This past Saturday’s Christmas viewing was Hogfather (2006), a miniseries based on Terry Pratchett’s 1996 Discworld book of the same title. It’s a faithful adaptation, although as with most movies based on books, some things had to be left out. (Just as well, though, considering the movie clocks in at just over 3 hours long.) Suppose a cadre of supernatural beings, in the interest of enforcing their idea of order on the universe, decided to capture the belief system of ordinary people? Naturally, they would start by eliminating one of the major foci of belief: not a god, but a personage even more people believe in. That’s right: the Hogfather, the Discworld analogue of Santa Claus. These beings, who call themselves The Auditors, engage the Assassins’ Guild of Ankh-Morpork to take out the Hogfather.

 Not the easiest of feats, but the assassin Mr. Teatime (pronounced Tay-ah-ti-may, naturally) has fortunately already considered the problem as a hobby, and he has a plan. Marc Warren (Van der Valk) plays Teatime as somewhere north of your garden-variety psycho. He’s scary when he’s out of control, and somehow even scarier when he’s not (“Wasn’t he dull?” he remarks blandly after stabbing a victim to death). He goes about his commission in what seems a roundabout way, assembling a gang of thieves, a master lockpick and a down-and-out wizard (a hilarious Nigel Planer) to assist him.

 As a result of Teatime’s actions, belief in the Hogfather is waning, and the “man” himself has apparently disappeared. Death (voiced by Ian Richardson) discovers the plot of the Auditors, and takes it upon himself to restore belief by substituting for the Hogfather. He’s assisted by his faithful servant/sidekick Albert (David Jason), who serves as the faux Hogfather’s little(ish) helper and Death’s tutor in the customs of Hogswatch. Meanwhile, Death’s granddaughter Susan, who was introduced in the novel Soul Music, is also getting involved. She’s been living a (nearly) normal life as a governess in Ankh-Morpork, but now she has to try to stop Teatime and The Auditors before it’s too late. Susan is played by Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery with a sort of weary savoir-faire, easily handling both the (real) monsters under her young charges’ beds and Death’s own sword.

 There’s also a fun subplot involving the wizards of Unseen University, led by an equally irascible and avuncular Joss Ackland, dealing with the results of the spare belief floating around after the Hogfather’s disappearance. They’re finding themselves overrun with newly existing creatures such as the Hair Loss Fairy, the Eater of Socks, and Bilious, the Oh God of Hangovers, and they’re aided by Hex, the Discworld equivalent of a supercomputer (which must be seen to be believed). And for the cherry on the cake, there’s a cameo by Sir Terry himself, as the owner of a toy shop.

 Like all of Pratchett’s books, there’s a lot more to this story than what’s on the surface. There are a few speeches – mainly from Death – about the nature of belief, and humanity itself. “Do you know, in a universe so full of wonders, [humans] have managed to invent boredom?” he tells Susan. “Most extraordinary.” And there’s a great deal on the origins of mythology and folklore sprinkled in as well. It’s a very good movie all in all. You don’t have to be familiar with the Discworld books to enjoy it, though that definitely helps. Do yourself a favor and take an evening (or two; it's conveniently divided into two parts) and enjoy it.