Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is a 2010 Finnish holiday-themed horror-fantasy film directed by Jalmari Helander. Featuring an impressive cast including Jorma Tommila, Onni Tommila, and Peeter Jakobi, the film has the unique capacity to combine elements of dark fantasy with folklore to create a genuinely thrilling and somewhat unconventional Christmas tale.

The film is set in the Finnish Lapland, a remote and wintry landscape near the Korvatunturi mountain. It centers on a precocious young boy called Pietari (Onni Tommila), who lives with his rugged and stern father Rauno (Jorma Tommila). Rauno is a reindeer slaughterer by profession, whose livelihood depends on the health and availability of the local wild reindeer population. They lead a simple life, wrestling with the harsh elements and isolation that their remote surroundings provide.

As the narrative unfolds, an American corporation sets up an operation in the region to excavate the Korvatunturi mountain. The company, led by a man simply named Riley, stirs up curiosity and concern among the locals who fear their operations might disrupt their way of life, especially with the dwindling reindeer population.

On the other hand, young Pietari is convinced that something far more sinister lurks beneath the serene snowy surface – something that involves the deeply buried myth of the real Santa Claus. Unlike the jolly, red-suited figure known for rewarding good children with gifts, Pietari believes in the darker, more traditional folklore version of Santa Claus who doesn't treat naughty children so kindly.

As strange events start to occur and livestock begin to disappear, Pietari’s fears grow. He and his father, along with the other locals, struggle to understand what's really happening in their once peaceful Lapland community. The film adeptly explores the complicated dynamics between the young boy's imagined fears, the more grounded concerns of adulthood, and the very real and tangible danger lurking beneath the mountain.

The mood created in Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is heavily influenced by the dramatic and almost otherworldly Finnish Lapland landscape. The stark contrast of the bright snow against the dark winter skies helps to accentuate the eerie tension building throughout the film. The beautiful cinematography captures the scenic vistas of the Lapland with an air of chilling solitude, an isolation that echoes back at the character's sense of not really knowing what's happening in their environs.

Jorma Tommila gives a stunning performance as Rauno, showing a depth of character that's determined, hardened by his environment yet caring towards his son. Young actor Onni Tommila, in his role as the imaginative Pietari, brings a perfect blend of childhood curiosity and bravery to the fore. Peeter Jakobi, as the creepy elderly man, adds to the thickening plot, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale gives a whole new perspective to the Christmas mythology, intertwining it with dark folkloric elements to serve a holiday tale with a hefty dose of thrills and chills. It is a film that seamlessly mixes horror, fantasy, and adventure with a large helping of dark humor.

While the film may not be the usual Christmas movie fare, it offers a fresh take on the genre and explores the oft-forgotten roots of the Santa Claus legend in a way that's rarely seen in mainstream Western films. Its unique and creative spin on the traditional Christmas narrative, coupled with engaging performances from the cast, makes Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale a memorable movie that offers viewers a suspenseful yet humorous ride.

Whether you're a fan of traditional Christmas movies or prefer a more unconventional take on holiday viewing, this unique fusion of fantasy, horror, and folklore serves up unexpected delights and scary twists that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is sure to become a much-loved addition to your wintry film collection. Let it be a reminder that sometimes darkness can blend seamlessly with joy and fear can mingle with fun, creating a spectacle that is as unique as it is captivating.