The first trailer for the film was released in early October and is scheduled for a December 2nd release. The seasonal film centres on a wealthy family who find their home under siege, ending up being taken hostage by mercenaries seeking access to their fortune. They find themselves a savior in Santa Claus himself, wanting to help the young girl who’s on the nice list. The trailer is creative in its application of seasonal imagery and sayings such as “season’s beatings” and the use of a candy cane shiv (always wanted to see one used like that). Harbour seems perfect for the role of a more gruff than jolly Santa and his experience of fight scenes in Black Widow (2020) and Stranger Things (2016-present) shines through.
Granted an R rating, audiences can expect this to be a violent film with great choreography. The producers at 87North have previously worked on Atomic Blonde (2017), Nobody (2021) and the ‘John Wick’ films and the director Tommy Wirkola previously did Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013). Despite the writer’s being the same as Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), this is definitely not a family-friendly film.
Will it become a Christmas classic? Guess we’ll have to wait and see this winter.