Nell, Simon, and their son Art are ready to welcome friends and family for what promises to be a perfect Christmas gathering. Perfect except for one thing: everyone is going to die.
Pam says:
****Spoiler Alert!****
Can we address the elephant in the room for “Silent Night?” The parallel lines drawn between the imminent and dreadfully painful demise of humankind in “Silent Night” and Covid is so transparent that the ending will support or anger you depending upon which side of the fence you fall.
The movie begins with the jocular season of Christmas–friends from afar gathering at a beautiful English country estate for a dinner with Nell (Kiera Knightley), Simon (Matthew Goode), and Art (Roman Griffin Davis who you will recall from the award-winning “Jojo Rabbit”) and his twin brothers Hardy and Thomas (Hardy Griffin Davis and Gilby Griffin Davis, respectively). As the friends arrive (ticking all the boxes of politically correct representation), there are hints of the dark cloud — quite literally — approaching to kill them all. Attempting to enjoy their final night on Earth before they off themselves with the government supplied suicide pill, Sandra (Annabelle Wallis), and hubby Tony (Rufus Jones), James (Sope Dirisu) and significant other Sophie (Lily-Rose Depp) who is pregnant, and Bella (Lucy Punch) and Alex (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) dance, drink, and confront one other with their deepest secrets all while trying to placate the kids in the room.
Art is a wise kid with a defiant attitude, but given the circumstances, who could blame his foul mouth and combative behavior. Challenging the adults to look at the situation at hand and how the government has failed them on many levels, the time ticks away bringing this party to a close.
While there’s plenty of humor amidst the chaotic situation, the tension and dramatic elements are always just below the surface. It pushes you to ask yourself what you would do in a similar situation. But it is Art’s provocative inquisition and keen mind that will either frustrate you at the end or justify your thoughts about the U.S.’s failure to comply with Covid vaccinations. While the performances and script were entertaining, the final message makes this a film I cannot endorse.
