“David Harbour is Santa Claus” is just one of the taglines for this irreverent, witty and, yes, violent action fantasy.

The Stranger Things star is not the first actor you would consider to play the world’s nicest gift-giver, but his patented brand of gnarly world-weariness – seen to terrific effect in the hit Netflix show and in 2021’s Black Widow as a gone-to-seed Russian super-soldier – is just the ticket here.

Indeed, Harbour’s Santa is introduced drowning his disillusionment in a Bristol pub on Christmas Eve (“this planet runs on greed”), so don’t expect the genial figure from Miracle on 34th Street and hundreds of other movies. Think Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa.

Meanwhile, in the States, preparations are underway for a (dysfunctional) family Christmas at the gated-estate of mean, moneyed matriarch Gertrude Lightstone (Beverly D’Angelo, at her gravel-voiced, acid-tongued best).

In attendance are elder son Jason, his estranged wife Linda and their Santa-loving daughter Trudy (cute but charming Leah Brady) along with Jason’s snarky sister, her equally snarky son and her lunkhead film-star fiancé (Cam Gigandet). However, the festivities are gate-crashed by murderous mercenaries out to rob Gertrude of a secret stash of cash.

“Welcome to your worst Christmas ever,” declares John Leguizamo’s no-nonsense baddie Scrooge (aptly named), and it looks like it will be for the Lightstone clan until our not-so-jolly hero emerges from a chimney to reward Trudy for making his Nice List.

Of course, Scrooge and his crew of sadistic killers are all Naughty List types, paving the way for a breathlessly entertaining and increasingly bloody battle of wits that unfurls all around the mazy mansion.

Harbour’s transformation from grumpy drunk to badass Santa, who can turn festive paraphernalia (fairy lights, Christmas Star, candy cane, ice skates) into deadly weapons, must ensure an action-movie future.