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“Instead of presents this year, I just want my family back.”
Kevin sees a reflection of Harry in one of the Christmas ornaments and calls to his father, knowing his physical father is not there.
“Dad, can you come here and help me?” Kevin asks (1:02:30). This is Kevin asking for God’s help. Kevin subsequently overhears Harry and Marv say that they will return that night at nine o’clock (1:02:30).
9pm represents the second prayer watch, when “intercessors are able to impact the spiritual realm before the enemy gets ready to wreak havoc.” (4). Indeed, Harry and Marv intend to wreak havoc.
First, however, Kevin goes to visit Santa. He has one request.
“Instead of presents this year, I just want my family back.” (1:03:25).
This scene shows how far Kevin has come from earlier in the film. He is rejecting individualism, greed, and consumerism and instead embracing his love for his family.
Kevin walks home from seeing Santa and passes by a house filled with light, family, and children preparing to celebrate Christmas together (1:05:36). It is a somber scene as Kevin comes to terms with how alone he is, physically and spiritually. In contrast, the family in the house stands in everlasting light.
Kevin realizes that happiness comes not through individualism and material things but rather through family and community. This is reinforced by the focus on the image of the woman holding a baby (1:06:10).
The scene also shows the potential for everlasting life in Christ, with family members reunited after death. In a way, Kevin’s parents leaving him ‘home alone’ represents the loss of one’s parents to death as they age.
“Fall on your knees”
He stares at the church, contemplating whether to enter, give up his wanton ways, and accept Christ. The nativity scene where Kevin had hidden earlier in the movie is shown (1:06:26). Singers can be heard in the background singing ‘O Holy Night’ – “Fall on your knees. Hear the angel voices” – a beckoning to Kevin.
Kevin enters the church, staring up at images of saints and ultimately sits in a pew. There he sees Old Man Marley. Kevin is once again frightened by His visage. “Merry Christmas. May I sit down?” Old Man Marley inquires.
As they sit together in the pew, Kevin begins to embrace his salvation. Old Man Marley tells him not to fear God saying, “You can say hello when you see me. You don’t have to be afraid.” (1:08:07).
In a symbolic confession, Kevin tells Marley about his earthly misdeeds, saying, “I’ve been kind of a pain lately. I said some things I shouldn’t have. I really haven’t been too good this year.” (1:08:50).
Marley talks about the importance of family, telling Kevin “How you feel about your family is a complicated thing…Deep down, you always love ‘em. But you can forget that you love ‘em.” (1:09:30).
“I’m not welcome with my son”
Old Man Marley, again representing God, describes his estrangement from his own son. “I’m not welcome with my son,” Marley says (1:10:08). Kevin, who here is symbolic of his son, encourages him to reconcile. Old Man Marley tells him he is afraid to. Kevin talks of his own fears of his basement.
“I’ve always been afraid of our basement. It’s dark, there’s weird stuff down there, and it smells funny. That sort of thing. It’s bothered me for years,” Kevin confides (1:11:13). He is expressing his fear of hell and eternal damnation.
Kevin continues, “Then I made myself go down there to do some laundry, and I found out it’s not so bad. All this time I’ve been worrying about it, but If you turn on the lights, it’s no big deal.”
Marley asks him his point, and Kevin replies “You should call your son.” (1:11:27). As before, ‘turning on the lights’ represents spiritual enlightenment and embracing God, with ‘doing laundry’ spiritual cleansing.
At the end of their discussion, Kevin asks, “What about you…You and your son?” “We’ll see what happens,” Old Man Marley replies, foreshadowing what is to come with Kevin (1:12:44).
They shake hands, and we again see Old Man Marley’s wounded hand, this time bandaged. This foreshadows Kevin’s imminent crucifixion as well as healing and salvation through Christ.
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