With regards to non-traditional Santa Claus films, there are some nice ones to select from. There are many films to observe at Christmas, and most of them are about spreading vacation cheer and expressing joyful themes. Nevertheless, when a film distorts Santa into one thing darkish, the movies tackle new meanings.
One of the best of the non-traditional Santa Claus films are sometimes horror movies, however there are additionally darkish comedies and even some explosive motion flicks. It’s typically enjoyable to see a impolite, violent, or comedic model of Santa Claus reasonably than the joyful fats man. When performed proper, it hits all the right notes and stays a strong piece of vacation leisure.
Fatman (2020)
Fatman is a 2020 darkish comedy a couple of man named Chris Cringle who operates a Christmas current workshop from a farm in Alaska. Whereas he survives on authorities subsidies, he quickly finds that children are getting extra vicious and the federal government desires to chop again. As a substitute, the federal government asks if he can produce jet-fighter elements for them as a substitute.
The primary motion comes when a baby, offended that he received coal for Christmas, hires an murderer to go and kill Chris, main to an enormous struggle. As anticipated, this can be a non-traditional Santa Claus film a couple of man who as soon as held the Christmas spirit however now lashes out at a world that appears to have misplaced its method.
Whereas Fatman had little success on the field workplace, it was a success when it arrived on streaming. Critics had been lukewarm, with most saying it may need been higher served by delivering extra crazed motion. Nonetheless, it stays an fascinating film and a strong later profession Mel Gibson efficiency because the annoyed Santa Claus.
A Christmas Horror Story (2015)
Many of the non-traditional Santa Claus films are within the horror style, and A Christmas Horror Story may need the least inventive identify of all of them. Nevertheless, this Canadian anthology movie tries to supply one thing completely different, and it even features a efficiency by William Shatner as a radio DJ tying the tales collectively.
Shatner is “Harmful Dan,” a radio DJ engaged on Christmas who warns his listeners to keep away from a disturbance at a neighborhood mall whereas taking part in music for his or her enjoyment. The movie has 4 tales, with the primary involving murderous ghosts, the second a couple of changeling, the third about Krampus, and the fourth about zombies.
Critics praised the anthology movie, awarding it an 83% Rotten Tomatoes score, with the third and fourth segments receiving probably the most consideration. It was these segments that concerned Santa, with Krampus in each, and a mall-store Santa Claus slowly dropping grip on his sanity.
Santa’s Slay (2005)
Launched in 2005, Santa’s Slay starred former WWE famous person Invoice Goldberg as a serial killer Santa Claus. The mythology right here is that Santa was initially a demon pressured to unfold yuletide cheer after he misplaced a wager with an angel. Nevertheless, this film sees him lastly reverting to his true evil self.
It was fascinating to see Goldberg in a number one film position, particularly since appearing wasn’t one in all his sturdy factors in wrestling. Nevertheless, given the prospect to only scowl and assault individuals, he had a superb grip on the character on this very violent and sometimes vulgar vacation horror slasher film.
What works finest is that the darkish humor is prevalent all through the operating time. There are some intense horror scenes, however there may be additionally a wink and a nod to let individuals know that that is all in good enjoyable. Goldberg was by no means going to be a film star, however this was one movie the place he really pulled it off.
Purple One (2024)
Purple One was a film that obtained lots of criticism when it got here out, thanks partially to the sluggish burnout some followers have had towards Dwayne Johnson over the previous few years. It was additionally a tricky promote because it had a funds of round $250 million, which made it a movie that wasn’t going to make a revenue.
Purple One was a field workplace bomb, solely making $186 million, and a essential failure, sitting at 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. That stated, there’s a lot right here to love for individuals who wish to flip off their brains and luxuriate in some popcorn leisure. Johnson does his schtick, Chris Evans is nice as a foul boy, and JK Simmons is a superb Santa Claus.
To take pleasure in Purple One, followers want to know that the movie was meant to be family-friendly leisure, with some nice motion, instructed in a really self-aware method. The filmmakers knew what sort of film they had been making, and it really works for individuals who wish to settle in for one thing enjoyable.
Krampus (2015)
A couple of years after making his good Halloween horror anthology Trick ‘R Deal with, Michael Dougherty set his sights on one other vacation. Krampus brings the legend of the demonic counterpart to Santa Claus to the massive display in a darkish comedy horror movie.
The story follows a dysfunctional household at Christmas whose preventing causes a younger boy to get offended sufficient to summon the wrath of Krampus onto his residence. In contrast to Santa, who brings vacation cheer and presents to good youngsters, Krampus punishes naughty kids in probably the most horrifying method conceivable.
