Un minuto a mezzanotte

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.

This movie turns on a dime and it's epic. The movie has an edge I didn't expect. Thomas comes off as very smart but naive. When the horror hits, he definitely comes into his own. The Sants is brutal, disturbing and psychotic.

I expected something a little more lighthearted, but this is genuinely tense. I'm shocked and pleased with the film. Grat editing, good music, and fun Christmas horror.

It's been awhile I have seen this film but from what I can remember when I saw it as a kid: I liked it. A small boy is left (with or without babysitter? I don't remember) alone at home (huge mansion) while his parents attend a dinner party on christmas eve. The boy named Thomas thinks he is safe until a burglar dressed in Santa Claus decides to drop in and do some christmas shopping. So now begins this cat & mouse game as Thomas is determined to defend himself and his home. Think more in the lines of "Rambo kid Home Alone without that Culkin brat". Good film from what I can remember and I'm still trying to find a copy of this french film. Perhaps I liked it because I was about the same age as the hero of the film who had these self-made weapons, cool gadgets and was fighting against this psycho santa claus dressed burglar.

For those who wonder what 36.15 is: it's not the code for "Pere Noel" (Santa Claus) but in France it's like a "teletext" or "internet/bbs" function back in the 80's/early 90's. Basically you type in 36.15 and then a "name/word" (e.g. 36.15 CINEMA) and you can find info. Sort of like an electronic yellow pages server.

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.