The fifth installment of the deeply peculiar killer Santa has nothing to do with the original movies. In essence, it has more to do with “Halloween 3” than its own predecessors: Like “Halloween 3,” it exists within a franchise but its narrative is stand-alone, and outside of the context of the series it’s a nasty little number. Featuring a series of killer toys (which is only the basis of the story, which goes over-the-top really quickly), the movie is definitely not for children, but adults with a strong stomach and a gallows sense of humor should find plenty to enjoy here. Watch for an impressively committed performance by Mickey Rooney, who radiates far more menace than one might expect.
Rating: ★★ (out of 5)
