New gruesome Christmas film is being called half Die Hard and half Home Alone

As we are now in December, many of us will be sitting down with family and friends, sticking on a Christmas film and getting into the festive spirit.

And if you're getting fed up of watching the same classics every year, you may want to enjoy something fresh this month.

This year seems pretty good for new festive releases, such as Spirited, starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, released on Apple TV.

But there's one Christmas film that's being labelled as half Die Hard, half Home Alone - and it goes by the name of Violent Night.

The gruesome new Christmas offering is released in cinemas worldwide today (2 December), and it's fair to say it has had mixed reviews.

LANDMARK MEDIA / Alamy Stock Photo

An official synopsis for the film reads: "When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (David Harbour, Black Widow, Stranger Things) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint."

Among the film's other stars are John Leguizamo, Cam Gigandet, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson and Beverly D’Angelo.

The film's director, Norwegian Tommy Wirkola, is also known for the likes of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and the Dead Snow franchise.

Working alongside him were producers Kelly McCormick, David Leitch and Guy Danella, plus Pat Casey and Josh Miller as writers.

The half Die Hard, half Home Alone line came from a review in the Irish Times.

I think when the majority of us read that, there is an instant draw and curiosity as to what the film is all about.

While those two films couldn't be more different in terms of story, it will be interesting to see how they come together to make Violent Night.

Universal Pictures/Entertainment Pictures/Alamy Stock Photo

But the Irish Times doesn't exactly think Violent Night being influenced by those two films is such a good thing, as it rated the new Christmas film two stars out of five.

Referencing the comparison with Home Alone and Die Hard, the review said: "The wee girl does everything that Kevin does in Home Alone. Santa essentially becomes Bruce Willis in Die Hard."

Other outlets also pointed out a comparison with Die Hard, but the Times' review also compared it to Miracle on 34th Street.

Its review read: "Die Hard meets Miracle on 34th Street. That’s it. That’s the pitch. And most of this blood-soaked action comedy neatly fulfils those expectations."

Anyway, for those wanting to watch Violent Night in the build-up to Christmas, it is in cinemas now.