I hope you had a good Christmas. I intended to post this movie recommendation at the beginning of the week before the big day, but various things (family, food, drink, sleep, movies, books, TV, more food and drink) conspired to stop me getting anywhere near my desk. To be honest, I didn’t put up much resistance. It’s been a lovely break. Hope you and yours have enjoyed the festivities too.
In SILENT NIGHT, a group of friends manage (to an extent) to enjoy their festivities, but with one major caveat: this is their last Christmas. In the morning, a cloud of poisonous gas will descend and kill them all. A not exactly cheery premise, and a not exactly successful film, but it’s worth your time over the holidays, and it’s infinitely better than Gavin and Bloody Stacey or the unfathomably popular Mrs Brown’s Boys. I really don’t understand mainstream UK TV anymore.
In true British fashion, (while the rest of the world faces impending doom), a group of old friends reunite to celebrate Christmas in the comfort of an idyllic country home. Burdened with the inconvenience of mankind’s imminent destruction, they adopt a stiff upper lip, crack open another bottle of prosecco and continue with their festivities. But no amount of stoicism can replace the courage needed for their last night on earth.
You can tell from the trailer that there’s a decent budget behind this film. The production values are excellent, and the cast is stuffed like a turkey with well known names. KEIRA KNIGHTLEY – currently riding high on the back of the Netflix’ spy thriller BLACK DOVES – stars as Nell, the central figure responsible for bringing together this group of friends and their families. Top turn, however, comes from ROMAN GRIFFIN DAVIS (who you might remember as JOJO RABBIT) who plays her eldest son, Art. As you’d expect, there’s a web of hidden agendas, tangled relationships, and suppressed secrets and desires between these friends that, when exposed, create enough drama to make the impending apocalypse seem like a nice relaxing day in front of the TV.
I’ll not say too much more about this one. It’s one of those films that you’ll either enjoy or detest, I think. I quite liked it, though I think I was sold on the premise more than any of the characters and their fates. It’s a brave choice to combine the holidays with the end of the world, and this is one of those stories that will get under your skin and make you think about your own situation and that of the people nearest and dearest to you.
Like I said, for me, this was far better watch than much of the bilge shovelled onto our screens this Christmas. If you’re interested in watching it, I have good news – SILENT NIGHT is currently streaming free on TUBI.
