Violent Night Blu-ray Review
Collector's Edition
Score: 77
from 7 reviewers
Review Date:
Violent Night is a playful, action-packed holiday movie with standout video and DTS-HD 7.1 audio, offering gory fun and solid extras for genre fans.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 83
Despite the absence of a 4K UHD release, Violent Night's Blu-ray presents a rich 1080p transfer with impressive detail from the 4.5K ARRI Alexa source. The AVC HD image manages well in darker settings, offering strong contrast and solid black levels, though it lacks HDR depth. While minor grain and compression noise exist, the visual experience remains commendable.
Audio: 84
Violent Night's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 sound mix delivers an immersive audio experience, with dynamic spacing, clear dialogue, and robust low-frequency effects. Despite lacking a Dolby Atmos track, the mix boasts excellent clarity and impactful soundscapes that perfectly complement the film's action-packed scenes.
Extra: 60
Violent Night's Blu-ray extras provide an intriguing blend of content, from nearly 20 minutes of deleted and extended scenes to a lively feature-length commentary with director Tommy Wirkola and crew. Featurettes like Quarrelin' Kringle and Deck the Halls with Brawls offer brisk insights into the film's immersive action and creative production design.
Movie: 67
Violent Night merges the festive spirit with gory mayhem, led by a sledgehammer-wielding David Harbour as a disillusioned Santa. While it nods to classics like Die Hard and Home Alone, the film's comedic brutality and subtle mythology make it a hilariously bloody ride, despite some pacing hiccups.
Video: 83
The Blu-ray presentation of "Violent Night" offers a visually compelling experience despite the absence of a 4K UHD release. Shot digitally using a 4.5K Arri Alexa camera system, the film features a well-mastered 1080p transfer that capitalizes on its stylized aesthetic. The use of a 2.39:1 aspect ratio effectively frames the film's diverse environments, enhancing the contrast between the warm, holiday-themed interiors and the cold, stark exteriors. Facial and clothing details remain sufficiently crisp, while the color palette, though not overly vivid, accurately maintains its intended hues. The anamorphic lenses contribute to the film's cinematic texture, which is both textured and occasionally grainy, adding depth to the overall visual appeal.
In terms of technical performance, "Violent Night" excels with solid black levels and superb shadow detail, crucial for a film characterized by its predominantly dark scenes. However, the contrast and black levels could have benefited from an HDR grade, which would have provided richer and more profound shadow details. The image remains free from significant compression artifacts or banding, though some inherent noise from the original capture is detectable but not intrusive.
While the Blu-ray delivers an impressive HD image with sharp details in well-lit scenes, certain low-light sequences exhibit some limitations in color saturation and black levels, which could have been improved with a higher resolution format like 4K UHD. Nevertheless, this Blu-ray is a robust representation of the film's digital capture, ensuring a satisfactory viewing experience for fans and newcomers alike, albeit leaving room for enhancement should a UHD version be released in the future.
Audio: 84
The audio presentation of "Violent Night" on Blu-ray is commendably delivered in DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, capturing the film's intense and vibrant soundscape with precision. The mix emphasizes clear and dynamic placement, ensuring that every audio cue supports the film's energetic scenes effectively. Gunfire and explosions are reproduced with an impactful resonance that never overwhelms, maintaining a solid bass response throughout. Dialogue remains crisp and well-integrated, interfacing smoothly with the punchy action sequences.
This DTS-HD MA track harnesses a substantial soundstage, utilizing its surround channels effectively to heighten the overall audio experience. Sound effects, such as gunshots and footsteps, exhibit fluid motion and crisp transitions, enhancing the immersive quality of the presentation. The engaging music score by Dominic Lewis is seamlessly meshed with both action and quieter scenes, contributing significantly to the tone and emotional breadth of the film. This mix adeptly balances between moments of high intensity and softer emotional beats, ensuring a holistic auditory experience.
