Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

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Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Jalmari Helander

Producer:

Agnès B., Anna Björk, François-Xavier Frantz

Writer:

Juuso Helander, Petri Jokiranta, Sami Parkkinen

Runtime:

1hr 24m

Synopsis

In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, 486 meters deep, lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up. This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus.

Cast

  • Onni Tommila
  • Jorma Tommila
  • Tommi Korpela
  • Rauno Juvonen
  • Per Christian Ellefsen
  • Ilmari Järvenpää
  • Peeter Jakobi
  • Jonathan Hutchings
  • Risto Salmi
  • Jens Sivertsen

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.2
51.0K
19.5K
10.3K
RATINGS 32 FANS
3.2
  • Dec 18, 2021

    FUN FACT: Not a single female character was shown on screen.

    348 Likes
    trainwrecktim
    trainwrecktim
    Jan 1, 2023

    Ok enough gingerbread and old naked elves for today

    288 Likes
    TheFreshBeef
    TheFreshBeef
    Mar 12, 2021

    Rare Exports is a spin on the classic Christmas Santa Claus story....veering more towards the Krampus legend. The film begins with a discovery under a mountain; apparently the actual Santa Claus. The credit sequence shows us that this is not the Coca Cola Santa...but…

    204 Likes
    Slig001
    Slig001
  •
    Dec 5, 2025

    Ha-ha, that was hilarious and creative! It’s a dark comedy for Holidaytime, with the cutest protagonist in little Pietari! Aptly named, the film’s story was a fun take on traditional Santa & his elves. Sometimes it didn’t make sense, & they could have used a bigger cgi…

    136 Likes
    Penny_S
    Penny_S
    Dec 25, 2017

    This is absolutely the weirdest Christmas Chiller I have ever seen, but I’m like a magnet for all things weird so yeah I enjoyed it. I actually saw this when it first came out and it was one of those deals where me and my friends were the only ones in the theater so we…

    133 Likes
    Tony the Terror
    Tony the Terror
    Dec 10, 2024

    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is surprisingly a fun, entertaining film with a twist on the usual Christmas fare. The film stands out for its unique and imaginative take on Christmas mythology, blending horror, dark fantasy, and dark comedy that makes the atmosphere feel…

    126 Likes
    Rizki
    Rizki
  •
    May 6, 2015

    Finally, a film that isn't afraid to tell the real story of Christmas. Nevermind all this nonsense about Rudolph, Frosty, or the birth of Jesus.

    116 Likes
    Matt J.
    Matt J.
    Dec 8, 2021

    On The Road: Water The Forests Of Finland I learned last year when attempting to compile a list of Christmas movies that they are pretty scarce, so this year I decided not to make one. However, apparently the key is to look beyond Hollywood to other countries, as you may…

    116 Likes
    Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine
    Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine
    Dec 17, 2020

    Most Festive horror films tend to be shitty Psycho Santa Slashers in the vein of Silent Night, Deadly Night, or some kind of Krampus movie. Maybe that’s why Jalmari Helander’s Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale feels so refreshing. A brilliant and engrossing dark fantasy film…

    111 Likes
    Sam
    Sam

Queue Community Reviews

76%
Community 354
❤️ LOVE
23%
👍 LIKE
53%
😐 MEH
15%
👎 DISLIKE
8%
Top Reviews
  • Lee
    Lee is "meh" on
    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

    Made by the director and star behind Sisu. This childish Christmas thriller markets itself as having killer elves and an evil cursed Santa, but it's actually quite bland and full of elderly nudity.

    10M
    Orlando Ramone
    Orlando Ramone liked
    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

    Such a fun and unique Christmas horror/action movie. I don’t recommend it for kids unless you don’t mind them seeing plenty of old man penises! LOL

    3Y
    Mickerdoo
    Mickerdoo is "meh" on
    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

    Idea had more potential than what this film was. Like why naked dudes? Why elf trafficking? Why not show the final boss...?

    3Y
  • Angela Todd
    Angela Todd loved
    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

    Felt very 80’s. I really liked the take on Santa. It was entertaining and had a great ending

    2Y
    Cinematic Joshua
    Cinematic Joshua disliked
    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

    A dark Christmas fable that hides its alternative lore and boxes up possible excitement.

    1Y
    Stew
    Stew liked
    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

    Unique story is an understatement An unconventional Christmas tale

    10M
  • Jen
    Jen is "meh" on
    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

    A very weird horror movie that doesn’t always make sense.

    1Y
    Horror for the Holidays
    Horror for the Holidays liked
    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

    A creepy weird movie with a very funny outcome

    2Y
    real_life_witch
    real_life_witch loved
    Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

    Hands down my favorite Christmas movie

    2Y

Atom Users Reviews

No one has posted a user review yet.

Metacritic

71
metacritic
Based on 18 Critics
7.1

USER SCORE (38)

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Reviews
50
Dec 21, 2010

Finnish filmmaker Jalmari Helander's dark-comic expansion on his cult Internet shorts, in which he crafts a back story for Santa that's as black as stocking coal.

Metacritic review by Tom Russo
Tom Russo
Boston Globe
75
Dec 17, 2010

A taut, gorgeously filmed and enjoyably wicked cinematic treat.

Metacritic review by Jennie Punter
Jennie Punter
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale?
The movie is 1hr 24min long.
What's Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale about?
In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, 486 meters deep, lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up. This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus.
Who's the cast of Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale?
  • Onni Tommila as Pietari Kontio
  • Jorma Tommila as Rauno Kontio
  • Tommi Korpela as Aimo
  • Rauno Juvonen as Piiparinen
  • Per Christian Ellefsen as Riley
  • Ilmari Järvenpää as Juuso
  • Peeter Jakobi as Pietari's Elf
  • Jonathan Hutchings as Brian Greene
  • Risto Salmi as Sheriff
  • Jens Sivertsen as Main Elf
Who's the director behind Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale?
Jalmari Helander directed Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.
Who produced Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale?
Agnès B., Anna Björk and François-Xavier Frantz produced Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.