Rare Exports: Blu Ray Review
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Rating: M
Released by Warner Home Video
A Finnish fantasy tale, Rare Exports is an odd beast.
It's set in the Finnish Korvatunturi mountains; it's there a series
of miners on an archaeological dig believe they've unearthed one of
the biggest secrets of the festive season: Santa Claus.
But while the digging goes on, a pack of hunters in a nearby
village is beset by strange goings on; their reindeer are
slaughtered and children begin to go missing. However, while the
hunters are at a loss to what's going on, one child Pietari (Onni
Tommila) seems to be fully aware of the danger they face....
Rare Exports is a twisted slice of Christmas fare; from its Gothic
opening titles where the horror of a folklore Santa Claus is
revealed, it's clear this isn't a tale of "ho, ho, ho" more like
"ho, ho, holy heck what was that?"
There's some beautiful scenery though; the white crisp snow and the
mountains look absolutely stunning on the screen; and images such
as the slaughtered reindeer look at odds with that. However, that's
what the director's gone for with this - it subtly pulls the carpet
from under you when you least expect it.
There's a slow atmospheric build up to the big reveal about what's
hunting the hunters and what the miners have uncovered; but when
the jolts come, they're fairly effective and you won't look at
Santa again without seeing a ghoulish emaciated figure with a glint
of pure evil in its eyes looking back.
Rare Exports is aiming for cult glory and is bound to be embraced
by those who love all things a little bit cult
Rating: 6/10
