Dear Santa is a dangerous trivialisation of the devil

If CS Lewis were alive today, he might expand his warnings about the devil to not only caution against disbelief but also highlight the dangers of reducing the demonic to a mere comedic trope with an edgy twist. Lewis wrote in an era when people largely understood the gravity of the devil’s existence. In contrast, today’s society leans toward agnosticism on the subject, often dismissing the devil as either non-existent or, if he does exist, as a comically misunderstood figure - hardly a threat worth taking seriously. 

This certainly seems to be the belief at the heart of Dear Santa, Paramount’s latest holiday film starring Jack Black, beloved for roles in Kung Fu Panda, Super Mario Bros and the modern Christmas classic The Holiday. The premise - a dyslexic eleven-year-old boy accidentally addressing his Christmas wish list to Satan rather than Santa - sounds like the old joke about the dyslexic devil-worshipper and a setup for light-hearted chaos. Yet the subject matter alone warrants caution for parents, and the execution raises serious concerns. 

Perilously playful

Jack Black’s comedic talent typically shines, but here his performance feels uninspired - a half-hearted effort to enliven a story that reduces a profoundly sinister concept to trivial comedy. The devil, as portrayed, resembles an overweight caricature of the Greek god Pan more than the biblical embodiment of evil. Depicted as a bumbling, eccentric, bachelor-uncle type, he is reduced to a cartoonish villain - an oversimplification that carries significant risks. Satan is not a hapless Wile E. Coyote doomed to comedic failure; he is a predator, capable of causing immeasurable harm. 

The message it subtly conveys is a perilous one: that you can play with fire and not get burned

Watching Dear Santa underscored the importance of Christian parents vetting content before sharing it with their children. Initially, I considered watching it with mine, thinking it might offer an opportunity for family time and meaningful discussion. That idea quickly evaporated. Rated 12, the film features a stream of mild expletives and casual blasphemy, alongside jarring, inappropriate jokes, including one about child sexual abuse. Within minutes, we paused the movie to check the rating, dismayed by its clear disregard for age-appropriate storytelling. 

The movie’s tone struggles to find its footing, combining toilet humour aimed at younger audiences with adult themes that alienate both children and teens. While the premise promises a happy ending, with the boy escaping hell through a contrived loophole, the journey there is marred by unsettling content and a storyline that ultimately trivializes the eternal stakes. 

No hope

One of the film’s most troubling aspects is its lack of any substantive reflection on the true meaning of Christmas or the redemptive power of Christ. Though the narrative centres around Christmas, the absence of the Christ-child and the one fleeting mention of God feels deliberate, replaced instead with a shallow redemption arc for a demon - a missed opportunity for genuine depth. 

Society dismisses the devil as either non-existent or as a comically misunderstood figure - hardly a threat worth taking seriously

The ending, without delving into spoilers, is profoundly unsettling, particularly for anyone who has experienced the tragedy of child loss. It distorts the Christian understanding of resurrection, offering a cheap parody of hope that is as baffling as it is insensitive. 

Parents should be mindful that children are naturally captivated by the allure of magic and wishes, making a film like Dear Santa particularly concerning for the dangerous ideas it risks normalising. It could tempt some to experiment, perhaps by writing their own “accidental” letter to Satan or dabbling in the occult - driven by curiosity or the misguided belief that they can outwit demons and have their wishes fulfilled. The message it subtly conveys is a perilous one: that you can play with fire and not get burned.  

As Christians, we must approach depictions of the demonic with caution. Any portrayal that makes us feel entertained or comforted by the devil’s presence calls for serious self-reflection.