Silent Night review: All is bright in John Woo's new action banger
Bec Summer
STACK Writer
John Woo hasn't made an American movie in 20 years, but out of the blue he's banged out a surprise Christmas treat called 'Silent Night'.
That sense of déjà vu you might be feeling is real, because several movies have already used that title, the most recent being the 2021 thriller starring Keira Knightley. So, from the outset, Woo's new movie has its work cut out for it. The good news is that it's a banger that boasts so much of the stylish violence that we've come to love Woo for.
Set on Christmas Eve, the film follows a tormented father (Joel Kinnaman) who wages a rage-fuelled war against urban gangsters, as he seeks vengeance for his son, who was killed in their crossfire. Unable to speak after being shot by the thugs, he puts his body through a grueling training regime in order to rain hell upon the killers.
What we get is a stylish and fast-paced action thriller from a master craftsman and the producers of John Wick and Sicario. And here's the kicker, Silent Night has no dialogue. None whatsoever. It is, for all intents and purposes, a silent film. Needless to say this peculiarity makes it a unique experiment and one which has allowed Woo to hone his craft and return to a classic style of filmmaking, one which he hasn't enjoyed since his Hong Kong movies The Killer and A Better Tomorrow.
Kinnaman, who has risen through the ranks of direct-to-video action flicks to lead the charge in The Suicide Squad, commands the screen and lays waste to bad guys like a seasoned exterminator. He's ready for business from the very first scene all the way to the brutal end.
The supporting cast members give serviceable performances, although few enjoy much screen time before meeting their fate. American rapper Kid Kudi, who has clocked up an impressive filmography, is amongst them, as well as Cataline Sandino Moreno (A Most Violent Year), and Harold Torres (Memory).
At 77 years of age, John Woo has delivered an old-school style of action that boasts the hallmarks of his early work. It's a kinetic manoeuvre that announces his return to the States and, hopefully, signals that there's more to come.
Looks like this shelf is empty
We’re restocking this section... in the meantime check out our other deals.
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.
