Movie Review: ‘RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE’

Two years ago I saw the film Trick R Treat (mind you during June) and was amazed at it’s ability to not only capture the essence of the Halloween season but to also remind me why I started watching films.  Last year’s Trick R Treat is without a doubt Rare Exports.  I tried reading as little about this film as possible before going to see it (this was no easy feat as it has not only graced the cover of a notable horror magazine but also received rave reviews from most film sites) and am happy to say that it is much deserving of all hype that it has been receiving. 

Rare Exports takes place during the month of December, following Pietari and his father Rauno, who live in a remote location on the border of Finland and Russia. Young Pietari is at an age when most boys are beginning to chase girls and smoke cigarettes but he still caries around a stuffed animal and believes in Santa Claus.  His interest in Santa Claus is further peaked when he and his friend sneak across the border into Russia only to discover that a foreign company is hatching a plan to excavate the one and only Kris Kringle himself.  Soon a whole slew of crazy shit starts occurring around the community  as the children of the town come up missing, someone has been spying on Pietri, an old naked guy gets caught in the family wolf trap, the local reindeer harvest is found slaughtered and all this points to the crazy shit going on just across the border.

A big two thumbs up for writer and director Jalmari Helander for producing such a creative and well shot film. The casting in this film was fantastic and the performances were spot on.  The characters never explain why Pietari’s mom isn’t there but they don’t need to – the Father’s sorrowful performance during a dinner table scene says it all.  The beautiful thing about Rare Exports is that like the films that I grew up with in the eighties, this one can be enjoyed by both adults and kids alike.  At the age of ten, I would have been able to identify with Pietari as he is put in an adult situation riddled with adventure and is tested on his path to becoming a man.  Watching it today as an adult I can appreciate those qualities previously mentioned but can also enjoy the maniacal situations the characters are put in and the dry humor throughout the film.  The film has it’s fair share of horror elements and even a few bits of impressive gore.  If you enjoy films like Monster Squad or Gremlins, I think this little gem will be right up your alley.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is still making the rounds on the independent theater circuit with a fantastic 35 mm print which I highly recommend checking out.  Don’t let the fact that it is February dissuade you from seeing it on the big screen, as the film is so engrossing that you will feel as if your are in the midst of December. I’m going out on a limb here but I’m going to say it anyway….Rare Exports is the best film released last year, horror film or otherwise.  It has quickly shot to my list of top ten films to revisit each Holiday Season and I will not wait 365 days to watch it again.