Two years on, and an unhappy Kate Pierce is kidnapped by a cast-out elf aiming to get revenge on Santa. Sprawling grab-bag sequel, mashing up Milton, Gremlins and a hundred other properties. Messy and uncoordinated, though Kurt Russell is having fun, plus he gets another Blues Brothers-ish singalong set piece.
Here’s the trailer.
A chaotic Londoner begins to repair her broken relationships when she meets a handsome stranger. Schematic sub-Richard Curtis romantic comedy which, a few good lines aside, clings to the clumsiest of premises. Heartless, but harmless: Henry Golding makes for am impressive beau though.
Here’s the trailer.
The wastrel son of a postmaster is given a challenging remote office to run as a final opportunity. Oddball but charming Santa Claus origin variant story, with some fine gags and great animation and design throughout. A welcome spin on the lets-save-Christmas storyline.
Here’s the trailer.
A pre-teen and his babysitter find themselves in a hostage situation one Christmas. Gleeful mashup of Home Alone and The Strangers that plays fast with audience expectations of a Yuletide teen wish fulfilment black comedy siege horror flick. Does what it sets out to do with some gusto.
Here’s the trailer.
A spoiled child takes out a contract on Santa, who is struggling with responsibilities and finances. Odd black comedy mix of action, fantasy and character study that works if you go with it, though not for all. Still, it’s well-made, with plenty of interesting ideas, and not self-conscious about its cult potential.
Here’s the trailer.
John McClane intervenes to stop mercenaries from freeing a high-value prisoner from a snowbound airport. Messy serio-comic sequel that bends over backwards to link itself to the first film. It scrapes by on residual goodwill from its predecessor, but that’s about it.
Here’s the trailer.
A police investigation begins when a female student goes missing. Influential proto-slasher movie with giallo touches, this twice-remade movie has aspects of the cop procedural as well as originating several horror genre tropes. It stands up pretty well, with well-rounded characters and a none-more-70s visual sensibility.
Santa’s awkward younger son has to deliver an overlooked gift so that Christmas can be saved. Excellent, quirky and gently-subversive animation with heart and brains, delivering slapstick, pathos and some flashes of dark humour. Lots to enjoy, including shout-outs to other Aardman characters.
A miser is haunted by a series of ghosts, so he may rethink his approach to Christmas and life. A charming adaptation of the oft-filmed Dickens novella A Christmas Carol, capturing a famous stage portrayal. Some lovely model effects and a keen visual sensibility; a touch of expressionism and a feel for the period on display here.
A mean TV executive is visited by a series of ghosts intent on teaching him the true meaning of Christmas. A raucous, overlong, and often unfunny retelling of A Christmas Carol, overly keen to cash in on its star’s links to Ghostbusters. Inevitably, some bits work nevertheless, and the film’s become something of a Yuletide perennial despite its weaknesses.
![Die Hard 2 [AKA Die Hard 2: Die Harder] (1990, dir. Renny Harlin)](https://255review.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/die-hard-2-uk-quad-poster.jpg?w=650)
![Black Christmas [AKA Silent Night, Evil Night] (1974, dir. Bob Clark)](https://255review.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/bc-poster.jpg?w=406)
255 Review 