For comparison’s sake, the first Violent Night was rated R for “strong bloody violence, language throughout, and some sexual references.”

The Christmas action sequel is coming down the chimney on December 4 via Universal Pictures.

David Harbour reprises his role as Santa Claus, joined by Kristen Bell as Mrs. Claus.

The cast also includes Daniela Melchior, Jared Harris, Joe Pantoliano, Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor,  and pro wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman.

Tommy Wirkola (Thrash, Dead Snow) is back in the director’s chair, reuniting with Violent Night writers Pat Casey & Josh Miller (Sonic the Hedgehog).

An official synopsis has not been revealed, but rumors suggest Santa will dish out justice to a ruthless crime lord and his henchmen in a crumbling shopping mall.

“There’s stuff we left on the floor like the North Pole, Mrs. Claus, the elves,” Wirkola noted last year. “But story-wise, I think we have a really, really cool idea that expands on the world and scope but still keeping that tone that we love from the first one.”

Violent Night 2 is produced by 87North founders Kelly McCormick & David Leitch (Bullet Train, Nobody) through their first-look deal with Universal.

The post ‘Violent Night 2’ Starring David Harbour & Kristen Bell Rated R for Strong Bloody Violence appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Kristen Bell will star alongside David Harbour as Santa Claus.

Violent Night 2‘s cast also includes Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor, Joe Pantoliano, Jared Harris, Daniela Melchior, and pro wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman.

87North and Universal will release Violent Night 2 in theaters December 4, 2026. Pat Casey and Josh Miller are back to write the film, which promises more bloody mayhem.

“There’s stuff we left on the floor like the North Pole, Mrs. Claus, the elves,“ Tommy Wirkola noted last year. “But story-wise, I think we have a really, really cool idea that expands on the world and scope but still keeping that tone that we love from the first one.”

In 2022’s Violent Night, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review for BD, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”

The post Kristen Bell Will Star in ‘Violent Night 2’ as Mrs. Claus appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

87North and Universal will release Violent Night 2 in theaters December 4, 2026.

Santa Claus actor David Harbour confirmed his return recently, and in an update, while Deadline reported it was unclear whether director Tommy Wirkola will be back to helm the sequel, THR officially confirmed that Wirkola officially returns for Violent Night 2.

Pat Casey and Josh Miller will also be back to write Violent Night 2. “There’s stuff we left on the floor like the North Pole, Mrs. Claus, the elves,“ director Tommy Wirkola noted last year. “But story-wise, I think we have a really, really cool idea that expands on the world and scope but still keeping that tone that we love from the first one.”

In 2022’s Violent Night, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Violent Night is essentially a bloody mashup of several holiday classics including Die Hard, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Bad Santa.

John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder also starred in Violent Night, featured alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

I wrote in my review for BD, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”

87North founders Kelly McCormick and David Leitch are back as producers.

Stay tuned for developments on Violent Night 2.

The post ‘Violent Night 2’ Gets Ready to Deliver More Holiday Carnage with 2026 Release appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The good news is that there’s no shortage of Christmas horror available. This week’s streaming picks bring double the dose of holiday horror fun to help you get through the week.

As always, here’s where you can stream these holiday horror movies this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Adult Swim Yule Log 2: Branchin’ Out – Max

Casper Kelly’s surprise sequel drops the kitchen sink approach in favor of a more streamlined horror movie that understands just how silly Hallmark holiday movies can be. That’s both good and bad news for the first film’s survivor, Zoe (Andrea Laing). Zoe finds herself in a small-town Christmas wonderland, colliding with hot, available men every time she walks down the street. The bad news is that the entity isn’t done wreaking havoc, leading to a surprising creature feature that’s just as zany and extreme as it sounds.

Anna and the Apocalypse – Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Tubi

There’s no such thing as a holiday ending in this coming-of-age zombie musical, which means that there are some devastating losses for the high school teens who find themselves dealing with an apocalypse over Christmas. But it’s hard not to feel too down with such upbeat, earworm songs and choreography that embrace the holiday spirit in a massive way. Director John McPhail packs this winsome horror musical full of Christmas iconography before splattering the snow red with zombie carnage. Anna and the Apocalypse walks the impossible line between traditional, feel-good holiday fare and grim zombie story, making for a contemporary holiday horror classic.

Another Wolfcop – Hoopla, Pluto TV, Roku Channel

Lowell Dean’s follow-up to the raucous horror-comedy WolfCop is bigger, better, sillier, and more monster-filled. It also happens to be set over Christmas. The sequel’s central plot toe dips a bit into sci-fi territory as Lou, his partner Tina, and a few unexpected allies team up to solve a new evil plot involving a brewery. Dean’s love letter to Canada and B-movie fun delivers no shortage of wacky werewolf moments, including a certain alcoholic werewolf cop getting inappropriately festive for the holidays. There’s also the matter of Willie (Jonathan Cherry), who has a pesky new alien problem to deal with.

The Day of the Beast – Fandango at Home, Kanopy, Pluto TV, Midnight Pulp, Prime Video, SCREAMBOX, Shudder, Tubi

A Catholic priest teams up with a metalhead and a television occult specialist on Christmas Eve to stop the Antichrist’s birth, an apocalypse triggering event. What does that entail? Racking up as many sins as possible. That creates no shortage of comedic moments amongst an unlikely trio, but the horror equally matches the humor. Alex de la Iglesia’s unique sense of humor and heavy metal spirit means this holiday horror movie should have a bigger following than it does. The Day of the Beast also made Satanic goats cool long before The Witch. While Christmas is vital to the plot, expect the wacky sinning hijinks to take precedence over yuletide theming.

Deadly Games – AMC+, Shudder

Also known as 36.15 code Père Noël and Dial Code Santa Claus, this French holiday home invasion movie follows young computer-loving Thomas, a boy stuck at home alone with his grandpa on Christmas Eve. It’s a quiet evening until a twisted, bloodthirsty Santa Claus crashes through the chimney. Released a year before Home Alone, the plot has an eerie similarity as Thomas booby traps his house to ward off the intruder. Thomas’s Rambo aspirations and trap laying provide a sense of fun, even when Deadly Games gets serious with its evil Santa menace. It’s fun holiday horror that’s unafraid to put its young protagonist and his loved ones in peril.

