Review: Santa's Slay

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SANTA'S SLAY is frequently corny, sometimes bloody, and often outrageously over the top, but the film is always hilarious and never boring.

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Michael Gates is a guest contributor for From Dusk Till Con. Aside from writing film reviews, he runs the site, www.thrillerguide.net,  an online episode guide for the classic TV series Boris Karloff's Thriller.

Review by: Michael Gates

As the title implies, SANTA'S SLAY is a slasher movie that is set during the Christmas season. But unlike many Yuletide horror flicks, the murderer in this film isn't some refugee from the nuthouse dressed in Santa garb. No, the killing Kris Kringle in this film is, in fact, ol' St. Nick himself. Turns out that Santa is actually the son of the Devil, and the only reason he's been delivering holiday cheer to millions of children during the past 1000 years or so is because he lost a bet with a Heavenly angel. Well, now the debt is finally paid in full, and this Christmas the not-so-jolly Santa is free to deck the halls with bowels and folly as he spreads a ton o' holiday fear.

Although the film is as hilarious as it is gory, there are two standout scenes that alone make the film worth watching. In the opening scene, James Caan (1990's MISERY), Fran Drescher (television's THE NANNY), Chris Kattan (television's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE), and Rebecca Gayheart (1998's URBAN LEGEND) cameo as a wealthy but dysfunctional family whose Christmas party is crashed by the now murderous Santa. It is impossible not to laugh as Caan gets shish-kebabed, Drescher is roasted with an open fire before getting her egg nogged, Kattan gets the boot, and Gayheart is beaned with a Yuletide log. And during a scene that reveals the details behind the pivotal bet between Santa and the angel, puppet-like animation turns what would normally be boring exposition into an unforgettably hilarious send-up of those saccharine Rankin/Bass stop-motion holiday programs that annually grace the boob tube.

As the ferocious Father Christmas, hulking pro-football-player-turned-wrestler Bill Goldberg delivers a deliciously over-the-top performance, and the venerable Robert Culp--co-star of the classic seriocomic TV series I SPY--is perfectly cast as Santa's angelic rival. SANTA'S SLAY also co-stars Emilie de Ravin, who is better known for her role as Claire Littleton on TV's LOST; respected character actor Saul Rubinek, appearing here as a Jewish deli owner who learns to believe in Santa Claus...the hard way, of course; and popular Canadian comedy actor Dave Thomas.

The DVD from Lions Gate presents the SANTA'S SLAY in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (enhanced for widescreen TVs), and the digital transfer and 5.1 Surround Sound are excellent. Bonus features include an informative feature-length commentary with the filmmakers, deleted scenes, a short making-of featurette, and a couple of cool Easter Eggs.

Yes, SANTA'S SLAY is frequently corny, sometimes bloody, and often outrageously over the top, but the film is always hilarious and never boring. The clever script avoids the cliches of other holiday horror flicks and never forgets that it's all meant to be played with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Horror fans and movie-watchers with a good sense of humor will not be disappointed.

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