Santa is broke. Honestly, that’s the hook that sells the whole thing. Forget the sparkles or the magical reindeer for a second. In the 2020 film Fatman the movie, we get a Chris Cringle who is essentially a disgruntled small business owner struggling with government subsidies. It’s weird. It’s dark. It's surprisingly grounded for a movie where a hitman tries to whack Father Christmas.
When Eshom and Ian Nelms released this, people didn't really know what to make of it. Was it a comedy? A western? A gritty action flick? It’s basically all of those. Mel Gibson plays Chris Cringle, and he isn't exactly jolly. He’s tired. He’s got a beard that looks like it’s seen too many winters and a shop full of elves who are more like industrial factory workers than magical sprites.
The Weird Reality of Fatman the Movie
The plot kicks off because of a rich, sociopathic kid named Billy. Billy gets a piece of coal. Instead of learning a lesson, he hires a professional assassin—played with creepy precision by Walton Goggins—to kill Santa.
It sounds ridiculous. On paper, it is. But the movie plays it completely straight, which is why it works.
There’s this fascinating subplot about the North Pole's finances. Because the world is "turning bad," the toy business is down. To keep the lights on, Chris has to sign a contract with the US military to manufacture components for fighter jets. It’s a cynical, brilliant take on the legend. You see Chris walking through a snowy landscape, checking his mail, dealing with a literal gunshot wound from a previous encounter. He’s human.
The Nelms brothers spent years trying to get this made. They didn't want a "magic" movie. They wanted a movie about a man who has a very difficult, very old job.
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Why the Critics Were Split
If you look at Rotten Tomatoes, the scores are all over the place. Critics often hated the tone. They called it "mean-spirited" or "confused." But audiences? They mostly loved the subversion.
- The Action: The final shootout is basically a Neo-Western. It’s bloody and visceral.
- The Chemistry: Marianne Jean-Baptiste plays Ruth (Mrs. Claus), and she is the heart of the film. She’s not just a baker of cookies; she’s Chris’s business partner and moral compass.
- The Villain: Walton Goggins' character is obsessed with Santa because he never got the gifts he wanted as a kid. It’s a twisted reflection of the Christmas spirit.
Gibson brings a specific kind of "weary old lion" energy here. Love him or hate him, he knows how to play a man who is two seconds away from giving up. It’s a far cry from The Santa Clause or Elf. This isn't a movie you watch with five-year-olds while drinking cocoa. It’s a movie you watch when you’re tired of the commercialism of the holidays and want to see the "Big Guy" fight back.
Is it Actually a Christmas Movie?
People argue about Die Hard being a Christmas movie every single year. Fatman the movie is much more overtly a holiday film, yet it feels less like one.
The setting is Rural Canada, standing in for Alaska. It’s grey. It’s cold. The cinematography by Johnny Derango avoids the warm, golden filters we usually see in December releases. Instead, it looks like a crime thriller. That’s intentional. The movie explores the idea that if Santa were real, he’d probably be miserable in the 21st century.
Think about the logistics. How does he stay hidden? In this version, he has a security detail. How does he know who is naughty or nice? He has files. Thick, paper files. There’s no magic computer. It’s all manual labor and data entry.
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The Problem with the Ending (Or Lack Thereof)
Some viewers felt the ending was abrupt. Without spoiling the final beats, the movie builds and builds to a confrontation that feels like it belongs in No Country for Old Men. When the credits roll, you’re left wondering what happens to the shop. Does he keep making jet parts? Does the world get better?
The film doesn't give you easy answers. It suggests that the "fat man" is just going to keep grinding, year after year, because that’s who he is.
Key Details You Might Have Missed
- The Name: The hitman is credited as "Skinny Man." It’s a direct foil to the title.
- The Workshop: Look closely at the background. The elves don't talk. They communicate through a sort of humming or high-pitched sound. It adds to the "otherness" of the North Pole without using CGI.
- The Coal: The coal isn't just a lump of rock. It’s presented as a profound insult to a kid who has everything.
It’s worth noting that the film’s budget was relatively small. This forced the production to rely on character and atmosphere rather than big explosions. That's a win for the viewer. You get a much more intimate look at the characters than you would in a $100 million blockbuster.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Night
If you’re planning on sitting down with Fatman the movie, keep a few things in mind to get the most out of it.
First, adjust your expectations. This is not a laugh-out-loud comedy. There are funny moments, but they are incredibly dry. If you go in expecting Bad Santa, you’ll be disappointed. This is a slow-burn thriller that just happens to star Saint Nick.
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Second, pay attention to the sound design. The way the wind howls and the heavy thud of Gibson’s boots creates a sense of isolation that is central to the story.
Finally, watch it as a double feature with something like Violent Night. It’s fascinating to see how two different 2020s films handled the "Action Santa" trope. While Violent Night goes for over-the-top gore and magic, Fatman stays in the dirt.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
- Check your local streaming listings (it frequently hops between Hulu and Peacock).
- Look for the Nelms brothers' previous work, like Small Town Crime, to understand their specific "noir" style.
- Don't skip the first twenty minutes; the world-building regarding the US military contract is the most clever part of the script.
The film is a reminder that even the most tired legends can be reinvented if you’re willing to get a little bit of blood on the snow. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely not boring. In a world of cookie-cutter holiday specials, that’s worth something.