Santa's Slay (2005)

Director:

David Steiman

Writer:

David Steiman (writer)

Release Date:

25 October 2005 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

He's making a list... pray you're not on it.

Plot:

Santa Claus is actually a demon who lost a bet with an Angel, so he becomes the giver of toys and happiness. But when the bet is off, he returns to his evil ways.

Plot Keywords:

Santa | Santa Claus | Christmas | Wager | Revenge

Cast

Bill Goldberg	...	Santa
Douglas Smith	...	Nicolas Yuleson
Emilie de Ravin	...	Mary 'Mac' Mackenzie
Robert Culp	...	Grandpa
Dave Thomas	...	Pastor Timmons
Saul Rubinek	...	Mr. Green
Rebecca Gayheart	...	Gwen Mason
Chris Kattan	...	Jason Mason
Fran Drescher	...	Virginia Mason
Alicia Lorén	...	Beth Mason
Annie Sorell	...	Taylor Mason (as Annie M. Sorell)
Donna Zuk	...	Mrs. Talbot
Scott Francis Gibson	...	S.W.N.D.S.U. Place Kicker
Kevin Gillese	...	Disgruntled Youth
Don Bland	...	Bouncer (as Donald Bland)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Alberta, Canada

Company:

Media 8 Entertainment

Quotes:

Santa Claus: Looks like Grandpa got run over by a reindeer.

Movie Connections:

References "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" (1983)

Soundtrack:

Bye Bye Santa

Entertaining, if disjointed.

It must be hard being a popular wrestler. People pay money to see you, to cheer for you, to buy your merchandise, and generally to make you feel like more then the average man. It makes you think that if they were willing to do all that, they'd be willing to follow you if you attempt other projects as well.

And they do. But mainly to make fun of it.

Then again, it seems like wrestlers are united in their substandard film choices. Hulk Hogan's, whose wrestling stardom was heavily influenced by his guest appearance in Rocky III, movie career reads like a "What Not To Do When Picking A Script". Steve Austin, Triple H, and Adam Copeland (Edge) won't exactly be remembered for their marks in Hollywood either (Only the future will tell if The Rock breaks the mold or follows in their footsteps). And then along comes a film like this, starring former WCW dynamo Bill Goldberg.

Surprisingly, it's not all bad.

True, one shouldn't go into the film expecting a fully sensible plot, or a masterwork of acting, or extremely convincing special effects (look out for the prone motionless 'hell-deer!'). However, the film does contain a few likable characters, some decent puns in the Christmas vein (along with some excruciating ones), and half the time, Goldberg actually manages to make the concept of Santa really being an evil entity comes off as credible. And of course, any film that presents the credit sequence as a naughty and nice list can't be all bad.

In the end, it's not Santa With Muscles.

And that's really saying something.