A bizarre flick from Mexico translated by K. Gordon Murray for children's matinees, in which Santa Claus is the envy of the CIA and avoids child labor laws by keeping his slaves in an orbital castle over the North Pole. Currently #44 on IMDB's Bottom 100 of worst films, beating out "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" by a wide margin. From everything I've heard, it's PD in Mexico, too, so the GATT monster didn't get this one!

plus-circle Add Review

comment Reviews

Reviewer: sc117 - favorite - May 6, 2017

Subject: Bizarre film Strange and terrible movie love the mst3k version sc117 -- May 6, 2017Bizarre film

Reviewer: Big Boomer - favorite - March 19, 2017

Subject: Deluded I agreed with some of what BondoFox noted. But when he veered off the main road with that story about how Mexican kids were so starved for American toys that all it took to kick start the market south of the border was a film like this, I had to wonder what reality he lives in.



As for the movie, I don't think it is particularly good even for a bad film. I did not make it to the end and I do not feel cheated. - March 19, 2017Deluded

Reviewer: Victor Von Psychotron - favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 24, 2014

Subject: Wonderfully bizarre. It's so strange that you have to see it to believe it. The lavish sets are a bit of a surprise for such a low budget film. - November 24, 2014Wonderfully bizarre.

Reviewer: Kodachrome - favorite - January 4, 2014

Subject: How did this ever become PD? Perhaps it is because this is quite possibly the worst movie ever made.



I am hoping for a sequel: Santa Claus versus the Zeta Drug Cartel. Now THAT would be worth watching!



One star for this very scary flick. - January 4, 2014How did this ever become PD?

Reviewer: BondoFox - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 23, 2011

Subject: So Bad It's Great Y'see, the reason this movie was made was to bring the concept of Santa Claus to Mexico. At the time, Mexico had their own Christmas celebrations which were more religious than secular. The idea was that if Santa Claus was introduced to Mexico, it would help toy marketing and increase sales. And it worked!



The movie got lost in obscurity until "Mystery Science Theater 3000" resurrected it, making it a cult classic.



If you haven't seen the MST3K version, you may have a hard time watching this. Their version made it *extremely* watchable. Now here, you can give the original a try, and as cheesy as it is by today's standards, it'll be a fun watch. - December 23, 2011So Bad It's Great

Reviewer: AlecWest - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 17, 2011

Subject: Everything is relative. The same year this film came out in Mexico (1959), it won the Golden Gate Award for Best International Family Film at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Murray released his dubbed version in 1960. And it made so much money that it was periodically re-released in theaters during the 1960s and 1970s. So, what might be cheesy now wasn't so cheesy back then. - October 17, 2011Everything is relative.

Reviewer: rclo - favorite - June 3, 2011

Subject: Creepy Santa From the start, Santa looks creepy, demented and evil, and his laugh is anything but jolly.



Be good, kids, or they might make you watch this movie. - June 3, 2011Creepy Santa

Reviewer: bandit2005 - favorite favorite - May 31, 2011

Subject: silly but entertaining

and the mexican monster and wrestling santos movies that were all sold to tv from american international Back in the late 60's they has kiddie matinees showing movies like this.i remember the other Christmas movie called the christmas that almost was' nt.this was before vhs and dvd.and watching this as a kid it was kind of creepy,like the big ear and big eye.but now its kind of silly.in an offbeat way.K Gordon Murry made some pretty weird movies,like puss and boots,rumplstillskin,and the mexican monster and wrestling santos movies that were all sold to tv from american international pictures.so really the original title was santa claus not to be confused by the Tim Allen santa claus movies.but this could give young children nightmares. - May 31, 2011silly but entertaining

Reviewer: picfixer - favorite favorite favorite - May 30, 2011

Subject: Nightmares, suitable for ages 3 to 9 Proof that Mexico and the United States harmoniously working together have the ability to produce a film with the potential to terrorize millions of children in the Spanish and English speaking worlds. Remarkable! And to think this was accomplished without the aid of NAFTA. Continuing in the spirit of international goodwill, "Santa Claus vs. the Devil" receives 3 stars for being something which must be seen to be believed - and then taken out in the backyard and buried.



…hmmm, what if with the help of Canada we gave the Easter Bunny vampire fangs? - May 30, 2011Nightmares, suitable for ages 3 to 9

Reviewer: Vance Capley - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 29, 2011

Subject: The Psycotronic Christmas Special!!! This is the Christmas special for the psycotronic generation! It's perfect. Please note***I didn't say that this was a great Christmas picture.*** This is a great Christmas pic for the psycotronic gen - May 29, 2011The Psycotronic Christmas Special!!!

Reviewer: splue - favorite favorite - May 29, 2011

Subject: lost ed wood film ??? maybe__________IF ED FLUSHED QUALITY DOWN TH TOILET & LOST HIS MIND!!!!!!!! - May 29, 2011lost ed wood film ???