The eminently quotable Victor Borge once said that “Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year”. Taking his cue from such black sentiment, Terry Zwigoff has created the complete anti-Christmas comedy, although you might not ever want this Santa climbing down your chimney. Billy Bob Thornton is a child-hating alcoholic who, with his dwarf associate, knock off shopping malls as Father Christmas and his black-elf double-act. But in recent years Santa has gone off the boil: he’s not the safe-cracker he used to be; his language, drinking problem and bladder are out of control and in-store indiscretions (such as anal intercourse in the women’s changing rooms) have caught the attention of mall management. Santa is not just bad, he’s filthy. In need of a place to hide, he moves in with nine year old Thurman Merman, a naïve boy who desperately needs a father figure. Unlikely as it seems, they teach each other one or two life strategies before the police finally close in on bad Santa and his ill-conceived ways. It is said that conservative morality produces a climate of shocking art, and what a welcome breath of fresh air this is. Free from the constraints of television, Zwigoff’s coal-black comedy has more you-can’t-say-that moments than the best episodes of South Park, made even more delightful by Thornton’s arid delivery. While the narrative has its bumpy moments, armed with a sack-full of disturbing belly laughs Bad Santa is a perfect antidote to conventionally sweet festive fare. Parents hold on to your children – this Bad Santa has the presence no kids should see. // COLIN FRASER