Review of Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) by Douglas L — 16 Jan 2013

This oddity is the perfect antidote to sickly Christmas comedies. Buried in sawdust, deep under a Lapland mountain for hundreds of years, there lurks a dark secret. Santa. Not the jolly, rotund figure we think him to be, but a horned monster intent on spreading terror over the festive period and whipping the bottoms of children who have not been good.

As the grown-ups struggle to work out what on Earth is going on it is up to Pietari, a little local boy, to piece together the clues and work out a plan to stop Santa's little helpers from defrosting their master and and ruining Christmas for everyone.

It is a great, twisted tale that has some lovely acting from its lead player, Onni Tommita and some darkly comedic touches. Rare Exports is a bit like a modern Roald Dahl fable with just enough scary elements to chill rather than horrify adults and kids alike and really makes for an entertaining viewing.

Oh, and if you have ever sat your son or daughter on the knee of a department store Father Christmas, just wait until the end and you may think twice in the future.