Krampus did not discover the identical appreciation because the cult favourite Trick ‘R Deal with, though it delivered a enjoyable vacation horror story with some nice set items. With a solid that included Adam Scott and Tony Collette, there was quite a bit right here to like, and by the top, dangerous youngsters had one thing new to concern at Christmas.
Silent Evening, Lethal Evening (1984)
There have been sequels and a remake, however ignore all these and watch the unique Nineteen Eighties Santa Claus horror film. Silent Evening, Lethal Evening is a non-traditional Santa Claus film a couple of man who clothes up as Saint Nick after which units out on a vacation killing spree. It was one of many higher holiday-themed horror movies of the ’80s.
The film was made on an especially low funds, hoping to make a revenue on the field workplace. It additionally obtained combined opinions, which helped individuals uncover it on the time. The dangerous opinions made it a good greater cult hit for horror followers, particularly when Roger Ebert stated “disgrace on you” to the filmmakers and Gene Siskel stated it was made on “blood cash.”
These feedback ensured that Silent Evening, Lethal Evening would retain a strong backing from horror followers and gore hounds, and it has remained beloved, incomes 4 sequels and a poorly obtained reboot in 2012.
Uncommon Exports: A Christmas Story (2010)
Uncommon Exports: A Christmas Story is a cult non-traditional Santa Claus film that continues to be obscure, nevertheless it deserves an enormous viewers from the horror neighborhood. It is a Finnish horror film a couple of group of people that study the true secret behind Santa Claus and find yourself trapping wild Santas and exporting them world wide.
It is a film about there being a number of Santa Clauses, all demonic evil beings who harm kids, much like the Krampus tales. The twist is that each one these demonic creatures are reprogrammed and despatched to malls world wide to function Santas there. Nevertheless, attending to that twist is the most effective a part of the film.
Uncommon Exports was really a small field workplace success due to its decrease funds, and its 90% Rotten Tomatoes score ensures that horror followers will in the future uncover it, in the event that they have not already. It is a high quality horror film, even with out the concept that it entails murderous Santas and evil reindeer.
Violent Evening (2022)
Violent Evening is a a lot better non-traditional Santa Claus film than it had any proper to be. A lot of its success lies within the efficiency of Stranger Issues’ star David Harbour as Santa Claus. The movie sees Santa as a drunk, able to retire and give up his job because the world has change into too materialistic for his tastes.
Nevertheless, when he finally ends up at a home on his last Christmas to ship presents, he encounters a gaggle of mercenaries who threaten the household there and take them hostage. Santa decides he’ll rescue the household, particularly when he learns the mercenaries in the home are all on his naughty record.
It is a very violent and sometimes hilarious motion comedy, and Harbour is ideal as Santa Claus. Critics praised the movie, with a 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it was a field workplace success. There may be additionally a Violent Evening sequel coming in 2026, proving there may be all the time a spot for a violent, non-traditional Santa Claus in films.
The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas stays the most effective animated Christmas films ever made, whereas additionally being the most effective Halloween films as properly. Directed by Henry Selick, primarily based on a narrative by Tim Burton, the movie follows Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween City, as he desires to rule over Christmas City as properly.
When he has Santa Claus kidnapped, Jack brings his personal model of cheer to the Christmas holidays, a lot to the shock and chagrin of everybody. Selick made the movie with stop-motion, and he proved to be a grasp on the approach, transferring on in later years to create masterpieces like Coraline.
The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas stays a beloved traditional, with the Library of Congress including it to the Nationwide Movie Registry in 2023 for preservation. With a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, that is nonetheless a film that’s replayed each vacation season over the many years since its preliminary launch.
Unhealthy Santa (2003)
Unhealthy Santa is perhaps the most effective mall Santa Claus film ever made. Billy Bob Thornton is an alcoholic legal who has a con the place he robs shops within the mall after it closes and makes use of his position as a mall Santa as his disguise. Tony Cox is his important Elf, and his accomplice in crime as he units out to tug his cons.
Nevertheless, issues get uncontrolled when he meets an impressionable younger boy and falls for a girl named Sue (Lauren Graham), main him to query his life selections. The movie was an enormous hit, with a 78% Rotten Tomatoes score, and critics praised it as a “gloriously impolite and gleefully offensive comedy.”
There was a sequel which did not come near the unique, however Unhealthy Santa stays not solely the most effective non-traditional Santa Claus films ever made, however the most effective vacation comedies, with or with out Saint Nick.