Night of the Comet – Hoopla, MGM+, Pluto TV, Roku Channel

This cult horror classic gives a very California spin on the horror holidays. A passing comet turns most of humanity into zombies, leaving very few survivors left. That includes teen sisters Reggie and Sam, who take on zombies, mad scientists, and rogue scavengers in style. It’s not your typical zombie movie, nor does it encapsulate the usual vision of Christmas. But Reggie and Sam embrace holiday shopping, and a supporting character dons a Santa Suit to keep up the merriment at the end of the world. It’s a rare zombie apocalypse that brings a level of charm and fun worthy of its central Valley Girls.

The Sacrifice Game – AMC+, Shudder

Teens Samantha (Madison Baines) and Clara (Georgia Acken) are stuck at boarding school with chaperones for the holiday break, which is bad enough before the arrival of a murderous cult. What begins as something all too familiar eventually gives way to something more satisfying and charming in Jenn Wexler’s sophomore feature. Wexler’s instincts for pacing, tension building, and knowing when and where to pull the rug out from viewers elevate this holiday horror entry. While the ’70s set Christmas horror movie might be a grim downer for some of the unlucky characters, it winds up a charming treat for audiences. The power of friendship amidst a Satanic holiday invasion winds up a seasonal delight.

Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker – Roku Channel, Tubi

Mickey Rooney plays a toy maker who wears a Santa suit and makes lethal toys for all naughty boys and girls in this raucous franchise entry. The very premise of killer toys invading homes and slaughtering families on Christmas makes for a fun concept that doesn’t pop up too often, and this sequel ensures it’s as over-the-top as the concept demands. It builds to a wild sci-fi finale, which might be saying something, considering how wacky this holiday horror franchise gets as a whole. If you want to get even weirder and Pagan with your holiday horror, Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation is also streaming on Tubi.

There’s Something in the Barn – Netflix

Director Magnus Martens pits an unwitting American family against an army of pissed off elves in this light gateway horror movie. The family fulfills their dream of returning to their roots after inheriting a remote cabin in the mountains of Norway only to find it comes with a major caveat: there’s an old elf that lives in their barn and, Gremlins-style, requires specific rules to be followed. Naturally, only the youngest believes in elves, resulting in an accidental grudge match that sparks a violent, bloody bid for survival. The horror-comedy puts an emphasis on the comedy, with a splash of holiday cheer for good measure. Expect this one to operate more on lighter scares and yuletide merriment.

Violent Night – Starz

Santa Claus (David Harbour) gets introduced in this fun genre actioner as a cynic drowning his frustrations in booze at a bar on Christmas Eve. Then he crosses paths with Trudy (Leah Brady), a sweet girl caught up in an intense hostage situation. That opens the doors for Santa to get violent when it comes to his naughty list. Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into a story that pulls from a variety of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner that’s more than willing to get violent. With a sequel on the way, this Christmas might be a great time to catch up.

You can also watch other holiday horror movies this week including stone cold classic Black Christmas on SCREAMBOX, Gremlins on Max, or Krampus on Max and Peacock.

The post 10 Fun Holiday Horror Movies to Stream This Week appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Chatting with Collider at SXSW last week, Violent Night producer Kelly McCormick promised that Violent Night 2 is definitely still happening, and might be filming next year.

“We are planning on returns to those universes,” McCormick responded when the outlet asked for updates on sequels to both Nobody and the Christmas movie Violent Night.

McCormick teased, “Hopefully, honestly, even potentially end of this year for Nobody 2 and, beginning of next year for Violent Night 2, if we can find time in everybody’s busy schedules.

“But the development’s going super well and everybody’s really, really excited about moving those worlds forward.”

Last we heard, Pat Casey and Josh Miller will be back to write Violent Night 2. And McCormick notes in the Collider update that the script is currently being worked on. Stay tuned.

“There’s stuff we left on the floor like the North Pole, Mrs. Claus, the elves,” returning director Tommy Wirkola noted last year. “But story-wise I think we have a really, really cool idea that expands on the world and scope, but still keeping that tone that we love from the first one.”

Violent Night is essentially a bloody mix of several holiday classics including Die Hard, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Bad Santa, and centers on David Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage, with John Leguizamo playing the villain.

Meagan wrote in her review for BD, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also featured in Violent Night, starring in the Christmas movie alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

The post Is ‘Violent Night 2’ Still Happening? Here’s a Fresh Update from the Producer appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

It feels only right to kick things off with a look at one of holiday horror’s most prominent icons: the Killer Santa Claus. The niche subgenre of Killer Santa holiday horror movies is as robust as ever, offering ample murderous maniacs to spread holiday fear this season. Here are 12 of the most prominent and bloodthirsty of the bunch.

If your favorites are missing, don’t worry; there’s still plenty of holiday horror fun on the way.

Violent Night

Violent Night introduces Santa Claus (David Harbour) as a cynic drowning his frustrations in booze at a bar on Christmas Eve. Then he crosses paths with Trudy (Leah Brady), a sweet girl caught up in an intense hostage situation. This Christmas, Santa gets violent when it comes to his naughty list. Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner that’s more than willing to get violent. It’s also arguably the most feel-good killer Santa on this list.

Silent Night

This very loose retelling of Silent Night, Deadly Night doesn’t offer much in the way of storytelling. What it does offer, though, is a handful of fun performances led by scene-chewing Malcolm McDowell as the small-town sheriff and a bunch of gory deaths at the hands of one vicious Santa. This killer Santa seeks out the worst and delivers fatal punishment for their naughty behavior. Skin-crawling sexually deviant priests, spoiled rotten children, and softcore porn filmmakers draw Santa’s ire. This killer Santa is for those who want to see the snow splattered with the red stuff.

