[Review] Fatman(2020) {7/10}

Written and Directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms and starring Mel Gibson (Chris Cringle), Walton Goggins (Jonathan Miller), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Ruth Cringle), Chance Hurstfield (Billy Wenan) and Deborah Grover (Anne Marie).

The film follows a real world Santa Claus, Chris Cringle (Mel Gibson) who is upset, drinking too much and target shooting to take out his frustrations. He is exhausted from the decades of work and frustrated with the kids these days. He is receiving an annual stipend from the United States Government for the seasonal boost his generousity provides the economy. Santa's life turns upside-down when a pre-teen, wealthy and spiteful boy, Billy Wenan (Chance Hurstfield) hires a professional hitman, Jonathan Miller (Walton Goggins), to kill Santa after he receives a lump of coal from him for Christmas. The assassin, having some old unfinished buisness with Santa, sets out to kill "the fat man".

The Director duo, Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms cleverly convince us of the life and workings of a real and really bitter Santa who is struggling to make ends meets and has lost the jolly spirit of the holidays. Everyone else has made money from his image and good deeds but he can't even pay the electricity bill. Mel Gibson perfectly occupies the character of Santa Claus. He has healing abilities, an intimate knowledge of everyone he meets and seemingly ageless longevity. He is married to Ruth (Marianne Jean-Baptiste). Walton's performance as a ruthless assassin is terrific. Fatman is a great twist on the edgy christmas film genre. It is exactly the christmas movie we needed this year.

Fatman is now available on Digital and VOD.