36.15 code Père Noël (1989)

Thomas, a very intelligent and resourceful child, is left alone with his beloved and fragile granddad on Christmas Eve, when a psychopath dressed as Santa Claus breaks into their mansion ... See full summary »

Director:

René Manzor

Writer:

René Manzor (scenario and dialogue)

Stars:

Brigitte Fossey, Louis Ducreux, Patrick Floersheim

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brigitte Fossey	...	Julie
Louis Ducreux	...	Papy
Patrick Floersheim	...	Le Père Noël / Santa Claus
Alain Lalanne	...	Thomas (as Alain Musy)
François-Eric Gendron	...	Roland (as François Eric Gendron)
Stéphane Legros	...	Pilou
Franck Capillery	...	Le policier
Nicole Raucher	...	La cuisinière
Gédéon	...	Le jardinier
Charles de Feral	...	Cadre du Printemps
Marion Bureau	...	La petite fille
Mousse	...	Le clown
Edmond Thanel	...	Chauffeur-livreur
René Manzor	...	Responsable stock
Canaillou	...	Le chien J.R.

Storyline

Thomas, a very intelligent and resourceful child, is left alone with his beloved and fragile granddad on Christmas Eve, when a psychopath dressed as Santa Claus breaks into their mansion and starts chasing them. Thomas will do whatever he can to save himself and his granddad.

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Plot Keywords:

santa claus | killing a dog | role playing game | child in peril | grandfather grandson relationship | 

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Thriller

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

17 January 1990 (France)

Also Known As:

Game Over

Company Credits

Production Co:

L.M. Productions, Deal, Garance

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Zorro (1975)

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Soundtracks

Merry Christmas
performed by Bonnie Tyler

User Reviews

the original Home Alone

No matter what story one believes - Game Over released in 1989, a year before Home Alone. The resemblance of the movies is not only striking, it becomes difficult to believe that John Hughes didn't use this film as inspiration for his classic Christmas tale. He claimed he came up with the idea (a year before) while on a European family vacation. Hmmm.... pretty interesting that this film released, in Europe, a year before Home Alone. The timeline may in fact be too tight for this to even be logically possible, so I'm not completely ruling out coincidence.

How about this movie? It's a more mature Home Alone, with an early 80's action movie look. The setting and characters are (mostly) contrived, and to buy in the viewer has to suspend a lot of disbelief. A family mansion (the main location) has this absurd, mouse trap, set up due to a brilliant child's handy work. It helps his folks are/were ultra rich toy manufacturers - flooding their child with toys and gizmos, while also allowing free reign of home modifications.

The one character who really stands apart from the others is the villain. He's portrayed as a truly mentally damaged individual, who seems to have good intentions, but due to his outcast nature, is never accepted, and feels compelled to do dark things. But even at the villains worst, his character has real humanity that makes his journey in this film, quite tragic. Never quite so much that your rooting interest changes from protagonist to antagonist - but by the end, I saw him as a complex/tragic character, not a single dimensional killer.

Which is a very odd mix of content in a movie that clearly has funny moments, and is built on entertainment.

I wouldn't consider this a Christmas film in any sense other than the films setting. The time of year is a backdrop for the events, and really the film does little to embellish, or critique the holidays. I would also consider this a flaw of the film, where all aspects should serve the story completely.

Game Over may be worth finding and watching for fans of 80's action movies and maybe if your interested in seeing a more mature version of Home Alone. But big fans of Home Alone (I suspect) would not be to high on this movie. Why? It does not have the light feel, humor, or clean Hollywood production values.

a slightly above average film, but marked up to a 7/10 due to it's unique nature.

one last note: I always hope a film maker like this takes off after a film like this, but it wasn't the case. At best Rene Manzor has continued to work, but there appears to be no continuation of this films inspiration or vision. I'm just disappointed this film maker doesn't have a few more outlandish films made after this one. This movie should have informed producers of this guys clear ability as director.