Deadly Games

36.15 code Père Noël has become more famous in recent years for the similarities to Home Alone; so much so that director and writer, René Manzor threatened plagiarism. Both films feature a smart, middle/upper class kid alone in a house of traps stalked by a crazy lunatic. In 36.15 it is an unhinged store Santa who is armed with a cake knife. In Home Alone, two bumbling house burglars known as the Sticky Bandits.

36.15 code Père Noël starts off appearing like a family friendly film with our protagonist dressed as Rambo and talking to his Grandpa. What follows are some scenes of shocking violence, not 18 rated slasher standard, but fairly bloody. The Santa is surprisingly menacing and with the use of some good cinematography and suspense, René Manzor manages to create a fairly scary film which is equal parts horror and thriller.

The film reminded a bit of home invasion films like Funny Games (1997) and killer Santa films like the absurd Silent Night, Deadly Night - it's nowhere near as nasty as those. It's fun seeing the different traps Thomas sets (plastic rubber arrows doused in petrol, a toy grenade). Some people could see it as a dark comedy. It's not a must see and it's not as good as the like of Black Christmas or even Home Alone, but it is well worth a watch.

I found this to be an underrated Christmas horror movie that I have seen. The story is simple with a kid having to survive against the deranged man dressed as Santa Claus. It's built-up pretty well and is never boring throughout. I do like how the movie is the kid trying to survive against the deranged man while protecting his grandfather. The movie does a great job of being a thriller with its suspense, with him surviving and fighting back against the villain and his plans to survive. He comes up with smart ways to fight back against the villain and knows his way around the house. But the villain also sometimes outsmart the main character to show how he's more threatening than being a creepier and a killer. While there are times that the movie is predictable, it doesn't hurt the movie all that much. And the movie has a suspenseful climax to it.

Good pace, shocks and suspense. We saw this with it billed as a bad film. No its not! It comes across as a cross between a Disney and a Tarrantino production. Would have to be shown after the 9pm TV watershed though....

Another Christmas, another Christmas-themed horror movie! For as long as I can remember, I have this silly but firm tradition to watch at least one holiday horror movie on Christmas day. This naturally also means that all the obvious classics, like "Black Christmas" or the entire "Silent Night Deadly Night" series, have passed the revue already and each year it's more and more challenging to find a new title. That's why, this year, I was rejoiced to have stumbled upon "36.15 Code Père Noël". It's been on my must-see list for ages and it also turned out to be the most pleasant Christmas-horror surprise in many years!

"36.15 Code Père Noël", which sounds so much cooler than the international title "Game Over", is one seriously bonkers and messed up action/thriller, but simultaneously also a 100% original, imaginative and non-stop exhilarating joyride! It's like a demented mixture of "Die Hard", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "Rambo", "Silent Night, Deadly Night" and - of course - "Home Alone". Moreover, since this film was released in 1989, you can't but wonder if "Home Alone" (released in 1990) is really as original as you always assumed it was! The story introduces 9-year-old Thomas, the only son of rich and sturdy businesswoman Julie, and an exceptionally intelligent & independent kid. Only in the 80s, a weird kid with a mullet and Rambo-outfit could become a genuine hero! Thomas has secret hideouts all around the family mansion, prepares booby-traps for his dog and has installed cameras and spyware everywhere. On Christmas Eve, Thomas is home alone with his ailing grandfather, and all set for the arrival of Santa Clause. Santa is coming, though in the shape of a confused drifter, enraged because Thomas' mother fired him for being an incompetent Santa at the mall. René Manzor's screenplay terrific, and although absurd and often over-the-top, the characters are still believable. For example, despite being an extraordinary gifted child, Thomas also still remains a normal 9-year-old who stubbornly wants to believe that Santa Clause exists and calls out to his mother when he's petrified. Patrick Floersheim gives a great performance as the bad Santa, who basically isn't evil but nevertheless dangerously disturbed. The mansion where all the action takes place is an awesome setting, the music is creepy and there are a handful of moments of authentic suspense and fright. Give this French holiday-horror gem a fair chance, and I guarantee you'll never look at "Home Alone" again without reflecting on this one!

Really cool stylish version of a psychotic Santa hunting a kid in a mansion although the kid is more than ready for fighting back! Deadly games (AKA dial code Santa Claus) is awesome fun; glad it's on Shudder. For a French experience it's really well filmed and tense. Not really like Home Alone but I guess I see that the parents do leave the kid at home in this too.