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Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale


The critical consensus

If you’re a bah-humbug type looking for an alternative to Santa Claus: The Movie or Miracle On 34th Street, this could be a holiday perennial. May be too strange for normal people, but weird kids will love it.

****(*)Kim Newman, Empire Online, 29/11/2010

An enjoyably dark yuletide nightmare.

****(*)Eddie Harrison, The List, 30/11/2010

Rare Exports is strange, very strange, and has its faults, but it’s also strangely wonderful in parts.

***(*)(*)Alison Rowat, The Herald, 02/12/2010

There’s a lot of fun to be had in this evocative Finnish horror.

Paul Greenwood, Evening Times, 02/12/2010

We wanted it to be good and it is. Both warm and chilly on top, Helander’s well-mounted black comedy puts a devilish spin on movie Santas.

****(*)Kevin Harley, Total Film, 02/12/2010

Writer-director ­Jalmari Helander has come up with a brilliant idea, but lacks the budget, cast or writing ability to develop it into a satisfying yarn.

**(*)(*)(*)Chris Tookey, Daily Mail, 02/12/2010

The ending is anti-climactic and the meaning of the title is only revealed in the laborious, jokey ending.

**(*)(*)(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 02/12/2010

It’s rather slow to get going but turns into an effectively unusual horror-fantasy for teenagers.

***(*)(*)Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express, 03/12/2010

While Rare Exports is certainly spooky, the plot is too thin to engage and its use of the F-bomb and full frontal male nudity make it a children's film which is unsuitable for children - hence the 15 certificate. File under "curio".

**(*)(*)(*)Daily Record, 03/12/2010

Shame about the shonky effects.

***(*)(*)Tim Robey, The Telegraph, 03/12/2010

Uneven and slightly anti-climatic Rare Exports is still bracingly original.

Allan Hunter, Daily Express, 03/12/2010

A fairly sly critique of the commercialisation of the silly season with a gleefully reprehensible finale.

***(*)(*)Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 04/12/2010

Where and when?

General release. Check local listings for show times.

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