The first reactions to the action-oriented Christmas movie, Violent Night, are now in. So, is Violent Night the greatest gift we will all receive this holiday season? Or is it a festive misfire? Led by Stranger Things star David Harbour as a vengeful Santa Claus, Violent Night is all set to hit theaters this December. But is it destined to become a festive favorite? Let's find out.

Premiering at New York Comic Con, and coming courtesy of 87North, the bare-knuckle producers of Nobody, John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Violent Night says “to hell with all is calm” as it brings audiences a coal-dark holiday action-comedy that says you should always bet on red.

Violent Night kicks off when a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage; the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (David Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint. And it sounds like Violent Night is exactly what you want it to be.

Violent Night “is the perfect combo of gore & Xmas magic,” begins one early reaction, with praise being heaped on David Harbour, who “doesn’t hold back as a vengeful Santa Claus destined to deliver one last bang.” Another calls Violent Night “one of the best times I’ve had at the movies EVER.” Finally, Violent Night is called “Very much DIE HARD meets BAD SANTA,” which frankly sounds like the pitch-perfect Christmas treat.

Violent Night Will Explode Into Theaters This December

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Universal Pictures

Directed by razor-edged Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Dead Snow franchise) from an original screenplay written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, Violent Night also stars Emmy winner John Leguizamo (John Wick), Cam Gigandet (Without Remorse), Alex Hassell (Cowboy Bebop), Alexis Louder (The Tomorrow War), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones) and Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise) alongside David Harbour (Black Widow, Stranger Things) as Santa Claus.

David Harbour, who will surely make the perfect gruff, vicious version of jolly old Saint Nick, has teased the action-packed pedigree of Violent Night, describing it as a festive Die Hard. “Who doesn't love a great action movie, right? How about Christmas movies? So, what about a movie that's a great action movie, and the greatest Christmas movie in one? Die Hard. F-cking Die Hard,” Harbour said while appearing at the recent CinemaCon event.

He continued saying, “Now what if...wait a minute, wait a minute. What if kick ass director Tommy Wirkola and the badass producers at 87North, you know, the maniacs who did Atomic Blonde and John Wick and Nobody and Hobbs and Shaw, were behind it all? And, wait a minute, what if I started in it as f-cking Santa Claus? Oh, do I swing a mother f-cking hammer? Yes. What you're about to see is not an actual trailer, I don't think, but you better not cry to somebody. You better not pout. I'm telling you why. Because Santa Claus is coming to town. Let's f-cking go.”

Violent Night is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 2, 2022, by Universal Pictures.