MovieChat Forums > A Christmas Story (1983) Discussion > Was the mall Santa really THAT scary?

Was the mall Santa really THAT scary?


I know many times, children are scared of Santa, so I'm wondering were the kids just seeing him as scary or was he really like that?

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I know many times, children are scared of Santa, so I'm wondering were the kids just seeing him as scary or was he really like that?


I'm convinced the scary behavior Ralphie initially saw was from the perspective of an anxious kid. At the end of the Santa scene, as The Old Man and Mother collected Ralphie & Randy from the bottom of the slide and the family is walking away, the camera focuses on the Santa in the background and he says to another child very warmly, "Bye bye, Chris!" To me, that was a nod to the audience by Jean Shepard & Bob Clark that the scary Santa was all in Ralphie's mind.

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I agree. As a child watching this, I took it for what I saw; however, as an adult, I feel many aspects of the movie are greatly exaggerated through an imaginative child’s POV. Just makes the movie that much better.

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Not sure if you are asking if the characters or the actors themselves were scared of that particular Santa, but Randy came down that slide terrified. As a parent you notice those things.

I think Peter on the DVD commentary said that Ian (Randy) hated the slide but the others played all night on it between takes (they shot this scene after the store closed).

But Jean Shepherd once described how Santa asking you what you wanted for Xmas, him being the most powerful man in the world in a kids life, was like the President asking you what bill you wanted him to pass. I know I may have just messed up this quote but hope you get the point.

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Oh and that wasn't a mall Santa he was an Old School Downtown Department Store Santa.

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What I meant was, was the Santa REALLY acting all intimidating like that and were the elves being that short-fused OR were they just SEEMING to be that way in the eyes of the children. B/c I know MANY children are scared of Santa Claus for some reason, and many start crying when they sit on his lap, so I'm wondering if in the kids' eyes does Santa look like some big scary, red demon or something, whereas in my eyes he looks like a sweet, kind gentle man.

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That store Santa wasn't scary, he was just being real.

"Hey kid, you'll shoot your eye out!"

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I always thought that the mall Santa (and the elves) were employees at that particular mall who were just over worked and underpaid, and as a result, they were all just low on patience. They had probably been doing that all day and just wanted to go home. Notice how one of the elves basically says that the store is about to close.

I'm so scared your little head will come off in my hands!

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They were not being mean to the children. We are seeing this through the eyes of the children and they can get very nervous when meeting Santa Claus. Notice the end of the scene when Ralph and his family are walking away they pan back to Santa Claus and he is having a very pleasant exchange with the kids.


He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?


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It was a mixture, probably. We are seeing it from the kids' perspective.

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I remember seeing something on tv about the psychology behind children being frightened of Santa Clause. The problem partially comes from the age of the kids put on Santa's lap, and his appearance.

A child psychologist analyzed multiple videos of children crying or screaming when put on Santa's lap at various locations, and the first thing she noted was the fact that he looks "unnatural" to little children. I can see what she means, considering how few older men wear big long beards in our society. The bright colors and odd costume are also disturbing to very small children.

It wasn't so odd in places like Germany, pre-20th century, because a.) they were [and still are] very enthusiastic about Santa and Christmas in general, and b.) older men with big bushy beards were very commonplace there for a long time.

It also bothers me that some parents bring very young children, like 3 and 4-year-olds to see Santa, when the child still has separation anxiety issues, and they get frightened easily because they don't understand what's going on and don't like strangers.

My first experience with Santa was kind of awkward, but nowhere near as extreme as what you see in this movie. I was 4, and the family went to a "Breakfast with Santa" event at some hotel in our town. I was very shy in those days, and Santa's appearance intimidated me, despite him being played by someone who had hoped to avoid that problem. (We were having scrambled eggs for breakfast).

Usually modern children have to be TAUGHT who Santa Clause is, and that he's a good guy, leading to older kids being delighted at meeting him.

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I'm surprised you have such a clear memory of when you were four years old. I guess, that is, unless you have pictures or video of the meeting.

Of all the times I went to see Santa, I only can remember one, when I'd guess I was five or six years old. I know I went and sat on Santa's lap more than that, but that's the only one I can remember.

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I don't know why, but I have the ability to remember detailed things from way back. It's not quite the same as photographic memory, because it's mostly images, events, and a little bit if conversation. It's also not perfect, but it's clearer than a lot of people I know remember. I think I got it from mom, because she remembers conversations [instead of images] very clearly, even years ago.

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I have done a lot of Santa photo shoots over the years. It has been my experience that a very small percentage of kids are actually afraid of Santa. I mean to the point where the parents drop the kid (infant to toddler age) on Santa's lap, and then jump back so I can get the photo before they start screaming. Its probably less than 10%. To put it into perspective that's only a little more than the percentage of people who think the moon landing was a hoax.

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I didn't think Santa was all that bad but I absolutely thought the female elf was a total short tempered bitch.

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LOL! Long day in those tights and elf shoes I guess.

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I'm pretty sure it was the kids' perspective of him.

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