Rare Exports is a Finnish holiday horror film that takes the warm, fuzzy idea of Christmas and stuffs it into a freezer somewhere near the Arctic Circle. What comes out is strange, darkly funny, and refreshingly original.
Detailed Summary
The Arctic Circle and a Very Wrong Santa Legend
The story is set in northern Finland, near the Korvatunturi mountains. According to local folklore, Santa Claus is not a jolly gift-giver but a dangerous ancient being who once punished naughty children. To protect humanity, Santa was supposedly buried deep underground and sealed away.
A mysterious American-led excavation team begins drilling into the mountain, claiming to research geological samples. The locals, however, quickly sense that something is very wrong.
Pietari and the Missing Children
The film follows Pietari, a sharp but lonely young boy, and his father Rauno, a reindeer herder struggling financially. After the excavation begins, reindeer are found slaughtered in disturbing ways, and children from the nearby village start disappearing.
Pietari suspects the excavation has unearthed something ancient and evil. His fears grow when elderly, naked men with wild beards begin roaming the area, stalking children and behaving like feral creatures.
The Elves Are Not What You Think
As Pietari and Rauno investigate further, they capture one of the strange old men. Instead of Santa himself, they realize these creatures are actually Santa’s elves—but not the cute kind. These elves are savage, child-snatching monsters who serve a far worse master buried beneath the mountain.
This revelation flips traditional Christmas mythology upside down and confirms that the true Santa is still trapped below, waiting to be freed.
From Survival to Capitalism
Once the villagers understand what they are dealing with, they shift from fear to strategy. They capture dozens of these feral elves and come up with a surprisingly pragmatic solution: sell them.
The elves are shaved, trained, and boxed up as “authentic Santas,” ready to be exported across the world just in time for Christmas.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Pietari realizes that the excavation has uncovered Santa Claus himself, not just his elves. This Santa is revealed to be a massive, horned, demonic entity frozen deep beneath the mountain. If fully awakened, he would pose a global threat to children everywhere.
Pietari and the villagers manage to re-seal Santa back underground, preventing his escape and effectively saving the world. However, the elves remain above ground.
Instead of destroying them, the villagers decide to capitalize on the situation. The final scenes show the elves cleaned up, dressed in red suits, and shipped worldwide as mall Santas and holiday mascots. Pietari watches as cargo planes take off, implying that the modern image of Santa may actually originate from these once-feral creatures.
The ending is darkly ironic, suggesting that humanity didn’t defeat the evil—it simply commercialized it.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Rare Exports does not include a post-credits or mid-credits scene. The story ends definitively with its final image, letting the unsettling implications linger.
Type of Movie
Rare Exports is a holiday horror film blended with dark comedy and folklore fantasy. It balances suspense and satire while deliberately subverting traditional Christmas imagery.
Cast
- Onni Tommila as Pietari
- Jorma Tommila as Rauno
- Tomi Korhonen as Oiva
- Robin Svartström as the Excavation Leader
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Miska Seppä and Juri Seppä, whose minimalist and eerie music reinforces the cold, isolated atmosphere. The soundtrack avoids sentimentality, making the Christmas setting feel unsettling rather than cozy.
Filming Locations
The movie was shot in Lapland, Finland, near the Arctic Circle.
These locations are essential to the film’s identity. The endless snowfields, dark forests, and isolated villages enhance the feeling of vulnerability and reinforce the idea that ancient secrets can survive undisturbed for centuries in such remote places.
Awards and Nominations
- Winner – Best Film, Sitges Film Festival (2010)
- Winner – Best European Feature, Fantastic Fest (2010)
- Multiple nominations at international fantasy and horror festivals
The film became a cult favorite despite its modest budget.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- The film is based on two short films by director Jalmari Helander: Rare Exports Inc. and Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions.
- Many of the “elves” were played by stunt performers and actors trained to move in animalistic ways.
- The production deliberately avoided CGI-heavy effects to keep the creatures grounded and disturbing.
- The child actor, Onni Tommila, later appeared in Helander’s Big Game.
Inspirations and References
- Traditional Finnish and Sami folklore
- Dark interpretations of Santa Claus from pre-Christian myths
- Influences from John Carpenter-style minimalist horror
- A clear thematic rejection of commercialized Christmas imagery
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No alternate ending has been officially released. However, interviews suggest early drafts explored a darker global aftermath, showing the long-term consequences of Santa’s near-return. These ideas were removed to keep the ending sharp and ironic rather than apocalyptic.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Rare Exports is not based on a book. It originated as an original concept developed through short films, making the movie a rare example of a successful short-to-feature expansion.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The first discovery of slaughtered reindeer in the snow
- The capture of the naked elf in the pit trap
- The reveal of Santa’s massive frozen form underground
- The final montage of elves being exported worldwide
Iconic Quotes
- “This is not Santa Claus.”
- “Santa punishes naughty children.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The excavation site coordinates reference real folklore locations in Lapland
- Newspaper clippings briefly show older disappearances hinting this has happened before
- The elves’ behavior mimics animal hunting patterns rather than human logic
- Santa’s horned design resembles ancient pagan gods rather than modern depictions
Trivia
- The film was Finland’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film consideration
- Most of the budget went into practical effects and location shooting
- The story deliberately avoids showing Santa too clearly to preserve mythic fear
- The film is often ranked among the best Christmas horror movies ever made
Why Watch?
If you are tired of sentimental holiday movies, Rare Exports offers something bold and clever. It combines folklore, horror, and sharp satire into a uniquely chilling Christmas story that stays with you long after the snow settles.
Director’s Other Movies
- Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions (2005) – short
- Rare Exports Inc. (2003) – short
- Big Game (2014)
- Sisu (2022)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Krampus (2015)
- The Lodge (2019)
- Fatman (2020)
- Trollhunter (2010)
- The Thing (1982)
- A Christmas Horror Story (2015)
