Title: Santa Claws
Director: A playful mix of Tim Burton’s eerie whimsy and Joe Dante’s chaotic charm
Genre: Dark Comedy, Holiday Horror
Tagline: “He sees you when you’re sleeping… and you won’t wake up.”
Synopsis
It’s Christmas Eve in the quaint village of snowy pines where the charm of the holiday is as intact as the snow flakes dancing on the roofs of the houses. But when a reckless 16-year-old termed Abby (Sophia Lillis) casts in error a long-forgotten Christmas taboo, all the cheerful Yule bustle transforms into bedlam. There will be no Santa in this town, it has been over run by Santa Claws.
Santa Claws, an evil patched up evil twin of Saint Nick. The jolly old St Nick depicts a legend by wielding sharp claws, loud laughter and a mind filled with vengeance. What for? Because it’s the best way to pay back the naughty children? Who would say no to torturing the naughty kids in the most enjoyable and horrible ways? But as the Christmas spirit differentiates the people of the town, Abby along with her peers should try and piece together whatever remains of the puzzle of Santa Claws ancestry before the clock hits 12 and now would have to preside over the events on Christmas Day and would know what they got for Christmas, severed limbs, wrapped and placed under a chained up in blood Christmas tree.
What Makes Santa Claws a Festive Fright?
- A Good Christmas with a Bad Twist
The Christmas season’s well-known symbols including gingerbread cookies and stockings are twisted into an absolute horror style in Santa Claws. Pawshaped claws become the killing weapon with the rifle technique taking a new level. Who knew a candy cane could be used to stab someone with such viciousness? The defenders could make it personal which is ironic on its own when wrapped in Christmas lights.
- Black Christmas meets Gremlins
Black Christmas and Gremlins chaos are combined in apocalyptic levels of Black Christmas and Santaws. Horror existing but the scenarios are way beyond the normal level so humour should be appreciated whenever possible. Funny but also invasive perspectives about Santa usual.
- An identity you could cut yourself on if you’re too close
Visually attractive but still a killing machine: Santa claws. With glowing red lucifier eyes, claw like Christmas jumper and piercing claws – this is a character like no other. After killing someone, this guy is fully indulged in delivering sarcasm as if the warmth of jeer makes killing even more enjoyable: “I guess you’ve made it onto the sleigh list… to hell!”
Cinematic Techniques
Visuals
- Crimson reds and dark greens are the colors that dominate the winter wonderland’s atmosphere but rather than looking cheerful they are more of sinister, and an ominous sign.
- The figure of Santa Claws borrows from the story induced principles of appearance design based on grim folklore and modern horror chic thanks to his face being hideously cut by thick strands of dark fur, and claws glistening like sharpened candy sticks.
- Murders are theatricalized events that allow to combine the grotesque with the wit, e.g. a person in a snow globe who is being aggressively overwhelmed by decoration.
Sound Design
The score includes chilling versions of Christmas songs and the music box playing ‘Silent Night’ ominously suggests horrible events to come. Every scratch on a surface made by Santa Claws’s super sharp claws gives you goosebumps.
Direction
The film employs some interesting contrasts, contrasting warm family Christmases with cold receptions in the form of death. It offers sweeping views of the picturesque Christmas lights but immediately pulls back to give us scenes of horror in close angles.
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