There’s always at least one horror film for the holidays and this is the big release for 2022. It features David Harbour as the real Santa, who also happens to be human. On his Christmas Eve deliveries, he ends up encountering a group of mercenaries who are holding a rich family captive (headed by a wonderful Beverly D’Angelo). Being a satire, there are a few moments of humor and plenty of dialogue in the early scenes. Santa’s first fight is almost completely in the dark, so it’s hard to tell what’s happening. His subsequent encounters are even more violent, but the most enjoyable sequence features booby traps à la Home Alone. This film doesn’t have any elements to make it a holiday classic, but it’s got sufficient satirical energy and snappy fight sequences to counteract the traditional Hallmark releases. 
(3 / 5)
