@@legionaireb Pump your breaks, man. That’s debatable at best.
@@246Archangel😂
What really makes this film great, besides the "David Harbor as killer Santa Claus" premise, is that it's somehow kind of an earnest Christmas movie, too.
The way a little girl goes "Skullcrusher!" in the same way she'd go "Rudolph!" of "Santa!" in a normal Christmas movie just sums up how this movie works for me. Because somehow it makes sense in context and you believe it.
That's exactly why this works for me. If it didn't have at least a hint of that "Christmas sweetness/spirit" and it was just violent santa claus the whole time I don't think it would have worked as well for me
he could plat the actual thor
I love the moments where Santa knows who the robbers are and talks to them on the level like when they were kids.
Not killer but protector
You left out one of my favorite lines in the film.
_"He might actually be a decent actor. He's doing an Oscar worthy job of pretending to find my sister appealing."_
Yeah, that line gets me.
Cannot overstate how much I love the creative decision they made to have Santa totally not know how guns work - because, regardless of him being an ancient warrior, why would he? Makes his methods much more interesting and versatile than just spraying and praying.
Okay, that last kill is the most creative in the whole movie. The fact he could only successfully use that power is if someone nearby believed in him and therefore Christmas, was really clever.
I saw Violent Night in theatres and that scene had the theatre cheer. True story: I was thinking that Santa was going to use his magic to go up the chimney and then jump down WWE style and use his sledgehammer to smash Scrooge's face like a watermelon. I didn't not expect Santa to take villain with him up the chimney. When that happen, I turned my head left and met the eyes of another guy in the theatre with a surprised look on both of our faces. This film certainly subverted our expectations.
That is a better Mortal Kombat fatality than MK1's holiday fatality
The best thing about this film (besides David) is that it knows exactly what kind of film it is and does not hold back. It knows what it's doing. It is exactly what the trailers made it out to be and I love that!
I know, right? The trailers sold it in perfectly, and the movie hits every note!
My brother-in-law hasn't seen it yet, watching this when we're at his house this Xmas will be his present! 🤣
I love how strangely wholesome this movie is.
Also, jeez is Leguizamo underrated in this. He’s pure evil while still being sympathetic
I wouldn't say "sympathetic" so much as "understandable"
I kept hoping he would have a redemption but that kill at the end was so epic I don’t even care!
It's like the studio asked for "Santa movie but stabby and cussy" and everyone on the team said "okay, but what if we actually flexed?" Because they didn't have to go as hard as they did, but I love that they did.
This is unironically my favorite depiction of Santa ever.
Everything from David Harbour and John Leguizamo’s acting to the chimney kill makes this a certified holiday classic in my eyes😂
The reaction to that ladder/nail moment was fantastic.
The Home Alone trap sequence made my ribs hurt so much from how hard I was laughing when I saw this in theaters.😂
I think Jason finally earned his mom's respect when she read the note about him stealing the money.
That was a very Lucille and Michael moment
I love the surprising amount of heart this movie has. Like yeah it’s a violent action comedy with Santa as an action hero, but it still keeps that heart warming Christmas feeling in it which is so cool.
8:20 - Boxing Day is named after a Victorian tradition, when the wealthy people gave their servants the day off and little gift boxes as thanks for working hard on Christmas.
John leguizamo is so perfectly evil in this movie! Like he really feels like someone that got burned on Christmas and just let that badness fester and infect him. And when he’s presented with the real life icon of Christmas what does he do? Repent? Find forgiveness? No, he decides to end Christmas there and ruin it for everyone like it was ruined for him. So evil!
This movie is SOO fun!
"How fast can you hate a character?" And ... go!
This has quickly become a personal favorite Christmas movie. I was raving about it last year and plan to tell everyone this year to see it. It’s not perfect but I love how it uses Santa mythos to do interesting things in its action sequences.
