The Real Myth Behind ‘Red One’s Grýla, Explained

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As a longtime lover of Christmas movies and someone who has spent countless winter nights curled up with a cup of hot cocoa, I must say that “Red One” has truly outdone itself. The film’s unique blend of action, adventure, and a dash of humor is simply enchanting. But what sets “Red One” apart from other holiday films is its clever incorporation of an ancient Icelandic myth – Grýla.

The movie titled “Red One” hit the big screens globally on November 15, 2024, ahead of the usual Christmas season. This early premiere was necessary because its original release date was December 2023, but it got delayed due to SAF-AFTRA strikes. Interestingly, this film falls under a genre that has been growing in popularity – Christmas action films.

This movie uniquely reimagines the holiday genre by weaving an engaging plot around the story of “Red One,” where a daring rescue mission unfolds after Santa Claus gets abducted by a menacing winter sorceress who can transform into different forms. The Christmas flick takes on a covert, almost spy-like atmosphere as organizations with intriguing acronyms, secret codes, advanced technology, and skilled cyber experts come into play. Boasting an impressive cast such as Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and J. K. Simmons, “Red One” delivers all the thrilling action one would anticipate from a festive film. However, it’s important to note that while fictional in many aspects, the movie’s villain – the winter sorceress who kidnaps Santa – is based on Icelandic folklore.

Grýla’s Role in ‘Red One’

In the movie Red One, Grýla serves as the primary villain, portrayed by Kiernan Shipka. At the outset of the film, she masterminds the abduction of Santa, potentially spoiling Christmas for everyone. She infiltrates the North Pole, deceives Callum Drift, Santa’s security chief, and makes off with Santa – or so it seems. However, it is eventually disclosed that this intricate kidnapping and escape were merely a ruse. Grýla devised this elaborate, cunning, and expertly executed plot because she is displeased with how corrupt society has become and seeks to take action herself.

In the tale Red One, Grýla isn’t just a winter witch. She’s an old troll possessing the power to change her form. Tired of humanity and its flaws, she now seeks a permanent solution to eliminate those on Santa’s Naughty List. These individuals, after all, wound up there due to their questionable behavior, correct? While it might appear noble in some twisted way, one could argue that her actions aim to create a world inhabited only by the virtuous.

Although there are exceptions, Grýla’s scheme is unquestionably radical. Contrary to the essence of Christmas, she doesn’t hold faith in redemption or second opportunities. Instead, she abducts Santa Claus for the purpose of acquiring the ‘glaskafig,’ a magical snow globe that can capture whoever comes into contact with it. Her objective is to replicate these snow globes and utilize Santa’s sleigh to distribute them to everyone on the Naughty List. In doing so, she aims to carry out her plan of eliminating all the “unfortunate” individuals in the world.

Grýla’s Mythic Origins

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, Grýla isn’t purely a figment of someone’s imagination. Instead, she’s deeply rooted in Icelandic folklore, where she’s infamously recognized as a fearsome Ogress with multiple tails. The first mention of her name can be traced back to Medieval Icelandic literature from the 13th century. Despite being portrayed as a monstrous figure since her beginning, her origins remain shrouded in mystery.

In Icelandic folklore, Grýla, a legendary figure, was linked to Christmastime during the 17th century. Known as a watcher of children’s behavior throughout the year, she would mete out punishments on the mischievous ones during Christmas. Living secluded in a mountain cave, Grýla would sneak into Icelandic towns to capture naughty and misbehaving kids, stuff them into bags, and with her 13 sons, the Yule Lads, transport them back to the mountains. These children were then turned into food, a stew, to be consumed until the arrival of the next Christmas morning.

How Does ‘Red One’s Grýla Compare to the Real Myth?

Kiernan Shipka’s portrayal of Grýla significantly deviates from the traditional image of the older, frightening ogre in Icelandic folklore. Instead, her version is youthful and beautiful, lacking the terrifying appearance and the constant presence of a sack that are characteristic of the Grýla from legends. This change was probably made to align with the cheerful tone typical of Christmas-themed films, as seen in Red One.

Beyond transforming Grýla’s physical form, the film also alters certain aspects of Grýla’s abilities. Unlike traditional Icelandic mythology that depicts Grýla as an ogre, Red One represents its adversary as a highly powerful winter witch capable of shape-shifting and tracking individuals worldwide if they speak her name. Moreover, instead of merely portraying Grýla as a heartless ogre, this film introduces a romantic relationship with Santa’s estranged brother, Krampus, providing her character with background and growth. This cinematic version of Grýla stands in stark contrast to the terrifying Icelandic folklore ogre who lives in a cave and eats stewed children.

In contrast to their distinct characteristics, Grýla from Red One and the Icelandic legend’s Grýla have something in common: they both target mischievous children. Anyone who behaves well is not harmed by this ogre/witch. This is why Jack and Dylan manage to evade Grýla when trapped inside a snow globe, as they were initially deemed naughty but later become ‘good’ through a heartfelt conversation with each other, causing the globes to shatter and enabling them to escape Grýla’s grasp.

In “Red One”, creative liberty is clearly taken with the Grýla character, an Icelandic folklore figure, to expand and enrich her antagonist role within the movie’s storyline. This adaptation allows for a more direct connection between the character and the film’s plot. Additionally, altering Grýla’s appearance and powers in “Red One” makes the character more appealing and intriguing to contemporary audiences. Despite maintaining a light-hearted and festive tone that aligns with Christmas spirit, this film’s focus on a folklore character from Iceland unintentionally broadened the global awareness of an obscure Christmas mythology.

Red One
is now playing in theaters worldwide.

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2024-12-02 00:31