Lionsgate just unveiled the first trailer for Silent Night, a holiday revenge flick starring For All Mankind’s Joel Kinnaman, which marks legendary Hong Kong action director John Woo’s first American film in 20 years.
The Swedish 43-year-old portrays Godlock, an ordinary married father accidentally shot in the throat with a stray bullet from warring gang members while in the front yard of his home playing with his son (Anthony Giulietti) on Christmas Eve.
His wife Saya (Catalina Sandino Moreno) rushes to their son’s aid after he’s shot and killed, which leads Godlock down a year-long path of vigilante justice against their unknown underworld assailants.
The accident leaves Godlock completely mute and the preview, like the film itself, contains very little dialogue (aside from a police radio) similar to movies like No One Will Save You, the A Quiet Place franchise, and All Is Lost.
Joel’s grieving character surreptitiously snaps mugshots at a police station, methodically trains at the gym, visits a shooting range, and practices stunt driving.
Woo-hoo! Lionsgate just unveiled the first trailer for Silent Night, a holiday revenge flick starring For All Mankind’s Joel Kinnaman, which marks legendary Hong Kong action director John Woo’s first American film in 20 years
John said Kinnaman performed ’99 percent of his stunts’ and ‘was always pushing himself so hard to work out’ to more authentically portray his character’s physical transformation to face off against gangsters.
‘He was also training with our fight coordinator every day, just rehearsing and training for all of the action sequences,’ the 77-year-old filmmaker told EW on Monday.
‘He tried [to give] a real performance but only with his eyes, his eyes have so many stories and so many emotions. I was so happy to work with him.’
X actor Scott Mescudi (best known as Grammy-winning rapper Kid Cudi) took on the role of police officer Vassell on one condition – he wanted ‘to do is John Woo action.’
‘[I said] “What is John Woo action?”‘ Woo recalled asking him.
‘[He replied] “It’s firing with two guns.” So I gave him two guns.’
The Chinese maestro’s highly-stylized ‘bullet ballet’ action films full of Mexican standoffs include The Killer, Hard Boiled, Broken Arrow, Face/Off, Mission: Impossible 2, and Paycheck.
‘It was a very smart script and the story really touched me [because] I have three children,’ John noted.
Jingle bell necklace: The Swedish 43-year-old portrays Godlock, an ordinary married father accidentally shot in the throat with a stray bullet from warring gang members while in the front yard of his home playing with his son (Anthony Giulietti) on Christmas Eve
Tragedy: His wife Saya (Catalina Sandino Moreno) rushes to their son’s aid after he’s shot and killed, which leads Godlock down a year-long path of vigilante justice against their unknown underworld assailants
‘Nothing speaks louder than revenge’: The accident leaves Godlock completely mute and the preview, like the film itself, contains very little dialogue (aside from a police radio) similar to movies like No One Will Save You, the A Quiet Place franchise, and All Is Lost
Payback: Joel’s grieving character surreptitiously snaps mugshots at a police station, methodically trains at the gym, visits a shooting range, and practices stunt driving
‘He was training with our fight coordinator every day’: John said Kinnaman performed ’99 percent of his stunts’ and ‘was always pushing himself so hard to work out’ to more authentically portray his character’s physical transformation to face off against gangsters
![The 77-year-old filmmaker told EW on Monday: 'He tried [to give] a real performance but only with his eyes, his eyes have so many stories and so many emotions. I was so happy to work with him'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/04/00/76136111-0-image-a-13_1696374386901.jpg "Silent Night: First Trailer Reveals Joel Kinnaman as a Retributive Vigilante, Seeking Justice on Christmas Eve Against Gang Members Responsible for His Son's Demise 13")
The 77-year-old filmmaker told EW on Monday: ‘He tried [to give] a real performance but only with his eyes, his eyes have so many stories and so many emotions. I was so happy to work with him’
X actor Scott Mescudi (best known as Grammy-winning rapper Kid Cudi) took on the role of police officer Vassell on one condition – he wanted ‘to do is John Woo action’
![Woo recalled asking him: '[I said] "What is John Woo action?" [He replied] "It's firing with two guns." So I gave him two guns'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/03/23/76136095-0-image-a-11_1696372608117.jpg "Silent Night: First Trailer Reveals Joel Kinnaman as a Retributive Vigilante, Seeking Justice on Christmas Eve Against Gang Members Responsible for His Son's Demise 17")
Woo recalled asking him: ‘[I said] “What is John Woo action?” [He replied] “It’s firing with two guns.” So I gave him two guns’
‘Kill them all!’ The Mexico City-shot movie – hitting US theaters on December 1 – also features Harold Torres, Vinny O’Brien, Yoko Hamamura, and John Pollack
Two years ago! Silent Night should not be confused with Camille Griffin’s 2021 apocalyptic dramedy of the same name starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, and Lily-Rose Depp
‘The biggest challenge is how do you make the audience accept a story without dialogue, and get them moved by the story, let them understand they’re not missing something.’
The Mexico City-shot movie – hitting US theaters on December 1 – also features Harold Torres, Vinny O’Brien, Yoko Hamamura, and John Pollack.
Silent Night should not be confused with Camille Griffin’s 2021 apocalyptic dramedy of the same name starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, and Lily-Rose Depp.