Santa’s Slay

Once upon a time, in the year 1005 AD, the demon Santa Claus (Bill Goldberg) lost a bet with an Angel. As punishment, Santa was sentenced to become a giver of holiday gifts and cheer for 1,000 years. The moment his sentence ends, however, the demon’s brutal ways resume with a vengeance. As if Goldberg’s casting as the angry Santa wasn’t an indicator, Santa’s Slay is a gory romp uninterested in anything but spreading holiday cheer with riotous carnage and camp. You’ll know if this one is for you from the spirited opening slaughter featuring Fran Drescher.

Santa Jaws

What if Santa Claus wasn’t a jolly old elf or a maniac in disguise but rather a shark? If you’ve spiked your eggnog a little too hard and need something irreverent and silly, this is for you. It features a killer shark sporting a Santa hat on the loose, killing its way through a naughty list. That’s the only thing you need to know to determine whether this absurd horror-comedy is for you or not. It’s also for those who have grown tired of Killer Santas of the humanoid variety.

Christmas Bloody Christmas

Bliss and VFW director Joe Begos give his ultra-violent take on the killer Santa with this bloody Christmas tale. It’s Christmas Eve, and fiery record store owner Tori Tooms (Riley Dandy) wants to get drunk and party until the robotic Santa Claus at a nearby toy store goes haywire and makes her night more than a little complicated. Santa Claus begins a rampant killing spree through the neon-drenched snowscape against a backdrop of drugs, sex, metal, and violence, forcing Tori into a blood-splattered battle for survival.

Christmas Evil

Ever since Harry Stadling (Brandon Maggart) saw mommy kissing Santa Claus as a child, he grew up with an unhealthy Christmas obsession. As an adult, he keeps his home decked out in holiday décor and seeks to spread cheer at the toy factory where he works. Harry even spies on the neighborhood kids to keep track of who is naughty or nice. But Harry’s fragile mind and a series of unfortunate events lead him to snap over Christmas Eve, spurning a murder spree in his quest to become an authentic Santa Claus. Christmas Evil isn’t your average killer Santa flick; it’s a quirky character study of a broken mind. There’s often as much humor as there is tragedy in store for poor Harry.

Sint

Leave it to Dick Maas, the mind behind Amsterdamned, to transform the Christmas ghost into a slasher. On the full moon of December 5, St. Nicholas’s murderous evil spirit comes to town to unleash terror and mayhem along with his zombie-like Black Peters. It’s precisely the type of goofy fun you’d expect from Maas, this time with an irreverent holiday twist. It’s as funny as it is bloody, with solid effects work. Just don’t take it too seriously. 

A Christmas Tale

Before horror director Paco Plaza made a name for himself on an international scale with the first three entries in the beloved [REC] franchise and Netflix’s Veronica, he married an Amblin-Esque kids story with yuletide terror in the made-for-TV movie A Christmas Tale. The plot revolves around five twelve-year-old friends in 1985. The gang’s usual play routine is interrupted when they come across a pit in the woods with an unconscious woman dressed as Santa Claus at the bottom. The kids learn that she’s a wanted criminal and choose to torture her for their gain. Plaza’s Christmas tale gets very, very dark, with naughty children facing punishment for their misdeeds in unexpected ways.

Deadly Games

Also known as 36.15 Code Père Noël and Dial Code Santa Claus, this French horror film was doomed to obscurity as it was only available on hard-to-find bootleg VHS until recently. It follows young computer-loving Thomas, a boy stuck at home alone with his grandpa on Christmas Eve. It’s a quiet evening until a twisted, bloodthirsty Santa Claus crashes through the chimney. Released a year before Home Alone, the plot has an eerie similarity as Thomas booby traps his house to ward off the intruder. The critical difference is that Deadly Games leans hard into horror, bringing the bloodshed that Home Alone wouldn’t dare. One creepy Santa, some surprising peril for its young lead, and a heavy lean into the holiday setting make for an unexpected holiday favorite.

Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2

While the original film is heralded as a holiday horror classic, this sequel falls firmly into cult territory thanks to using an enormous amount of footage to recap the previous film’s story and the over-the-top performance by new killer Santa, Ricky (Eric Freeman). Set four years after the first film, Ricky picks up his brother’s slaying mantle to punish those he deems naughty on Christmas Eve. Whereas Billy liked to yell “punish,” Ricky’s more known for his hysterical line delivery of “Garbage Day!” That should give you a little idea of the hysterical madness in store. In other words, this is a pizza and beer kind of holiday horror film, best viewed separately from its predecessor.

Speaking of which…

Silent Night, Deadly Night

This quintessential killer Santa flick follows Billy (Robert Brian Wilson) from the traumatic incident that instilled his fixation on Christmas to his Christmas murder spree while dressed as Santa. The depiction of an ax-wielding killer dressed as Santa Claus made the movie highly controversial upon release, which likely went a long way in drawing fans. Not only did this launch a franchise, but it shaped the formula for the subgenre. It helps that it was the first Christmas horror film that really caught the attention of critics and journalists, all appalled by the concept of a not-so-jolly Saint Nick.

Tales from the Crypt

This classic horror anthology features five segments based on EC Comics stories. The wraparound features five strangers confronted by a Crypt Keeper who regales them with tales of their demises. The first segment, “…And All Through the House,” comes from the 35th issue of The Vault of Horror and sees Joanne Clayton (Joan Collins) battling it out with an escaped maniac dressed in a Santa suit. She’s unable to call the police for aid as she’s just murdered her husband. The story is so good that it was adapted a second time for the Tales from the Crypt TV series’ inaugural season. While the original adaptation of the movie is the only story set around the holidays, the entire anthology is well worth watching.

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Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in May 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.

The Ancestral – SCREAMBOX

This haunter hails from the director of Furie and The Princess, Le-Van Kiet. In the film: “After suffering a family tragedy, a widower moves his two daughters to a centuries-old ancestral home. When both daughters fall prey to sleep paralysis and night terrors, their father seeks the help of a local psychologist. These chilling secrets and frightening visions eventually prove that not everything is what it seems in the old family house.”

