4. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pH9IyqTk1E This fiendishly original Finnish film is based on two previous shorts of a similar title, which details the origins of so-called "Wild Santas" that people hunt, and the biggest, baddest Elf of whom the land's children are all afraid. Even if the concept is ultimately better than the execution, it's great seeing these Santas and Elves, bloodthirsty creatures who sniff out children who they can torture for being naughty and then kill before putting them in their famed Christmas Stew. It's a film that is at once uproariously funny and also genuinely pretty terrifying, milking its imposing Scandinavian snow-kissed setting for every drop it is worth. As far as Christmas mythologies go, few films have forged such an interesting and fiercely original one as this, and though the actual incidents throughout do sag a little - the concept is certainly its strongest as a short - there's no doubting the ingenuity on display in this disarming foreign film.
Shaun Munro
Contributor
Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.
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