Despite lacking a Dolby Atmos track, possibly due to Universal's standard practice, the 7.1 mix does not disappoint. It brings forth a robust auditory experience typical of modern films while offering deep bass notes appropriately. Additionally, options for Spanish 7.1 DTS-HD HR, French 5.1 DTS audio tracks, and English descriptive service are available, along with English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles, ensuring accessibility for various viewers. Overall, "Violent Night" on Blu-ray delivers an entertaining auditory journey that complements its high-octane visual component masterfully.
Extras: 60
The Blu-ray release of "Violent Night" offers a concise set of engaging extras that fans of the film will appreciate. The supplement package is anchored by an entertaining and insightful audio commentary featuring director Tommy Wirkola, producer Guy Danella, and writers Josh Miller and Pat Casey, who provide behind-the-scenes anecdotes and easter eggs. The deleted and extended scenes, totaling 19 minutes, reveal worthwhile material, including alternate perspectives and character moments. The range of featurettes such as "Quarrelin' Kringle," "Santa's Helpers: The Making Of Violent Night," and "Deck the Halls with Brawls" offer glimpses into the film’s production design, casting choices, and choreography, albeit in a brisk format. Despite the brevity of some segments, each one contributes valuable insight into the creative processes behind this unconventional holiday film.
Extras included in this disc:
- Deleted and Extended Scenes: Includes scenes like "Family Arrives at the Mansion" and "Santa on the Roof."
- Quarrelin' Kringle: Focuses on David Harbour's role and related choreography.
- Santa's Helpers: The Making Of VIOLENT NIGHT: Covers production design, costumes, and cast insights.
- Deck the Halls with Brawls: Explores the choreography and execution of fight sequences.
- Feature Commentary: Conversations with Tommy Wirkola, Guy Danella, Pat Casey, and Josh Miller discussing the film.
Movie: 67
"Violent Night," helmed by Tommy Wirkola, carves a unique niche in the holiday genre, blending festive cheer with unabashed ultraviolence. The film stars David Harbour as a distinctly unorthodox Santa Claus— a Viking-raider-turned-jolly-gifter, now disenchanted and boorish, whose Christmas Eve turns into a bloody battle. The wealthy Lightstone family finds themselves at the center of a hostage crisis orchestrated by the villainous "Mr. Scrooge" (John Leguizamo). The narrative seamlessly infuses classic Christmas tropes with action and gore, reminiscent of '80s blockbusters and cult Santa-horror flicks like "Silent Night, Deadly Night," while adding its own brutal twist. Harbour’s performance encapsulates this darkly comedic riff on holiday lore, capturing both the humor and barbarity demanded by the film's premise.
Wirkola’s direction ensures the action is dynamic and entertaining, even when occasionally derivative. Subtle nods to "Die Hard," "Home Alone," and "Bad Santa" pepper the film, providing both nostalgia and satire for astute viewers. The runtime, however, is slightly burdened by narrative pacing issues; the character arcs, such as the Lightstone family’s internal conflicts and Santa's backstory, offer sporadic lulls between vivid sequences of violence. Nonetheless, these intermissions are punctuated by high-intensity beats where Santa dismantles his adversaries with grim delight, channeling an unexpectedly captivating amalgam of Thor-like brutality against the backdrop of Christmas magic.
Though the narrative structure may falter under the weight of its cinematic inspirations, "Violent Night's" gleeful disregard for realism makes it an engaging ride for audiences seeking a darker holiday film. The blend of bloody action and ironic wit elevates it beyond typical fare, potentially setting the stage for its evolution into an annual viewing tradition. Despite its flaws, Wirkola delivers a film that thrives on charm and chaos—a messy but enjoyable Christmas romp.
Total: 77
"Violent Night" delivers a bold blend of festive anarchism, offering a refreshing, albeit occasionally derivative, twist to Christmas storytelling. The film positions itself as a riotously fun experience more than a meaningful narrative, anchored by David Harbour’s engaging performance. Its charm lies in its unabashed love for chaos and cheekily violent humor, providing fans of action-packed holiday fare like "Die Hard" and "Bad Santa" something to revel in. While the storyline lacks depth and originality, relying on stock character arcs, it makes up for it with unrelenting energy and spectacle.