Livid – Shudder

Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo’s follow-up to the brutal horror film Inside remains elusive, so don’t miss it on Shudder this month. Lucie is an at-home nurse, and the last stop on her roster is a remote mansion inhabited by bedridden recluse Mrs. Jessel. Mrs. Jessel is rumored to have a treasure hidden on the property, so Lucie and her friends sneak in on Halloween night to steal it. Instead, they find a night full of unexpected terror, and Maury and Bustillo deliver a fun entry into fantasy horror. Look for fun homages to Halloween III: Season of the Witch. It’s gorgeous and creepy and offers a unique take on a tried-and-true horror staple.

Death’s Roulette – Paramount+ (May 5)

This thriller offers a deadly game for unwitting players. Seven strangers wake in a remote mansion and discover they’re part of a twisted game. “They will have 60 minutes to choose one person to die; otherwise, all of them will be murdered. As the clock ticks down, the most lurid secrets will come to light, and they’ll discover they are all connected by a dark past.” The Spanish-language film stars Manolo Cardona in his directorial debut, based on the script “La Terminal de Frank Ariza.”

Poison for the Fairies – Shudder (May 8)

Horror director Carlos Enrique Taboada is regarded as a national talent in cinema and one of the most influential; his work is reflected in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone. Poison for the Fairies follows a young girl who convinces her schoolmate that she’s a witch, forcing the girl into a series of increasingly violent and nasty games. The slow build gothic horror culminates in one unforgettable, haunting finish. Don’t miss this rare gem that’s been challenging to find in the U.S. for a very long time.

Project Wolf Hunting – SCREAMBOX (May 15)

One of the year’s goriest heads to SCREAMBOX. Don’t miss the splatterfest that plays like Con Air meets Jason Takes Manhattan and Predator. In the film, “During transport from the Philippines to South Korea, a group of dangerous criminals unites to stage a coordinated escape attempt. As the jailbreak escalates into a bloody, all-out riot, the fugitives and their allies from the outside exact a brutal terror campaign against the special agents onboard the ship.”

Slash/Back – Hulu (May 18)

It’s up to Maika (Tasiana Shirley) and her friends to save their arctic hamlet of Pangnirtung, Nunavut, when they discover an alien invasion. Maika and pals gather their collective knowledge of horror movies and makeshift weapons, giving the aliens a fight for their lives. The aliens may be dangerous, but you don’t underestimate the girls of Pang. Nyla Innuksuk’s feature debut brings the genre fun, a gorgeous setting, and spirited leads worth rooting for in a delightful alien romp.

Consecration – Shudder (May 19)

The latest from director/writer Christopher Smith (Black Death, Triangle) stars Jena Malone as a woman determined to uncover the truth behind her brother’s alleged suicide at his convent. She arrives in Scotland to discover the nuns cold and unwelcoming, though she finds aid through investigator Harris (Thoren Ferguson) and Father Romero (Danny Huston). The further into her search, the more the visions and ghostly encounters ramp up, along with the realization that the convent may unlock a disturbing secret from Grace’s past. The conspiracy that unfolds may come with familiar scare tactics, but Malone’s performance and ambitious themes offer a compelling mystery (our review).

Influencer – Shudder (May 26)

A social media influencer finds more than she bargained for when she meets a free-spirited stranger while backpacking in Thailand. Co-written and directed by Kurtis David Harder, the mind behind 2019’s Spiral. We’re thinking Influencer will likely come with a hefty dose of dread.

Tin & Tina – Netflix (May 26)

Something is wrong with the children. Desperate to have children, Lola and her husband Adolfo adopt siblings Tin and Tina, albino children with an ultra-Catholic education. So much so they can quote the bible verbatim. Tin and Tina’s obsession with religion threatens to turn the new family upside down and test their sanity. The feature directorial debut by Rubin Stein teases psychological torment and violence ahead for the new parents.

Violent Night – Prime Video (May 26)

Violent Night introduces Santa Claus (David Harbour) as a cynic drowning his frustrations in booze at a bar on Christmas Eve. Then he crosses paths with Trudy (Leah Brady), a sweet girl caught up in an intense hostage situation. This Christmas, Santa gets violent when it comes to his naughty list. Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner that’s more than willing to splatter the snow blood red.

The post Ten Noteworthy Genre Movies to Stream at Home in May 2023 appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“We’re talking about it and we’re just making deals and getting everything in order,” Wirkola tells the outlet. “We have time to really crack the script and figure out the story.”

Wirkola notes that Pat Casey and Josh Miller will be back to write Violent Night 2.

He tells The Wrap, “And we have some ideas, me and Pat and Josh and the producers, we’ve been talking about where we want to take it and what we want to see.”

“There’s stuff we left on the floor like the North Pole, Mrs. Claus, the elves,” Wirkola continued. “But story-wise I think we have a really, really cool idea that expands on the world and scope, but still keeping that tone that we love from the first one.”

Violent Night is essentially a bloody mix of several holiday classics including Die Hard, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Bad Santa, and centers on David Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage, with John Leguizamo playing the villain.

Meagan wrote in her review for BD, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also featured in Violent Night, starring in the Christmas movie alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

The post ‘Violent Night 2’ in the Works With Tommy Wirkola Returning to Direct! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The Christmas genre movie begins streaming exclusively on Peacock on January 20.

Violent Night is the latest addition to Peacock’s growing library of iconic films, including She Said, Ticket to Paradise, Bros, Nope, Mid-Century, The Silent Twins, and Halloween Ends.

Violent Night is essentially a bloody mix of several holiday classics including Die Hard, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Bad Santa, and centers on David Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage, with John Leguizamo playing the villain.

Meagan wrote in her review for BD, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also featured in Violent Night, starring in the Christmas movie alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

The post ‘Violent Night’ Coming Exclusively to Peacock This Week appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

We’ve learned today that the bloody Christmas genre movie will be available to own with action-packed bonus content on Digital January 20, followed by Blu-ray on January 24.

