Spanish-American filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra has found his place in genre cinema. Though not as feted as Greta Gerwig or Jordan Peele, Collet-Serra has made a reputation for himself in crafting tight thrillers, often with Liam Neeson. Among those collaborations, Run All Night stands out, not only as an intense gangster thriller but also as an unconventional Christmas movie.
Released in 2015, Run All Night is the story of Jimmy Conlon (Neeson), an aging former Irish mob hitman who struggles with his past and has alcoholism issues. His son Mike (Joel Kinnaman), estranged from his father because of Jimmy’s violent past, is brought back into his father’s life when Jimmy kills Danny (Boyd Holbrook), Shawn Maguire’s powerful gangster son. This creates a chain of events as assassins and bounty hunters close in on father and son fighting for their lives during the tense Christmas season.
The heart of the movie is to be found in its strained, torn father-son bond. While Neeson assumes a contrite, middle-aged crime boss, Kinnaman’s role is that of a son desperate to find the means to protect the people he loves, holding back an unmet anger deep inside him. Those reconciliation scenes bring emotional depth, even making action-packed scenes unforgettable.
Run All Night is a vigilante movie with the grit of 1970s vigilante films and the festive atmosphere of Christmas, like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon. It is a contrast between the holiday cheer and the dark, violent world of crime that makes the movie so intense. Supporting performances from Nick Nolte and Common further elevate the narrative.
For fans of Collet-Serra’s work, including Non-Stop and Unknown, Run All Night combines action and emotion. With its status as a hidden gem, this is a must-watch for the viewer looking for an exciting alternative to the usual holiday fare.
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