By Toby Symonds.

VIOLENT Night is such an obvious title for a Christmas-set jet-black action thriller that it’s genuinely surprising to think that it’s never been used before. Certainly not in the dirty recesses of Hollywood.

Stranger Things’ David Harbour leads the film, which comes directed by Tommy Wirkola (What Happened to Monday), riffing off an original script from Sonic the Hedgehog writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller. Their premise is simple, if a little bonkers.

It is Christmas Eve. The Lightstone family - as dysfunctional as they are wealthy - are settled in for the holidays. What they don’t know is that a gang of ruthless mercenaries, headed up by John Leguizamo’s Mr. Scrooge, is poised to attack.

While such a set up might seem to be building towards a film in which Die Hard meets Home Alone, Harbour’s entry into the fray deals things an entirely bizarre curve ball. He plays Santa Claus.

Anyone expecting the man in red to save the day with some good will and a sprinkling of festive magic is in for a surprise. This Santa means business and has a fiercely hard core approach to dealing with all those who find themselves on the naughty list. Yule wish for coal.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Violent Night names David Leitch among its producers. He’s the man behind John Wick, Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2. Comic book violence is Leitch’s speciality and this one’s full of it.

Some may balk at just how far the film is prepared to go in its drive to shock. And yet, at a time of year when cinemas are chockablock with exceedingly lovely, cockle warming love stories, there’s something anarchically enjoyable in watching the north polar opposite.

A top being gloriously grim, Violent Night boasts too one of this year’s funnier scripts. Harbour has already done much to prove his comic chops, which were a highlight of last year’s Black Widow, but here goes above and beyond. If ever a film rested on the shoulder’s of one man’s efforts, this is it.

Once the film’s rhythm of anarchy has been established, and the initial shock overcome, Violent Night’s ability to surprise does rather slip. The plot never entirely lives up to the premise.

That said, there’s much seasonal fun to be had here. Perhaps best to leave the kids at home for this one.