Special Features include…

• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• Quarrelin’ Kringle
• Santa’s Helpers: The Making of Violent Night
• Deck the Halls with Brawls
• Feature Commentary with Director Tommy Wirkola, Producer Guy Danella, Writer Pat Casey and Writer Josh Miller

Violent Night is essentially a bloody mix of several holiday classics including Die Hard, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Bad Santa, and centers on David Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage, with John Leguizamo playing the villain.

Meagan wrote in her review for BD, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also featured in Violent Night, starring in the Christmas movie alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

Complete your holiday collection with ‘the greatest Christmas action movie of all time’ (Cinapse). Own #ViolentNight with action-packed bonus content on Digital 1/20, Blu-ray 1/24 @DavidKHarbour @87NorthAction https://t.co/x3ILPLhzkM pic.twitter.com/YsFXrCaja9

— Violent Night (@ViolentNight) January 13, 2023

The post ‘Violent Night’ Comes to Blu-ray with Deleted and Extended Scenes in Late January appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

With the film still playing in theaters we assumed that Violent Night wouldn’t be available at home until after Christmas, but Universal is being smart by striking while the iron is hot.

You can rent Violent Night on Digital for $19.99, or purchase it for $24.99!

Violent Night is essentially a bloody mix of several holiday classics including Die Hard, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Bad Santa, and centers on David Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage, with John Leguizamo playing the villain.

Meagan wrote in her review for BD, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also featured in Violent Night, starring in the Christmas movie alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

The post Surprise, ‘Violent Night’ Is Now Available for Digital Rental or Purchase at Home! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

If Violent Night became your new Christmas tradition, I implore you to check out Deadly Games (Shudder’s subscription is under $5 a month, equal to or less than the price for most VOD rentals). Both are wicked riffs on Home Alone that would complement wonderfully if watched as a double bill. Violent Night gives audiences Santa as a machismo action stud straight out of the ’80s, while Deadly Games presents “Santa” as a home invader villain to be defeated by a child, his pooch, and his grandfather. “One embraces the fun of the action-hero power fantasy (Violent Night), the other eviscerates it (Deadly Games),” Twitter user @GenreFilmAddict so perfectly encapsulates. My favorite activity is using mainstream films to recommend less talked about outsider gems, and Violent Night grants the perfect introduction to a lost French thriller only recently rediscovered.

Deadly Games has a complicated history, which is why you probably have not heard about its existence. If you have? Then you already know everything I’m going to write and why Deadly Games deserves so much more seasonal exposure.

René Manzor‘s 3615 code Père Noël was released in France on January 17, 1990 (under an alternate title that would eventually become Deadly Games — along with three other variations). There would be no stateside distribution until the American Genre Film Archive brought a restored version to Austin’s 2018 Fantastic Fest film festival — the official North American premiere. The mood was electric, and the film played gangbusters, sparking distribution talks that’d eventually lead to Deadly Games appearing on Shudder. Vinegar Syndrome also released a special edition Blu-ray, finally making the horrific Christmas cult classic available to wider audiences.

Now, Home Alone was released on November 16, 1990 — and Manzor was not pleased with the similarities between projects. “They remade my movie,” Manzor once claimed. Manzor wanted to press charges on the grounds of plagiarism, but no official lawsuit was ever pursued. One would have to believe that parties involved with Home Alone caught Manzor’s 3615 code Père Noël during a festival screening or somehow had knowledge about an in-development international production that never got American notoriety until decades later. It’s the same conundrum of how Hell Fest and Blood Fest can exist simultaneously and hit theaters so closely that their trailers dropped not all that far apart. Hence why Manzor’s “Home Alone before Home Alone” hasn’t been in American Christmastime viewership conversations — conspiracies, bum distribution luck, and inaccessibility are the culprits.

Should Deadly Games have been luckier and found a U.S. release around the same time it played French theaters, Violent Night pull quotes would read differently. Maybe something like, “A kickass role reversal of Deadly Games!” Or, “Deserves to be praised right alongside Deadly Games!” The most significant differences are deviations in tone since Violent Night sports bone-crushing John Wick DNA thanks to its associations with stuntman turned filmmaker David Leitch. Deadly Games is a darker iteration of Home Alone that favors horror as a child has his innocence robbed by a deranged Santa who thinks he’s playing hide-and-seek. One’s the fun-loving sibling into punny wordplay and popcorn-popper entertainment, the other a broodier brother who dares explore the depths of holiday sadness without restraint.

Although, comparisons come quickly despite the slight differences in subgenres. Violent Night and Deadly Games are endlessly obsessed with ’80s action flicks like Rambo and Die Hard, as Manzor’s pint-sized protagonist Thomas de Frémont (Alain Musy, the son of Manzor) mirrors his persona after Hollywood’s musclebound cinematic heroes. They feature traps rigged Home Alone style that inflict pain, with Violent Night incorporating bloody deaths where Deadly Games is satisfied with causing (mostly) nonlethal pain unto Le Père Noël (a terrifying Patrick Floersheim). Both are elaborate fights for survival in labyrinthian mansions where the Christmas spirit flows like eggnog, and both are indebted to Home Alone in the best ways. As antidotes to the typical Christmas movie marathons, Violent Night and Deadly Games are a tastier combo than hot cocoa and peppermint schnapps.

Heck, there might even be a direct reference in Violent Night to Deadly Games:

You might think Violent Night is the more depraved and dangerous of the two titles based on its decapitations and Harbour’s rugged physical performance through fight choreography. However, I’d argue Deadly Games better highlights the survival horror aspects of both scenarios. Thomas is introduced as a tech wizard with his own homemade surveillance camera system and tracking radar gadget, napping in his decommissioned fighter jet bed. Yet, throughout his defensive stand, he tearfully breaks down and bawls — allowed to be a scared-as-anything child still. Deadly Games abuses the holly-jolly hell out of Thomas, including the brutal murder of his protective dog J.R. (paid off in a later burial scene) or his deeply emotional reflections during tearful montages set to the soundtrack’s only licensed song, Bonnie Tyler’s “Merry Christmas.”

Trudy (Leah Brady) in Violent Night is allowed to retain that sparkle of adolescent whimsy because she gets to find out that Santa, his reindeer, and bottomless toy sack are all real — Thomas uses an outdated Minitel videotex service to contact Santa, but instead summons a maniac who tries to kill him. All while trying to avenge his beloved pet, keep his diabetic and partially blind “Papy” (Louis Ducreux) alive, and evade capture long enough to spend Christmas morning with his mother (gone for the night, managing a Printemps department store).

“It’s my fault mom, I wanted to see Santa Claus.” The haunted look in Thomas’ eyes, the camera’s pan over a mentally unwell mall Santa’s scorched and beaten body who just wanted to play, Bonnie Tyler lyrics kicking in for the umpteenth time, asking us, “Why does he have to cry to become a man?” The way Thomas endures immense trauma and is shaped by unspeakable anguish is reflected in the way Harbour’s Santa finds a new version of himself through a painful gauntlet, albeit Harbour’s is a hopeful rebirth — while Thomas is now set up for years of yuletide-themed therapy sessions.

The easiest, foolproof way to introduce viewers to obscure movies is to have a mainstream comparison point. Deadly Games has always had Home Alone, but they don’t exactly pair well together — the general comedy fan might be unable to stomach horror sensibilities. Violent Night is properly calibrated as a Deadly Games companion, keeping genre intensity forefront, even as an action-forward gore fest. As the popularity of Violent Night vaults Wirkola’s deadly delight atop nontraditional Christmas movie lists, many other similar titles that never had the benefit of such appeal latch on like festive barnacles for the ride. Deadly Games deserves the same mainstream treatment but never was afforded the opportunity.

Let’s change that, one back-to-back showing of Violent Night and Deadly Games at a time.

The post ‘Deadly Games’ and ‘Violent Night’ – The Christmas Movie Double Feature You Need to Experience appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

How well is Violent Night performing at the box office? The film opened in 3,682 theaters and stuffed $13.3 million into its sack across its opening weekend at the domestic box office.

Worldwide, Violent Night opened to a solid $20,355,000. The film’s reported production budget was $20 million, so Universal is hoping it has legs throughout the December holiday season.

Meagan writes in her review for BD, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”

Violent Night is being compared to Die Hard and centers on Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage, with John Leguizamo playing the villain.

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also in the upcoming Focus Features movie, starring alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

The post ‘Violent Night’ Spreads Christmas Cheer at the Box Office With $20 Million Worldwide Opening appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

While you wait, check out the full official image gallery below!

Meagan writes in her review for BD, “Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.”

Violent Night is being compared to Die Hard and centers on Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage, with John Leguizamo playing the villain.

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also in the upcoming Focus Features movie, starring alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

The post ‘Violent Night’ Images Prepare for War With Santa Claus appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

This holiday season brings a new answer to the tired debate over Die Hard: the ultra-violent yet sugar plum sweet Violent Night. Director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) infuses his gore-soaked sense of humor into an amalgamation of familiar holiday fare, ushering a new crowd-pleasing Christmas-set actioner eager to splatter the snow red.

Violent Night introduces Santa Claus (David Harbour) as a cynic drowning his frustrations in booze at a bar on Christmas Eve. He laments the current greedy state of the world and its children to fellow patrons before stumbling off into the night to complete his holiday duties. Not before upchucking, of course; this Santa is a sloppy drunk.

Then, we meet the Lightstone family, an affluent and dysfunctional bunch gathering for Christmas. Young Trudy (Leah Brady) wants her estranged parents, Jason (Alex Hassell) and Linda (Alexis Louder), to reunite, both driven apart thanks to the overbearing Lightstone matriarch Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation). It won’t be obnoxious relatives threatening to ruin Christmas, but a group of deadly mercenaries led by Scrooge (John Leguizamo) out for Gertrude’s wealth.

No one was prepared for Santa Claus to enter the equation, and this jolly elf has a naughty streak.

Writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic the Hedgehog) pack Violent Night full of cinematic holiday influences. Aside from swapping John McClane for a feral Santa Claus, there’s an utterly heartwarming tale of a young girl’s steadfast loyalty to Santa and Christmas magic. Magic that can and might save those she loves most. Lines of dialogue and even casting pay tribute to holiday faves but look for the greatest hits to make their way into the violence, too. That Casey and Miller even manage to riff on a memed-to-death Halloween Kills line speaks to the humor here. While some of the puns delight, others earn a lump of coal; poor Leguizamo is forced to deliver some of the worst holiday-centric dialogue.

David Harbour is more than up to the task as the disgruntled Kris Kringle, and the character’s transformation from a pessimistic drunk to a bloodthirsty avenger with a thawed heart is infectious. The actor more than sells his character’s ability to take a brutal beating. Considering this is a Wirkola feature, that’s a necessity. Wirkola uses the inherent sweetness of Trudy and her plight as leverage to cut loose on the season’s beatings. For every gruesome and inventive kill, Wirkola stops just long enough to retain the holiday spirit before resuming the beatdowns and beheadings with reckless abandon. Brady’s affable and darling portrayal of Trudy provides the balance that makes this work so well. It’s hard not to get disarmed by Trudy and Santa negotiating curse words between brutal brawls.

Violent Night doesn’t set out to reinvent the wheel, nor is it looking for any deep introspection on Christmas. Save for Trudy and her mother, it’s a case of naughty versus naughtier. It’s a simple, straightforward story of Santa saving Christmas, yet again, this time with a delightfully low-brow wink and an onslaught of grisly holiday surprises. Not even some silly dialogue or a pacing lull in the middle can slow down Santa’s lust for carnage here. However, Harbour’s commitment to the role and Wirkola’s affinity for creative gore and violence certainly helps.

All of it makes for a wildly entertaining holiday romp that’ll scratch that itch for a definitive Christmas actioner. With the impressive body count, explosions, excessive bloodshed, heart, and holiday cheer, Violent Night earns an easy spot on the Nice List.

Violent Night releases in theaters on December 2, 2022.

