Rare Exports review

Check out Lily’s review of the 2010 movie, Rare Exports.

It’s that time of year again, where Christmas songs play in every shopping center and people life to snuggle up with cocoa to watch holiday movies. If you’re tired of Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life, and are looking for something a little darker this season, might I suggest you give Rare Exports a chance. Written and directed by Jalmari Helander, this 2010 release will have you laughing and gasping at the same time!

Set in Finland on Christmas Eve, the film follows young Pietari (Onni Tommila), his father Rauno (Jorma Tommila), and several of Rauno’s friends, as they take on a mighty evil that a nearby excavation has awakened. Let’s just say it’s been making a list, checking it twice, and as it turns out, nobody’s nice. While this tongue-in-cheek dark comedy doesn’t pass the Bechdel Test (truly, not even close), it is surprisingly heartwarming.

You’ll have a jolly good time watching this refreshing take on the tired “bad Santa” trope of Christmas horror movies. You can access this movie through the library on DVD, Hoopla, and Kanopy.

*My tip to you is to stock up on gingerbread cookies before you press play. Trust me, you’ll see why.