Fun fact! Originally they were supposed to be a post-credit scene which would have had Santa returning to the house that had the drunk alcoholic father with his poor little girl in a crib. Santa would have woken him up and informed him that he was going to have to give that little girl a better life because Santa had decided that he was going to become more proactive as the protector of children
Would have been perfect sequel bait!
Who wouldn't want vengeful Santa kicking more butt?
The scene in Stranger Things 2x1 where Murray is talking to Hopper about the ‘Russian Girl” and Hopper trying to mislead him asks him if he’s heard of a fat guy in a red suit hits a bit different now.
David Harbor has stated he wants Charlize Theron as Mrs. Claus for the sequel
I always enjoy when you see them looking horrified in the thumbnail and instantly know the moment that will be in reaction to
Petition to get santa added to mortal kombat. That fatality was better then most i cant lie.
I second this
That was my first thought 😂
After this movie, that was my exact thought
Saw this in theater with a group of guys dressed as Santa and we played Xmas trivia. This movie was a blast and is now a part of my Xmas tradition! ❤
The viking thing makes sense, since some of the stuff about santa came from myths about Odin, IIRC
It's actually saint Nicholas, not Odin
Christians stole the holiday from norse pagan holiday called Yule. We still call the holiday Jul in nordic countries. They just made the myth more christian aka changing it to Saint Nicholas.@@chrischan9318
@@chrischan9318 Yuletide, the Norse season that gave us yule logs and carol singing. This festival used the early-pagan imagery of Odin
@@chrischan9318 The Christian faith stole many traditions from the pagans they demonized, it's pretty ironic 😂
@themedicalmasta Even though that yule and Christmas has two different days, it's like saying that mothers Day and Memorial Day are the same because they are in the same month. Plus, we know what Saint Nicholas looks like because we documentations, writings, and even drawing and painting of him.
This movie is so awesome. An instant Christmas classic!
I know right
This is honestly a fun movie. Just so ridiculously awesome
Took my (at the time) 15 and 10 year olds to see this last year in theater! They absolutely loved it. My eldest and I were geeking out about the Norse references, my youngest and I were geeking out about the takedowns. Instant holiday classic for my family! Been WAITING A YEAR for this reaction and I'm so happy it's here. 🎉
In all honesty, I would love a prequel. How does a Norse warrior become St. Nick? Was it a choice or a curse?
In most films people will be given a choice AFTER they’ve done what they’ve done with whatever they’ve been given so it could’ve started out he felt like it was a curse but by the end started to like what he did and when given the option to leave he decided to stay
Its more of a little point nudging at ONE of the potential origins of Santa Claus. In the Viking era, Thor would journey to Midgaard and give gifts to children every Yule, which was Thor's birthday. Some depict Thor, some depict Odin.
Every now and then a film comes along that is better than it has any right to be, this is one of those films.
LOL Eric was so tired and/or bored here. There were times where his eyes were completely closed for several seconds lol poor guy
5:49 that’s Ellen Griswold from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. 13:54 remember kids to put a Molotov cocktail on your list for Santa. 36:29 it said his mothers heart.
This movie was amazing to me when I saw it at the theaters!! Having Santa as a Norse Viking is so crazy to watch and the creativity to the deaths and stuff! It was just a fun time 😂
Can’t wait for the sequel
Hope we get Mrs. Claus in on the action.
@@HaydrogenBomb... I think I remember reading that they were talking about a sequel, with Charlize Theron as Mrs Claus...
@@DiscoRaptor That is exactly the type of actress I'm hoping they go with for that.
i knew this movie was going to be brutal, but i NEVER would have imagined that one of the most brutal deaths come from a trap a kid made😂
absolutely loved the reaction to that moment lol
Santa’s chimney fatality was epic
yup, will be including this on my post thanksgiving, beginning of Christmas movie watching list.... Die Hard, Home Alone and now Violent Night 🤣😂👍
Don't forget Fatman!