The post ‘Violent Night’ Review – Bloody Holiday Action Movie Earns a Spot on the Nice List appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

I’m of course talking about the David Harbour-starring Violent Night, which features the “Stranger Things” actor as an ass-kicking version of none other than Santa himself.

But that’s not the only new genre movie arriving this week…

Here’s all the new horror headed down the chimney November 28 – December 4, 2022!

This week is all quiet on the horror front until Thursday, December 1, which kicks off with the release of The Harbinger, which has been favorably compared to Nightmare on Elm Street.

In the film from writer/director Andy Mitton, “Monique ventures out of quarantine to visit an old friend who’s plagued by nightmares. She finds herself drawn into a hellish dreamscape where she must face her greatest fears – or risk never having existed at all.”

Joe Lipsett wrote in his review for Bloody Disgusting, “There has been no shortage of COVID-era films, but The Harbinger feels like one of the few that engages with the pandemic in a way that isn’t exploiting or sensationalizing the virus for cheap scares.”

Emily Davis, Gabby Beans, Myles Walker and Raymond Anthony Thomas star.

Travis Stevens (Jakob’s Wife) is back with A Wounded Fawn, a mind-bending new Shudder Original that’s set to premiere on the streaming service on Thursday, December 1.

The feature film premiered earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival to great acclaim, then went on to screen at FrightFest London and Fantastic Fest. 

Inspired by surrealist art and Greek mythology, A Wounded Fawn follows the story of Meredith Tanning (Sarah Lind, Jakob’s Wife), a local museum curator who is dipping her toe back into the dating pool, only to be targeted by a charming serial killer (Josh Ruben, Scare Me, Werewolves Within). When a fateful romantic getaway between the two becomes a tense game of cat and mouse, both must confront the madness within him.

A Wounded Fawn marks the third feature directed by Stevens, who has long been celebrated for his work as an indie producer with credits that include award-winning films such as Adam Wingard’s A Horrible Way To Die, Frank Pavich’s Jodorowsky’s Dune, E.L. Katz’s Cheap Thrills, Ted Geoghegan’s We Are Still Here and Sarah Adina Smith’s Buster’s Mal Heart. 

Co-written by Travis Stevens and Nathan Faudree, the Shudder Original film also stars Malin Barr (The Beta Test, Honeydew) and is produced by Stevens, Joe Barbagallo, via his Barbhouse shingle, and Laurence Gendron, via Genco Pictures. Ksusha Genenfeld served as cinematographer, with the film’s score credited to composer and sound designer Vaaal.

Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Dead Snow) is back with the bloody new movie Violent Night, and Universal is releasing the holiday movie in theaters on December 2.

Violent Night stars David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) as an ass-kicking Santa Claus, and the film was compared to Die Hard by David Harbour at CinemaCon earlier this year.

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), John Leguizamo, Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder also appear in the movie, starring alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic) wrote the movie.

Tilda Swinton stars alongside Tilda Swinton in A24‘s The Eternal Daughter, and the Martin Scorsese-produced ghost story comes to theaters and On Demand this Friday.

Joanna Hogg‘s (The Souvenir) new movie stars Swinton in a dual role.

In The Eternal Daughter, “An artist and her elderly mother confront long-buried secrets when they return to a former family home, now a hotel haunted by its mysterious past.”

A24 previews, “Featuring a towering, deeply moving performance by Tilda Swinton, acclaimed filmmaker Joanna Hogg’s beguiling latest film is a brilliant and captivating exploration of parental relationships and the things we leave behind.”

Joseph Mydell and Carly-Sophia Davies also star.

From 20th Century Studios, Riele Downs stars in the supernatural comedy Darby and the Dead, and the film is set to premiere exclusively on Hulu this Friday, December 2.

Some people never truly leave you…alone. After suffering a near-death experience as a young girl, Darby Harper (Downs) gains the ability to see dead people. As a result, she becomes introverted and shut off from her high school peers and prefers to spend time counseling lonely spirits who have unfinished business on earth.

But all that changes when Capri, the Queen Bee of the school’s most exclusive clique, unexpectedly dies in a freak hair straightening accident, resulting in the obvious cancellation of her upcoming “Sweet 17.” Capri, however, pleads with Darby from the other side to intervene and convince Capri’s friends to proceed with the party as planned. In order to appease the wrath of the undead diva, Darby must emerge from her self-imposed exile and reinvent herself — which along the way allows her to find new joy back in the land of the living.

Darby and the Dead stars Riele Downs, Auli’i Cravalho, Chosen Jacobs, Asher Angel, Wayne Knight, with Derek Luke and Tony Danza, and is directed by Silas Howard.

The post 5 New Genre Movies Releasing This Week Including ‘Violent Night’ Starring David Harbour appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Violent Night stars David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) as an ass-kicking Santa Claus, with John Leguizamo playing the villain. Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Dead Snow) directs.

Watch the brand new featurette below to get a feel for Harbour’s bone-crunching take on the jolly old elf, the violence, and the film’s underlying holiday magic. The actor describes the upcoming action-comedy as Die Hard meets Miracle on 34th Street, which sounds like Violent Night may be poised to become requisite holiday viewing.

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

To hell with “all is calm.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also in the upcoming Focus Features movie, starring alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic) wrote the movie.

Kelly McCormick and David Leitch produced for 87North, the bare-knuckle producers of Nobody, John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.

The post ‘Violent Night’ Featurette Gives a Look Inside the Violent Santa Claus Movie appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Violent Night stars David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) as an ass-kicking Santa Claus, and Universal will be releasing the holiday movie wide in theaters on December 2, 2022.

Violent Night was compared to Die Hard by David Harbour at CinemaCon earlier this year, the film centered on Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage. It’s being described as a violent action-comedy, with John Leguizamo playing the villain!

Watch the official trailer for Violent Night below, which looks like a bloody holiday delight. This is what happens when The Santa Clause is mashed together with John Wick!

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo (Christmas Vacation), Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also in the upcoming Focus Features movie, starring alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic) wrote the movie.

Kelly McCormick and David Leitch produced for 87North.

