Low budget short, straight outta Connecticut, about rivals gangs of d**kwads wrecking each other’s Christmas's. You can tell they were going for a certain '80's cult comedy vibe here but, for me at least, it never really drew me in. Good on 'em for making a short film and getting it on Amazon and everything but, I can’t really recommend it.
A minor classic, nearly an anti holiday musical. Noirish melodrama that, despite festive settings and decor, is no more a Christmas film than Die Hard is. The difference is Die Hard is a fun, if violent, adventure while Christmas Holiday is heartbreaking, bleak, depressing and dark drama. It’s also an expertly made film and worth seeking out, just not as a festive pick me up.
***
Santa crash lands in London, gets arrested (for attempting to liberate his flying friends) and it’s up to an ex con and his son to rescue the reindeer, find the sleigh and break Father Christmas out of prison - all the while reconnecting as family. Cute idea with possibilities but, despite a solid director, it’s a bit of a train wreck. Not very funny, not very clever, not very heartwarming and more than a few off moments. Not bad, but with such a great cast, led by Jim Broadbent as Santa, my expectations were probably too high.
***
***
One of my fave mystery series gave went the murdered Santa route for 2016’s A Merry Bloody Christmas. Set in rural New Zealand, Brokenwood follows Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd and his team as they investigate the remarkable high murder rate that quiet towns like Cabot Cove or the various Midsomer hamlets seem, somehow, to inspire.
Naughty and Nice: Trash Boys wasn't very good, Christmas Holiday is a great film but not really a "Christmas" movie, Get Santa should have been so much better. While I'm not a great fan of dead Santas, Brokenwood was probably the most enjoyable watch of the four.
