The Official Rare Exports Inc. Safety Instructions 2005 (2005)

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

And by this I am not talking about the quality of this 9-minute short movie. More of the contents. However, not everyone can be a winner and this description also applies to the short film. I don't think it's nearly as good as the first short film from 2 years earlier, maybe because the surprise effect is gone. 5 years after this second short, writer and director Jalmari Helander turned the idea into a full feature film. Back to this short film here, Helander basically tried to bring back all the factors that made the first one so funny (actors, style, narration), but still it comes short. Nonetheless, I think people who really loved the first can give this one a go too, or skip it and go for the long movie directly. Everybody else can give this one a pass.

This is the sequel to Jalmari Helander's RARE EXPORTS INC . Since the original's success centres around a shock revelation as to who the hunters are stalking in the cold wastes of Lapland it's obvious that all the cards have been played so instead of trying out another plot twist the makers have followed this up with biting satire . The short is made in a similar way to a training film as to how to transport a captive Father Christmas safely Even if you're not taken too much to the script you should be impressed by the technical aspects of THE OFFICIAL RARE EXPORTS INC SAFETY INSTRCUTIONS . The cinematography by Jean Noel Mustonen is very noticeable in a good way and I've rarely seen a well shot short film . The music is uncredited by Iwas instantly reminded of Howard Shore's superb score for LORD OF THE RINGS I've been clicking on the names of many of the people responsible in the production of this short and I'm disappointed Hollywood mainstream producers haven't been knocking on their door because this is certainly a very well made short film from all concerned

This is a rare example of a sequel that's equal in quality to the original film it's a follow-up to. The Father Christmas from the first movie is abused by several dock workers and gets loose so he can embark on a murderous spree. It's up to three expert hunters to track Father Christmas down and kill him. Director/co-writer Jalmari Helander once again adroitly mines a fresh, inventive, and wickedly funny line in deliciously dark and twisted pitch-black humor (the safety tips on not making any loud noises, smoking, or drinking around a Father Christmas are genuinely hilarious in an admittedly twisted sort of way). Otso Tarkela gives a convincingly feral performance as the bloodthirsty and dangerous Father Christmas. Tommi Korpela, Jorma Tommila, and Tazu Ovaska are likewise credible as the ace hunters forced to take Father Christmas out like a wild rabid beast. Jonathan Hutchings' wonderfully deep and solemn gravel-voiced narration further enhances the deadpan comic tone. Moreover, there's also a nice smattering of grisly gore and an extremely eerie conclusion set in a remote woodland graveyard for deceased Father Christmases. Jean Noel Mastonen's polished cinematography gives the picture an exquisitely glossy and wintry look. The melodic and majestic orchestral score is also on the money fine and effective. Well worth seeing.

This is actually a sequel to the short film Rare Exports Inc., witch tells you the story of hunting and producing decent Santa Clauses of a wild Northern beast. I had seen the first part few years ago, and I just recently got to see these "Safety Instructions" and I must advice you to get your hands on both of these short movies, they are simply hilarious.---------SPOILERS--------- The name tells pretty much everything there is to know about this film, the safety instructions to Father Christmas. Film starts with a scene with hunters familiar from the first movie, shipping a Father Christmas-box to his new happy owner. But something went wrong and the crate never reached it's destination, so seven hours later when our hunters reach the harbour where the accident has taken place, they find few brutally mutilated sailors.After examination of the place, scene changes to a warehouse where our hunters demonstrate all types of behavior that affects Father Christmas in a negative way. These are for example of course cursing and drinking, smoking, making loud noises, etc.This follows with the capture/execution-scene of the escaped Santa, and then in the end we have also a short graveyard-scene which explains where do Father Christmases go when they die.Most of the scenes are pretty graphic, and I must add that this is no film for the smallest of the family.But nevertheless, great laughs and I know I can watch this again and again. And all this in 10 minutes! 10/10