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Harry was truly Santa Claus!

posted 17 years ago by houseofboognish
7 replies | jump to latest

...or Satan Claus.

(SPOILER)

It does seem clear that the ending was simply what was going on in Harry's head, and that shortly thereafter he fell to his timely death.

However, if you'll indulge me for a moment.

Could it also be that Harry had, in fact, become Santa Claus? And he did fly off in his sleigh/van at the end? What proof, you say? Well...

1) Harry's brother clearly strangles him to death, yet after his brother puts Harry's lifeless body back into the van Harry magically awakes and punches his brother. He did not die because Santa cannot be killed (otherwise he would have died of old age long ago).

2) Harry's lists of naughty and nice kids are far longer than even the most dedicated of pedophiles could build up.

3) Harry knows his sh!t about toy-making, and can put the fear of God into the elves (aka blue-collar workers).

4) The scene of Harry taking off in the sleigh/van is cut in a way that implies that his brother sees it, not as if it is all in Harry's mind.

Actually, this has all inspired me to watch this film one more time before I return it, cheers!

[–] petekrug17 15 years ago

There's just one problem with your theory: Santa does NOT murder people, certainly not for just being jerks. The worst he does is put coal in your stocking. Well, OK, there is no Santa in real life, but I digress.

1.It's been a time-honored cliche in films about deranged killers ever since HALLOWEEN (which came out two years prior to this film) of having the murder suffer injuries that you're sure should kill him, only to have him come back to life. Perhaps Harry momentarilly lost conciousness, perhaps he just played dead. But he didn't come back to life on account of becoming Santa.

2.Harry isn't married and has no kids. He lives in his apartment all by himself. Whenever he isn't working or out buying groceries, he's spying on the neighborhood kids to see if they're behaving themselves. In other words, he doesn't really have a life, outside of seeing if the kids next door are naughty or nice. Devote all your time in life to anyone thing and you'd be amazed how much of that one thing you can do. Also Harry may still keep all the old lists he's made during his whole life of what the kids have been doing.

3.Yes, Harry's a good, dedicated toy-maker. That still doesn't make him Santa.

4.On the DVD commentary the director says the ending, where we see the fan fly into the air, is in fact supposed to take place in Harry's mind. Imdb also confirms this on their trivia section for this film. Perhaps Harry's brother looking at the flying van is also something Harry's imagining.

Also, it doesn't make any sense for a (semi) ordinary guy to turn into some magical being simply because he wishes for it badly enough.

[–] betel-geuse 15 years ago

I think the director was simply backing down from his original conviction. The way it is edited and presented it seems like Harry did fly away. The brothers reaction, the lack of explosion. Harry hadn't hallucinated in any other part of the film. So why would he do it then. I think he flew away at the end.

"You know someone lacks intelligence when their only argument is Dont See It."

[–] kurt7825 10 years ago

i agree. the director is making stuff up

[–] houseofboognish 15 years ago

Wow, I had forgotten about this post...

Your defense of the insanity idea is as follows:

1. "Santa" doesn't do such horrible things...so your premise is that we "know" what a fictional character would or wouldn't do.

2. What happens in other movies during the same time period decides what MUST have been intended in this one.

3. Although it's been awhile since I've watched this film, I seem to remember the lists stacking up far too high to be only "neighborhood kids", and why would he keep files from a long time before, as they would be files on people who are no longer kids? Also, Harry may have no family, but he does start the movie with a full-time job.

4. Alright, being a good toymaker doesn't prove anything, but it doesn't hurt the case either and could've been another hint to Harry's true identity.

5. Imdb's trivia section is hardly sacrosanct. I can't comment on the director's commentary because I haven't heard it. Why would the director, who you say confirmed it was in Harry's imagination, include the brother looking up as if Harry was flying? You can chop it down conveniently by saying Harry imagined what his brother was seeing, but that seems highly speculative and still leaves the shot pointless. If the director wanted the shot of the brother to confirm his "intentions", shouldn't the brother have been looking down, or had his head turning as if watching something fall?

6. Movie characters are no strangers to experiencing fantastic things simply by wishing for them.

Alright, I admit my argument was simply for sh!ts and giggles, but now I'm on it...gots to rent the movie again.

I beat you, you old bitch!!!

[–] petekrug17 15 years ago

First I just want to say thanks for sharing your thoughts. There is one thing I have to comment on, though:

Even in fiction, when you get to know a character well, the character should stay consistant. In other words, when you get to know a particular character well, often times you really can guess what that character would probably do in any given situation. If a character behaves in a way that he/she normally wouldn't, there has to be a good reason, otherwise you lose your audience.

For example, if Superman knows Lois Lane (or any random innocent citizen) is in danger, he shouldn't just shrug his shoulders and say,"It's not my problem." Indiana Jones shouldn't suddenly just not be afraid of snakes, and Hannibal Lector shouldn't willfully turn himself over to the authorities and go vegitarian.

So in other words, yes it is often possible to "know" what a fictional character would and wouldn't do.

[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

While it may often be possible to know what a fictional character would and wouldn't do, this is not always the case. They are fictional characters, after all, not computer programs. Anyway, I think the original poster raises some good issues, just as you counter the issues quite well – and who's to say who's right? All I know is the ending was terrific and made the film worthwhile.

[–] adam-greenwood 9 years ago

No, Santa doesn't murder people. He just lets his demonic sidekick stuff them in a bag and carry them off to Hell!

www.amazon.co.uk/Adam-Greenwood/e/B00A681FH8
www.amazon.com/Adam-Greenwood/e/B00A681FH8