Deadly Games : Dial Code Santa Claus
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Sweet and smart - with a psycho Santa
21 January 2012 - suspiriaah from Sweden
I remember seeing stills of this movie as a kid in French horror magazine "Mad Movies". It was rather puzzling to see this kid dressed as Rambo, with war paint on and the whole (plastic) gear, among the usually gore-filled pages. I saw it for the first time a few years later, I was maybe 13 or 14, and found it entertaining. Just that.
Now in my 30s, seeing it for the 2nd time, I appreciated it a lot more. Of course, it’s now flawless. It’s rather dated, mostly because of the supposedly innovative technology proudly displayed like the infamous minitel (French pride !)...
Yet it’s good. What surprised me the most was the actors’ performances. They were all rather convincing, especially the kid and the psycho. Then I also found the direction and photography to be quite polished up. More than once I ended up telling myself "this looks genuinely good".
It’s not really horror - don’t expect blood and gore - but rather a thriller and it succeeds quite well in creating tension.
What I also liked was the story itself, how the kid retains his innocent behaviour despite being confronted to a dreadful situation and being forced to act as a grown-up. I also liked the fact that his relation with his granddad is touching without being soppy or overemotional.
I’m not saying this is a masterpiece but being one the very few efforts at thriller/horror from France in the 80s, it’s worth tracking down. It still hasn’t be released as a DVD, not even in France. Shame.
Home Alone meets Die Hard in a mansion during Christmas.
8 June 2002 - jexispa from Netherlands
It’s been awhile I have seen this film but from what I can remember when I saw it as a kid : I liked it. A small boy is left (with or without babysitter ? I don’t remember) alone at home (huge mansion) while his parents attend a dinner party on christmas eve. The boy named Thomas thinks he is safe until a burglar dressed in Santa Claus decides to drop in and do some christmas shopping. So now begins this cat & mouse game as Thomas is determined to defend himself and his home. Think more in the lines of "Rambo kid Home Alone without that Culkin brat". Good film from what I can remember and I’m still trying to find a copy of this french film. Perhaps I liked it because I was about the same age as the hero of the film who had these self-made weapons, cool gadgets and was fighting against this psycho santa claus dressed burglar.
For those who wonder what 36.15 is : it’s not the code for "Pere Noel" (Santa Claus) but in France it’s like a "teletext" or "internet/bbs" function back in the 80’s/early 90’s. Basically you type in 36.15 and then a "name/word" (e.g. 36.15 CINEMA) and you can find info. Sort of like an electronic yellow pages server.
A tough film !
Gregory⛧Joseph (Aug 30, 2015)
Forced class consciousness, trauma too severe and persistent for its subject to process, angelic, privileged, innocence-is-the-crime, oddly presented as necessary and deserved. A tough film ! That chateau, so wavy, black & white checkered tile foyer, suit of knight’s armor posted up at the foot of the stair, grandpa tucked inside. And Bonnie Tyler, you sing a great theme song here ! You even sing Jean-Félix Lalanne’s inane lyrics as an ESL learner would.
Toughest Santa on the planet.
IIHOKII (Dec 27, 2014)
He managed to survive getting set on fire, stuck with darts, bullet wounds and not wearing a seat belt. Just to name a few. Malls, get your check book out, there’s going to be a war for this one.
Mcauley Culkin had it easy.
Mike de Raaf ( Dec 16, 2015)
Thomas is a child genius who loves to play guerilla war games in his free time with his dog JR. Lately he has begun to question the existence of Santa Claus. This Christmas he plans to find out the truth once and for all. Is that childlike joy sparkling in Santa’s eyes ? Or lust ? His mother warned him not to look at Santa or he would turn into an Ogre...This has immediately become a Christmas favourite. Mcauley Culkin had it easy.
Packs one hell of a punch.
Justin Decloux (Dec 16, 2015)
HOME ALONE with an big dash of traumatizing and slick 80’s euro horror style. It is a crying shame this is not a well regarded Holiday classic. It’s engaging and packs one hell of a punch.
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