This movie is over the top...and I love it! It does nothing except want to be a fun and entertaining Christmas movie. It's literally Die Hard meets Home Alone, but with Santa. It's such a damn fun movie and also has a great message to go along with it. This movie has definitely gone into my Christmas rotation of movies to watch around the holidays.
The minuite I saw an ad for this I knew I needed to see it, it did not dissapoint.
The old lady in that house is Beverly D’Angelo! She’s Best Known For Playing Chevy Chase’s Wife In The National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies! MIND BLOWN!!!
This movie is awesome. I knew going in it was going to be nuts thanks to seeing Tommy Wirkola's previous work in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (a kick ass film in it's own right) but this was even better.
I saw this movie with my dad and we were both very surprised by the amount of heart they worked into the story. We both really enjoyed everything about the movie.
David Harbour and John Leguizamo killed it for me in this movie. They were both so great. Also loved seeing the research put in as far as Santa's backstory. The Nordic version of Santa was not a happy jolly guy for sure. If you look more into the mythology this becomes more than just a Christmas themed action flick. It is a highly historical look at Santa Clause and his evolution over history.
I went with my best friend to this movie last year in the theater for a change of pace from the major tentpole movies. We had a blast. Felt like an awesome love letter to Die Hard and Home Alone. David Harbour as Santa was genius casting!
Did anyone not notice at the beginning his sleigh was shaped like a Viking ship? I've yet to hear any mention of that.
So glad that you guys reacted to this movie. The reaction during home alone scene is just hilarious🤣 The chimney kill is EPIC
10:43 this scene is what instantly got me hooked on the movie in the trailer
Such a great film, violent like the title says, but its so fun. Cant wait to see your guys reaction
silly gooses that's Ellen Griswold from the Vacation movies!
Apparently Around Christmas or on Yule was a day when it’s said that Odin on his horse would travel across the sky visiting each household and the kids would leave their shoes next to the hearth and leave and a sugar for him. Also a man in the community would volunteer and dress like Odin or ‘old man winter’
Another Yule yarn is that Odins son Baldr was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe and was resurrected by his mother by turning the mistletoe berries red. Around Christmas for three days in the northern hemisphere many celebrations with mentions of resurrection is usually representative of the darkest day, when the sun aligns the southern cross and when the sun starts it journey back to the north bring life with.
The Scrooge death had me yelling "Fatality! FLAWLESS VICTORY!"
You should watch the video that has the hammer scene with Doom music overtop. Its hilarious
been waiting for this reaction for a whole year!!!
I think Violent Night is the best Christmas movie to date. 😊😊I read that a sequel is already being planned. I am looking forward to.😊😊
"Says the people who have two people in their house. I'd love a house where I dont see anyone" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
My only note for this movie would have been for the actor guy to never be seen again after jumping out of the window.
As satisfying as it was to see him die I think it would have been funnier to not know if he made it, if he died, or if he just kept running and never looked back!
Soon as I saw this it was instantly added to the "films you watch at Xmas every year" list... absolute blast of a movie! 😂
I really loved this movie. A new tradition has been added to my Christmas list.
This film has a very 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' feel to it, in the best way possible
Fuck yes, I’ve been waiting for you guys to react to this movie. It’s fucking awesome!
“Christmas dies tonight.” “I dunno what’s happening, but it ends tonight.” “Damn right, it does.” [Gunshot in the head]. And the last villain dead.
The guy who played Gingerbread was in a Norwegian rap group in the 90's called Warlocks.
this movie is now a tradition for my friend to wach we saw it in theaters and fell out of my seat laughing at some points it grate
I feel like this would be Grunkle Stan as Santa in an R rated setting
I have been waiting for this!!!
This is by far the most best I’ve ever seen on Christmas with a mixture of fighting and heartwarming.
It feels like die hard and home alone came together
This definitely became our new Christmas movie each year.
10:04 I know it’s illegal villain, but man that was an incredible line and finishing move
The only thing I didn’t like was that they didn’t show him actually becoming Santa, just him pre-Santa.
28:22 It’s hammer time.
