‘Violent Night’: Who’s got a hammer and an urge to kill? Must be Santa in enjoyable holiday thriller

David Harbour plays a Santa Claus who’s mad at the world and handy with a sledgehammer in “Violent Night.” (Universal Pictures)

After the resounding success of “Die Hard” in 1988, we saw a slew of variations on the theme of a lone anti-hero in a single setting saving the day, e.g., “Under Siege” was “Die Hard” on a ship, “Speed” was “Die Hard” on a bus, “Executive Decision” was “Die Hard” on a plane, etc., etc. Now comes the gruesomely bloody, cheerfully tasteless, fantastically naughty and entertaining Christmas thriller “Violent Night,” which is basically “Die Hard” with candy canes in a mansion.

Ho Ho Whoa!