Review - Fatman on Netflix

I read a review that said this “Christmas” movie was an edgy thriller with an unorthodox premise.

Since it had a cast featuring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, I thought it would be excellent in terms of acting and plot. 

I thought such a stellar cast would be picky about the screenplays they accepted.

Well, I’m sorry to report that I was sadly mistaken. Perhaps the film’s director and producer hijacked it?

No that wasn’t the case because the writers of the screenplay were also the directors, brothers Eshom and Ian Nelms, that’s not the case.

Still, because of the 3 main actors named above, I decided to throw caution to the winds and spend my Sunday evening watching it.

MY 2¢ REVIEW

If you want to watch a movie with a repugnant rich kid who hires a psychotic hitman (Goggins) to kill a curmudgeonly Santa aka Fatman (Gibson), then this is the movie for you. Unorthodox? Yes, but sadly lacking in wit and appeal.

Actually, I could see where this premise might have been executed as a screwball comedy similar to the first Home Alone, but there’s no humor in this bleak, violent tale.

SPOILER ALERT

The hitman shoots Santa, inflicting a body wound and also taking his eye out. Santa’s wife (Jean-Baptiste) comes to the rescue and shoots the hitman who then chases her. In the house, she shoots and kills the hitman. 

The rich kid (Chance Hurstfield as Billy, the sociopathic, amoral rich kid) doesn’t see the error of his ways, but he does get the fear of a vengeful Santa instilled in him. 

I hate to be so negative, but I found little redeeming value in the movie. For me, it was a waste of 100 minutes.

OTHER CRITICS

Curious to see if my reaction was vastly different from “real” critics, I checked to see how the movie was accepted when it premiered in November 2020. 

Metacritic, a website that agregates reviews, gave it a 40 from mixed and average reviews, and Rotten Tomatoes gave it 45%.

A few critics liked it. One even said, the movie “reflects the worst instincts of modern times and shows how selfishness and immoralitycan lead to violence.” Personally, I think that’s giving the film too much importance.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I’ll keep watching Christmas movies and share my thoughts with you during the holidays. Hopefully, next tme I post a review, it will be for a one that deserves an audience.

Joan Reeves aka SlingWords: The Word Slinging Adventures of Joan Reeves

Source: https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2025/12/review-fatman-on-netflix.html