The post ‘Violent Night’ Trailer – You’ve Seen Bad Santa, Now David Harbour Is Badass Santa in Bloody Action-Comedy! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Violent Night stars David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) as an ass-kicking Santa Claus, and the Exclusive Screening Event at New York Comic-Con will take place on October 7, 2022.

Universal will then release Violent Night wide in theaters on December 2, 2022.

Learn more about the NYCC screening right here.

Violent Night was compared to Die Hard by David Harbour at CinemaCon earlier this year, the film centered on Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage. It’s being described as a violent action-comedy, with John Leguizamo playing the villain!

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo, Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also in the upcoming Focus Features movie, starring alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic) wrote the movie.

Kelly McCormick and David Leitch produced for 87North.

The post ‘Violent Night’ Brings Holiday Fear to New York Comic-Con in October with Premiere Screening appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“You better watch out,” the poster’s tagline reads, and David Harbour’s Santa Claus takes center stage. He’s battered and bloody, holding a flaming candy cane in his teeth.

Check out the Violent Night poster below and expect a trailer soon.

Universal will release Violent Night on December 2, 2022.

Violent Night was compared to Die Hard by David Harbour at CinemaCon earlier this year, the film centered on Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage. It’s being described as a violent action-comedy, with John Leguizamo playing the villain!

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo, Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also in the upcoming Focus Features movie, starring alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic) wrote the movie.

Kelly McCormick and David Leitch produced for 87North.

The post ‘Violent Night’ Poster – First Look at David Harbour as a Badass Santa Claus! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Violent Night was compared to Die Hard by Harbour on the CinemaCon stage, the film centered on Harbour’s Santa Claus rescuing a family that’s been taken hostage. The film is being described as a violent action-comedy, with John Leguizamo playing the villain!

Check out some Twitter reactions below while we wait for footage to come online.

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Beverly D’Angelo, Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also in the upcoming Focus Features movie, starring alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

Universal will release Violent Night on December 2, 2022.

Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic) wrote the movie.

Kelly McCormick and David Leitch produced for 87North.

“Merry F**king Christmas!” David Harbour’s #ViolentNight is like DIE HARD, but the hero is… Santa? A family is taken hostage & Harbour, as Santa, comes to save the day. From the folks behind JOHN WICK & NOBODY. Super violent. Another wild one for the Midnight crowd #CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/HrVbab7blI

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) April 28, 2022

#DavidHarbour is here to present some insanity called #ViolentNight , a Christmas action comedy coming out on December 2nd.

From the creators of #JohnWick and #Nobody .

Ok. That shit was hilarious with some great bloody action/fight scenes.

I need that screening immediately!

— John Rocha aka The Outlaw Nation (@TheRochaSays) April 28, 2022

#ViolentNight, essentially DIE HARD with Santa Claus by way of NOBODY, will probably be my wife’s favorite movie of 2022. #Cinemacon2022

— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) April 28, 2022

Okay I definitely want to see this from Focus Features: Violent Night! It’s Die Hard but the hero is a strip mall Santa Claus! John Leguizamo is the villain. #ViolentNight #CinemaCon #Cinemacon2022

— Jeffrey Harris (@Wheeljack83) April 28, 2022

David Harbour en el escenario presentado su película #ViolentNight#CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/yXzXooJTl4

— This Awesome Movie! (@AWESOMovie) April 28, 2022

Um, this Christmas Focus is releasing VIOLENT NIGHT, in which David Harbour plays Santa Claus who helps save a family that’s being held hostage.

He swings a sledgehammer, stabs people with ornaments, etc. Think Nobody+Die Hard+Santa Claus. Looks manic and delightful. #CinemaCon

— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) April 28, 2022

Violent Night with David Harbour looks like an absolute riot. I smell a new cult classic in the making. #ViolentNight #CinemaCon

— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) April 28, 2022

“What about a movie that makes you sweat? … And I star in it as fucking Santa Claus??” asks VIOLENT NIGHT star David Harbour. It’s basically DIE HARD with Santa as John McClane. I am beginning to think I’m hallucinating some of these movies. #CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/4OeS83s5XG

— Barry Hertz (@HertzBarry) April 28, 2022

VIOLENT NIGHT gets a big reaction out of the crowd. It kind of feels like ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, except with Santa Claus in place of Honest Abe, & a group of mercenaries in place of vampires. Harbour seems to understand the assignment. Harmless (and bloody) holiday fun.

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) April 28, 2022

The post ‘Violent Night’ Sounds Like a Bloody Holiday Treat; David Harbour is Ass-Kicking Santa! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo, Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder are also in the movie, alongside Edi Patterson and Cam Gigandet.

Universal will release Violent Night on December 2, 2022.

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic) wrote the movie.

Kelly McCormick and David Leitch produced for 87North.

The post André Eriksen Joins David Harbour in ‘Violent Night’ from ‘Dead Snow’ Director appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Additionally, John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo, Alex Haskell and Alexis Louder star.

Universal will release Violent Night on December 2, 2022.

In the film, “A team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.”

Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic) wrote the movie.

Kelly McCormick and David Leitch produced for 87North.

The post Cast for ‘Dead Snow’ Director’s Holiday Horror Movie ‘Violent Night’ Fills Out appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Universal will release Violent Night on December 2, 2022.

Deadline notes that Violent Night is a “coal-dark holiday thriller that says you should always bet on red.” The cast is led by David Harbour (“Stranger Things,” Hellboy).

Pat Casey and Josh Miller (Sonic) wrote the movie.

Kelly McCormick and David Leitch produced for 87North.

The post ‘Dead Snow’ Director’s Holiday Horror Movie ‘Violent Night’ Starring David Harbour Arrives Next Year appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Universal Pictures has acquired the feature pitch Violent Night from Casey and Miller.

“Logline is being kept under wraps, but sources said it is an elevated thriller set against the Christmas holiday backdrop.”

87North’s Kelly McCormick, David Leitch and Annie Marter will produce.

The post Universal Acquires Christmas Thriller ‘Violent Night’ from ‘Sonic’ Writers appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.