On the technical side, Universal Studios' Blu-ray release excels with high-quality audiovisual specifications that enhance the viewing experience. The 2.39:1 AVC presentation delivers sharp visuals, and the DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio track immerses viewers into the film’s cacophonous events. English, Spanish, French audio options, along with subtitles in multiple languages, make it accessible worldwide. Complementary extras provide modest but enjoyable insights, although they might leave you wanting more substantial content.
In conclusion, while "Violent Night" may not enter the echelon of quintessential Christmas films for everyone, it confidently carves out its niche among those who appreciate offbeat holiday classics. Between its gripping action sequences, irreverent humor, and excellent technical presentation on Blu-ray, it offers a seasonal delight for viewers seeking energetic entertainment over sentimentality. "Violent Night" is definitely worth considering for your holiday movie nights, standing as a likely candidate to become a repeat staple alongside some of cinema’s well-loved festive capers.
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 80
I was a bit sad that Violent Night didn’t get a 4K UHD release (but knowing Universal, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Scream Factory get ahold of a 4K release in the next year), but the Blu-ray does look...
Audio: 80
• Deleted and Extended Scenes • Family Arrives at the Mansion • Jason and Linda in Bedroom • Krampus Sees Trudy's Radio • Santa on the Roof • Walk to the Manger • Family Resolution • Bad Dad • Cast Call...
Extras: 70
Movie: 70
What no one accounted for was the inclusion of a drunk Santa Clause (David Harbour), who just so happens to come down the chimney to drop off some presents, only to find himself stuck in the giant mansion...
Total: 80
The Blu-ray looks and sounds amazing though, with fantastic audio (outside of the massive decibel boosting needed) and some very solid extras as well....
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 80
The image is adequately detailed, certainly not standing apart, at all, in 2023, but clearly delivering a generally satisfying HD image....
Audio: 80
The elements are in fine shape, presenting with good clarity regardless of the power and content, while spacing is excellent....
Extras: 50
Santa's Helpers: The Making of Violent Night (1080p, 5:56): Looking at the concept, the film's heroes and villains, cast and secondary characters, production design, costumes, and more....
Movie: 50
It does its best to rise above by taking the focus away from the dearth of narrative content and onto the various bouts of action and violence, but when Santa isn't sledgehammering someone, or when Trudy...
Total: 70
Violent Night aims for different and entertaining, and it somewhat succeeds in both areas, but it also can't escape the feeling of derivative moviemaking, even if it portrays Santa as a hero with a sledgehammer....
Blu-ray Authority review by Matt BrightonRead review here
Video: 90
Detail looks good as well, as we’d might expect, this is particularly unnerving when we see some of the creates that the film has to offer....
Audio: 90
While this isn’t the most active and robust mix I’ve heard, it’s really hard to find fault with these modern films....
Extras: 50
Deleted and Extended Scenes Family Arrives at the Mansion Jason and Linda in Bedroom Krampus Sees Trudy’s Radio Santa on the Roof Walk to the Manger Family Resolution Bad Dad Cast Call Back Extended Scenes...
Movie: 0
As of this writing, the holidays are behind us, but I’ve now got a new reason to look forward to Christmas each and every year....
Total: 80
Not every “Christmas” movie needs to have a message of hope and mankind’s good nature during the “most wonderful time of the year.”...
The Digital Bits review by Stephen BjorkRead review here
Video: 85
The image as presented in 1080p is reasonably sharp and detailed, though since Universal declined to author a 4K Ultra HD version, there’s no way of knowing if there could have been any real improvements...
Audio: 85
Violent Night was released theatrically in Dolby Atmos, but since Universal stuck to their standard practice here of not including Atmos tracks on Blu-ray versions, this is 7.1 only....