Great reaction to a great movie.
Btw, Grandma Gertrude is also the mom/wife from the NATIONAL LAMPOON VACATION movies, especially CHRISTMAS VACATION: Beverly D’Angelo
I saw this in the theater when it came out and I’m a rather stoic movie watcher but I laughed out loud the whole time 😂
Many thanks to Eric, Calvin and Aaron! 🎅🏽 This one is so good, isn't it? Kudos to director Tommy Wirkola.
Ive been so excited for this reaction!!!!
Finished watching the movie today and absolutely loved it.
This movie was way way better than I expected honestly, also David Harbor was too good🔥👍🏻💯.
Violent Night is one of my favorite Christmas movies. I need a sequel by next Christmas
I would totally want a prequel movie about his origins as a viking, that scene was awesome; never thought I would say this but I want this Santa in the next MK game as a DLC, those moves were dope
Kind of reminds me of Highlander. "There can be only one" .... Santa. :D
The nail through the chin was brutal, not as bad as Hot Fuzz though
Just seen this recently & absolutely ♥ it! 'Nailed it!' - ~giggles~ 😃
♥ how wholesome & outrageously violently fun this movie is! 😊
I'd actually JUST wached this for the first time last night and didn't notice it on the patreon posts the last few weeks. Makes sense because...well christmas, but still!
I would never have watched this movie on my own so I figured no harm in watching your reaction and the thumbnail made me really want to see it 🤣 but omg that was absolutely batshit hahaha
The Krampus actor was also Stanley in season 7 of 'Arrow', the serial killer that became obsessed with Oliver while he was incarcerated
we really need more Christmas Movies like this.
this made my Christmas last year! been waiting for this reaction ever since! instant top 5 Christmas films for me.
Hopeful we will not get a sequel but instead a prequel with Santa's backstory. Great reaction.
It’s all want for Christmas
It truly was a violent night.
I can just imagine when the soldiers get to the afterlife and the person at the gate is like “and how did you die” … “death by Santa Claus ok definitely to Satan you go”
This movie was the greatest surprise one could ever get. 2022 was not the best year for me and this movie helped.
I would love a Gremlins reaction!
My new favorite Christmas movie. I bought this before I saw any reactions, or anything. Never see Santa the same way again.
Did you all end up seeing Fatman but not reacting to it? I recall your reaction to the trailer. :)
I am sooo happy that a lot of commenters share my thoughts on this movie. It never forgets the Christmas Spirit and still manages to convey everything the movie wants to be.
Thats not the lady from Kindergarten Cop. Thats the mom from the National Lampoons Vacation movies. Beverly DeAngelo.
Saw this when it first came out, sadly i saw it with my now ex so i avoided even trying to remember this movie. Its good to rewatch it with you guys for a better memory
I’d kill for this Santa to be in Mortal Kombat. He’d fit so well and would be so fun to play. The chimney kill would 100% be a fatality.
I remember watching this movie for the first time at a cinema staff party in 2022 and while the story wasn’t really anything interesting, it had so many of those moments that really sold and made this movie feel just a fun and brutal classic Christmas action comedy movie!!
You guys should watch The Fatman too, with Mel Gibson. It's awesome!!
Please watch Fatman it the best!!!
Boxing Day became big during the Vitorian Era. Rich people would box up gifts for the poor. This was also the day given to the servants to celebrate the Christmas holiday. Today, in British Commonwealth, it is marked by post-Christmas sales in stores.
"Jean Claude Van Dipshit just ditched us!" LOL!
The henchman nicknamed Krampus was in Arrow season 7. He was the prisoner who was obsessed with Oliver and became his sidekick behind bars.
I don't mean to keep bringing Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn up, but the leader of the rescue team played the General that. And I didn't know that until I watched this. His imdb is an interesting one.
2nd movie has already been confirmed
Great freaking movie!
I think you would like Santa's slay, It's a horror comedy from 2006 starring Bill Goldberg as santa, could be a fun reaction.