#SilentNightMovie

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[bob-the-movie-man-film-reviews]

Silent Night (15): Death Actually.

#onemannsmovies review of "Silent Night" (2021). #SilentNightMovie. A very dark Christmas comedy/drama that is best served cold. 3/5.

A One Mann’s Movies review of “Silent Night” (2021). I missed “Silent Night” when it was released in December last year. But with the season approaching again, what better way to get in the mood that with a joyous and uplifting festive feel good flick?  Erm…. Perhaps not. For “Silent Night”, whilst a real oddity, is very very dark! This was the last of my “catch up” films from my Antipodean…

[fearsmagazine]

SILENT NIGHT | Official Trailer, Poster & Images

SILENT NIGHT, which is set to debut in theaters and stream exclusively in North America on Friday, December 3rd, 2021.

BACK ROW [L-R] Lily-Rose Depp, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Rufus Jones, Annabelle Wallis, Kiera Knightley, Matthew Goode, Lucy Punch and Kirby Howell-Baptiste Dìrísù FRONT ROW [L-R] Davida McKenzie, Roman Griffin Davis, Hardy Griffin Davis, and Gilby Griffin Davis

Marking writer Camille Griffin’s directorial debut, the film focuses on a group of friends that comes together for an eventful Christmas dinner, and stars Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Roman Griffin Davis, Annabelle Wallis, Lily-Rose Depp, Ṣọpé Dìrísù, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Lucy Punch, Rufus Jones and Trudie Styler among others.

Roman Griffin Davis in the drama/horror SILENT NIGHT, an AMC+ and RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of AMC+ and RLJE Films.

From producers Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman franchise), Trudie Styler (Moon) and Celine Rattray (The Kids Are Alright), Silent Night follows parents Nell (Knightley) and Simon (Goode) who have invited their closest friends to join their family for Christmas dinner at their idyllic home in the English countryside.  

Keira Knightley in the drama/horror SILENT NIGHT, an AMC+ and RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of AMC+ and RLJE Films.

As the group comes together, it feels like old times – but behind all of the laughter and merriment, something is not quite right.  The world outside is facing impending doom, and no amount of gifts, games or Prosecco can make mankind’s imminent destruction go away.  Surviving the holidays just got a lot more complicated.

[dont-let-me-stop-you]

silentnightmovie: From Salzburg to Nashville! Recording and filming with the incredible @kellyclarkson - a certain highlight of our beautiful story. Special appearance in this version will be the marvelous @viennaboyschoir . Be prepared... 

UPCOMING BROADCASTS (CET): ARTE: December 16th - 05:35 P.M. (Ger/Fra) BR: December 18th - 10:00 P.M. (Ger) NDR: December 23rd - 03:45 P.M. (Ger) ServusTV: December 23rd - 08:15 P.M. (Aut)

[fearsmagazine]

SILENT NIGHT - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: AMC+ and RLJE Films

SYNOPSIS: Nell and Simon have invited their closest friends to join their family for Christmas dinner at their idyllic home in the English countryside.  As the group comes together, it feels like old times – but behind all of the laughter and merriment, something's not quite right. As the day dares on and alcohol is consumed, personal squabbles are forsaken as thoughts turn to the world outside and the impending doom. Be it the Russians or the planet fighting back, no amount of gifts, games or Prosecco can make mankind’s imminent destruction go away.

REVIEW: Camille Griffin’s directorial debut is dark horror comedy set against the backdrop of a Christmas dinner as friends and family come together to celebrate and share one more holiday together before the world ends. Regardless of the looming end of humanity, family dynamics and ancient personal history surface to dampen the quasi festive celebration.

Camille Griffin's directorial debut features excellent production values and artisan filmmakers that make SILENT NIGHT an absolute delight to watch. She has a splendid location and uses it to compose some interesting shots as we are introduced to the family, characters arrive and the drama ensues. I love the costume choices, especially how nicely it suits the characters’ traits and enhances the performances. It’s wonderfully edited and has a nice energetic flow.. Overall the film gets high marks from me for tech and artistry. I like the production designs for the poisonous cloud and how it looks organic and almost feels like it has a consciousness. It feels like an expression of the planet’s Gaia.

Griffin does an exceptional job of creating characters and skillfully moving from the satirical relationship entanglements into the narrative’s darker themes. She weaves through different emotional, ethical and philosophical concerns, keeping it in the shadow of the British sensibility of “keep calm and carry on.” Much like Hans Christian Anderson tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” there is a child, Art, who turns to the adults and questions the stark reality of the situation that the adults seem blind to. Griffin’s script has Art turning to different adults, each offering their own perspective and moral take on the impending poisonous cloud. Art serves as the catalyst to turn the rudder from the realm of dark comedy into the depths of tragedy and horror. Griffin presents the viewer with the prognosis of the symptoms of this gaseous cloud yet still manages to allow the viewer to see beyond that veil to the absurdity of it all. While not a happy holiday film, it is a deeply moving and engaging cinematic experience. With so many interesting characters in the narrative I wish the film might have been a tad longer to offer the viewers a little more background to these characters and to become more comfortable with them.

Hats off to the director for capturing some excellent and memorable performances. Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode are brilliant as the host and parents. You can feel the tension lingering just below the surface as the story unfolds. The satire flows organically, yet you feel the ripples of horror mounting. She gets such genuine, distinct and individual performances for her cast. It permits the viewer to be immersed in the drama and horrified as it takes us into darker territory. She skillfully crafts a variety of viewpoints and allows us to understand Art’s bewilderment and ultimately his conclusions. The young actor Roman Griffin Davis as Art, who was brilliant in “Jojo Rabbit,” gives another heartfelt and impassioned performance that contributes to making this a memorable film.

I believe Camille Griffin’s SILENT NIGHT subtly addresses the absurdity of celebrating a holiday, really any holiday, in the face of the current geo-political climate and the state of the climate crisis. She makes the cause of the cloud ambiguous, but it does not really matter. There is a looming tragedy and what does matter is if we fail to address either. By setting it against the backdrop of Christmas she is making a bold and  satirical statement. The tree, the garland, the meal, the absurdity of the gifts. As one of the children points out, the batteries will last longer than him. I love the statement she makes by having some gifts wrapped in newspaper with the headlines of the impending doom on it. It is a wickedly clever satire that unfolds like a series of brilliant political cartoons that might have been illustrated by Gahan Wilson or Charles Addams. I’m eager to see what Camille Griffin serves up next.

CAST: Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Roman Griffin Davis, Annabelle Wallis, Lily-Rose Depp, Sope Dirisu, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Lucy Punch, Trudie Styler and Rufus Jones. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Camille Griffin; Producers - Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler & Matthew Vaughn; Cinematographer - Sam Renton; Score - Lorne Balfe; Editors - Pia Di Ciaula & Martin Walsh; Production Designer - Franckie Diago; Costume Designer - Stephanie Collie; VFX Supervisor - Angus Bickerton; SFX Supervisor - Matt Strange. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/Lj2f0DAoDTU RELEASE DATE: In Theaters and Stream Friday, December 3rd, 2021.

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri