36-15 Code Père Noël

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!

This quite recently newly unearthed holiday fun has many names, "Game Over", "Deadly Games", "Dial Code Santa Claus", "36:15 Code Father Christmas", but there ain't many doubts about being a stylish, hearty and odd little French adventure. And yes, the blueprint of "Home Alone", which came out a year later, is indeed about the same, but there are plenty of plot, genre and tonal differences.

Playful, resourceful, smart and full-of-wonder Thomas loves to play Rambo at home, and to take care and play with his close-to-heart grandpa, or Papy. It is Christmas day, and Thomas's mom has gone to work at the mall, where a creepy, mysterious bearded man, who seemingly just wants some love, is scaring kids as an impostor mall Santa. When he is let go, the certifiable killer nature of Santa clashes out at Thomas and his grandpa, and all three are now locked in a game of survival...

The beginning of the movie got me excited, not so much Thomas and his action, but the look and performance of Patrick Floersheim as the Santa Claus, the man can be eerie and looks absolutely fabulous as a killer Santa later in the film, props to the costume designers and make-up department. Immediately I was excited for a great Villain character, so a little of my disappointment lies in the fact that "Game Over" relies a lot on action and dramatic, stylized sequences, offering absolutely no back-story for Santa, giving him no clear motivations, and very few speaking lines. Visually striking villain at all times, substantially - not so much.

That action though is pretty cool, especially given the fact that this is an indie of the 80's. In the matters of style, "Deadly Games" is almost an overkill, cinematography is varied (and with lots of tilted angles), editing is pretty neat and energetic, almost as energetic as the synth orchestra soundtrack. Atmospherically and visually "Game Over" also reminded me of "The Crow", weird, I know, but not because of any substance, but the sets. Most of this film takes place in a mansion that from outside looks like Dracula's castle, and inside has half-vintage-like interior, big, dark spaces, etc., the set design really got me reminiscing on "The Crow". A gothic sort of vibe.

Thomas is a good kid, a sympathetic kid, and together with Papy they are the heart of this movie, so both the good and the evil in "Deadly Games" entertains and amuses, and brings solid acting to the table. The biggest flaws are still in the story, it plays out the first way one can imagine, not a lot of surprises. No extra story thread was worked on. The other flaw, and a plus at the same time, is action, it's funny because I said the film relies on it a lot, but here comes in the dramatic flair of these filmmakers... Plenty of action sequences are short and sweet in the core idea, but made longer and way dramatic frequently, slow-mo's, epic music, dramatic eye close-up and so forth. In the end it feels like an amazing looking sandwich lacking just a little filler.

"Game Over" is definitely a seasonal horror (perhaps less horror than You expect) to check out, killer Santa ticks the box big time, and the rest is up to You to check out. "Home Alone" can do without its tenth re-watch. My rating: 6/10.

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....

3615 code Père Noël is basically a horror/action movie revolving around a young boy who needs to defend his home against an ongoing home invasion. The movie features very graphic violence and due to its over-the-top presentation of action scenes and suspenseful moments, it is not recommended for children. However, the premise is greatly constructed and believably executed, making this movie a highlight of seasonal horror/action movies.

Overall 7/10 Full review on movie-discourse.blogspot.de

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.