Too Many Santas

 

One among a hell of a lot of Santas is a serial killer. And his choice of prey consists of "naughty" people. While there are some slight nods, some certain callbacks to "Silent Night Deadly Night" (1984), action director Miller's 2012 Silent Night, to me, is its own animal. If I were to compare, I think when this isn't trying to cater to the previous franchise's faithful slasher fans, "Silent Night", in my opinion, is a better film than any of the five before it. But because of the cultdom the first and second SNDN have built for themselves, "Silent Night" perhaps will need to have some time (and further exposure) to gain its own audience. It's got a mean streak and really dark side to it, especially with its creepy priest (Curtis Moore) and number of repulsive Santas (one played by Logue is a foul-mouthed, cynical, downright asshole, while Mike O'Brien has a face that no one wants to see at their window at night or hiding in the bushes). Malcolm McDowell's Sheriff James Cooper is so full of himself, he can be quite unbearable, especially when he refers to his presence in heroic terms while his widow deputy, Aubrey (Jaime King), tries to competently do her job despite carrying around a walking depression that her boss could give two shits about. It's Christmas and all, and the bodies are piling up. 

I've written about this in past holiday seasons on the blog, but "Silent Night" has garnered some interest on horror blogs reviewing it I follow. I think it is ready for discovery even though I haven't always been able to cozy up to it. Certain times when it pays homage to SNDN, like when a typically catatonic grandpa briefly awakens from his lost state to warn his grandson (Erik Berg) of the danger that awaits or a promiscuous sex kitten daughter (Courtney-Jane White) of the town mayor (Tom Anniko) is impaled on antlers (but this time she's not killed with breasts exposed), I think it isn't so successful, while when "Silent Night" does its own thing--Santa tries new ways to kill people like using electrocution, a taser prod, and flame thrower, not to mention, in the film's most harrowing and vile scene, a porn star thrown into a wood chipper--Miller gets a lot of mileage out of a stone-cold Santa around different parts of town exacting his own code of violence towards those he believes deserve it. With lens flairs and cinema verite (un) steadi-cam photography, Miller gives "Silent Night" a different look than the five SNDN film franchise. It certainly has better effects and a different tone that doesn't go for camp besides McDowell's character and dialogue. King, to her credit, is very serious and such a damn good actress, the film really benefited from her casting...in fact, besides what seems like a totally repulsive cast of locals in a town that seems to spawn nothing but detestable miscreants and scum, King is practically our sole character that isn't morally bankrupt and almost entirely loathsome. That could turn off some while others might find that interesting. When few are at all easy to like on any level, and the killer seems no worse besides King's Aubrey, the film offers quite a contrast...the town doesn't produce a whole lot of folks undeserved of their fate, it would seem.