Extras: 85
Some of them can’t be seen anywhere, including on the disc, because they note that they cut some parts of Santa’s backstory, and opted to cut it out of the deleted scenes on the disc as well, since they’re...
Movie: 85
The posters certainly made it look like standard Christmas horror, and the rest of the marketing campaign didn’t necessarily give an accurate impression of what was really going on, either....
Total: 85
Violent Night won’t be everyone’s preference as a Christmas confection, but for anyone who includes films like Die Hard, Bad Santa, or The Ref on their list of holiday classics, it should be a welcome...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
There's a great contrast between the warm holiday lights that give off a nice, soft amber glow with red and green decorations everywhere, along with gold and dark wood furniture throughout the mansion...
Audio: 80
The score and music always add to the holiday spirit and '80s action vibe the film gives off, and the dialogue is always clean, clear, and easy to follow, free of any issues....
Extras: 40
Audio Commentary - The director, two writers, and producer Guy Danella all deliver a track together and all have a fun time laughing and discussing making the movie....
Movie: 60
But Violent Night is completely and unabashedly a Christmas film that not only delivers some magical and mysterious components of the folklore of Jolly Old Saint Nick, but also comes with explosions, blood...
Total: 60
Violent Night is a fun action Christmas movie that hits hard in all of the right places and is full of gory entertainment that should satisfy most....
Home Theater Forum review by Timothy ERead review here
Video: 90
...
Audio: 100
The surround channels are well employed and the vibrant music composed by Dominic Lewis(Kingsman: The Secret Service) really delivers in setting the tone for the film....
Extras: 70
Santa’s Helpers(5:56): Featurette covers many aspects of production including set dressing and costuming....
Movie: 70
If John McClain were Santa Claus, and if this premise were combined with the slapstick comedy of Home Alone and the magic of Elf, you will have Violent Night....
Total: 70
It is not for all audiences, but if you only halfway like Bad Santa, Home Alone, Die Hard, and Elf, you are almost guaranteed to like Violent Night as well....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 94
Audio: 90
This is a clear encoding that renders excellent reproduction of the soundtrack’s recording which augments the presence of low level off camera cues/sounds as well as punctuating those that are meant to...
Extras: 60
Cast Call Back o Extended Scenes • Quarrelin' Kringle - Cast and crew relay why David Harbour is the perfect brawler for this combative rendition of Santa....
Movie: 70
What they don’t see coming is that Santa Claus has dropped in to deliver presents to the only on in the house that is on the nice list....
Total: 79
Ralph Potts AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews Reference Review System: JVC DLA-NZ7 4K Ultra High-Definition Laser Front Projector (Calibrated with Calman color calibration software and Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000...
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Actors: David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Beverly D'Angelo
PlotOn Christmas Eve, a group of mercenaries breaks into the wealthy Lightstone family’s compound, taking everyone hostage. The ruthless leader, Scrooge, has orchestrated the heist knowing the patriarch has recently passed away and believing the family will be an easy target. His team of skilled ex-military operatives intends to force the matriarch of the family, Gertrude Lightstone, to open the estate's impenetrable vault filled with millions in cash. As the situation escalates, the family's dysfunction and internal conflicts become evident, with the estranged daughter Trudy and her child being key to surviving the night.
Unbeknownst to the criminals, an unexpected guest is also on the property. Santa Claus is in the midst of his Christmas rounds when he becomes entangled in the home invasion. Initially disenchanted with the greed he witnesses in the modern world, Santa finds himself drawn into the conflict. With a unique set of skills and intimate knowledge of the house, as he has visited it for many years, Santa takes on the role of protector. As he stealthily maneuvers through the estate, he begins to dispatch the mercenaries using his magical abilities and a variety of improvised weapons, proving to be a formidable opponent while he attempts to save the Lightstones from a grim fate.
Writers: Pat Casey, Josh Miller
Release Date: 02 Dec 2022
Runtime: 112 min
Rating: R
Country: United States, Canada
Language: English