BTL Radio Show – 11/09/2026 with director BRADLEY STRYKER talking all things Christmas with THE HOLIDAY HITMAN

 

 

 

It’s a fun one this week on BEHIND THE LENS as we officially kick off the Christmas holiday season with director and co-writer BRADLEY STRYKER and his new film, THE HOLIDAY HITMAN! And let the record reflect that THE HOLIDAY HITMAN is the first Christmas film I’ve screened for this holiday season, and what a Christmas film this is!!

Christmas kills. And in THE HOLIDAY HITMAN, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. There are Christmas lights, Christmas trees, Christmas presents, Christmas assassins—and even a little Christmas caroling. Because nothing says peace on Earth and goodwill toward men quite like a hitman singing “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”

So deck the halls with boughs of holly—and a few unconscious bodies—because Bradley Stryker has delivered one of the most gloriously entertaining combinations of Christmas comedy and action-packed mayhem imaginable. Funny, festive, fast-paced, and filled with enough holiday illumination to rival the North Pole, THE HOLIDAY HITMAN is a Christmas confection with a decidedly lethal twist. And what makes it so delightful is that beneath all the outrageous action, Bradley never loses sight of the heart of the holiday: family, forgiveness, and the lengths one will go to for the people one loves. Even if those lengths involve taking out an army of assassins.

This is the story of Hank Carter, a highly skilled hitman who has one last chance to save his marriage. Determined to give his family the perfect Christmas at a luxurious lake mansion, Hank tries to hide his dangerous profession. But when a bounty is placed on his head, waves of holiday-themed hitmen descend on the mansion, and Hank must fend them off using every Christmas decoration in sight, all while keeping his family in the dark.

Directed by Bradley Stryker and co-written by Bradley and Charley McDougall, THE HOLIDAY HITMAN stars Nick Sagar (who you will recognize from the “Princess Switch” trilogy), Montana Manning, Gabriela Ochoa Perez, Ricky Norwood, Adam Korson and Julio Cesar Cedillo. And as you’ll hear in this exclusive interview, Bradley and I shower his cinematic collaborators with praise, among them, cinematographer Simon Stolland, editor Mark Keady, composer Lorenzo Barcella, costume designer Mike Lees, production designer Collette Creary-Myers, and sound editor & re-recording mixer Ralph Hatton.

As you’re about to hear, we break down every element of the production from casting to costuming to cinematography to Christmas lights and everything in between. We highlight the importance of visual dichotomy and using an explosion of Christmas lights to contrast with the character’s dangerous lifestyle. Bradley also emphasizes his collaborative approach, praising lead actor Nick Sagar’s martial arts skills and the gifted cast’s ability to elevate the script. Bradley’s filmmaking philosophy? “Collaboration for the Victory!” And get ready indie filmmakers on an extreme budget, because Bradley spends a good bit of time explaining how budget constraints influenced creative decisions, such as prioritizing lighting over blood effects and using character-driven costume choices. Ultimately, Bradley aims to and succeeds at creating a joyful, rewatchable holiday film.

You can see THE HOLIDAY HITMAN right now on VOD and digital! And Santa, if you’re listening, my Christmas wish is for a sequel from Bradley, along with other fun-filled holiday adventures.

But for right now, it’s time to get your jingle on with BRADLEY STRYKER and THE HOLIDAY HITMAN. Only 46 days until Christmas!

Enjoy!

 

THE HOLIDAY HITMAN is now available on Digital and VOD!

 

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