Black Christmas (1974)
Also known as "Silent Night, Evil Night (1974), Stranger in the House (1974)"
If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl... It's On Too Tight!
Starring: Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon, Marian Waldman, Andrea Martin, James Edmond, Doug McGrath, Art Hindle, Lynne Griffin, Michael Rapport, Leslie Carlson, Martha Gibson, John Rutter, Robert Warner
Director: Bob Clark
Running Time: 98 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 18
Comedy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
On DVD If you're after an alternative to the tinsel-draped merriment normally to be found in films associated with this time of year, you might think 'Black Christmas' as good a choice as any. You might be even more drawn to this one if old-fashioned slasher flicks are your bag. Both would seem like good reasons to give this low-budget 70s horror a whirl, particularly now that it's been given the remastering treatment by DVD distributors Metro Tartan. But what they don't tell you on the box is that this movie is absolute codswallop.
The tale centres around a gaggle of sorority chicks (among them Olivia Hussey and a pre-'Superman' Margot Kidder) who, one less-than-cheery festive season, find themselves the target of a frothing madman. They call him "the moaner", based on his tendency to phone them up and - erm - moan a bit. There's also some gurgling, mumbling, wailing and swearing thrown into the bargain. Well, even crazed psychopaths like a bit of variety.
There's only really one way to describe 'Black Christmas', and that's silly. The story makes no sense, we're always far too aware of the killer's presence for there to be any proper shocks, and the ending has none of the impact it should. Unsurprisingly from director Bob Clark, the man behind the likes of 'Porky's', the film takes a distinctly tongue-in-cheek approach to its subject matter. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but Clark's idea of humour is to end various scenes with somebody sticking up a middle finger, a gesture surely reserved in normal society for the totally witless.
With next to no violence shown on screen, and most of the scare tactics made redundant by poor direction, the only frightening thing about it is the array of giant 1970s hairstyles. This might have been one of the first in a long line of similar horror movies to have sprung up during the 70s and 80s, but it's certainly not one of the best.
DVD Extras: A director's commentary, a couple of vaguely interesting featurettes ('Black Christmas Revisited' and 'All Through the House'), a stills gallery and some trailers.
It's Got: An old bat with a bottle of booze stashed in every nook and cranny, and a college himbo trying to be taken seriously whilst wearing an over-sized fur coat.
It Needs: To be roasted on an open fire, along with the chestnuts.
Alternatives: When a Stranger Calls, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Scream
Summary: Less 'Black Christmas' than 'Cack Christmas'. I wouldn't watch this again if you promised me a lifetime supply of selection boxes.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 30th December 2003
External Links
Black Christmas at the IMDB
Comments14 Comments |
| Black Christmas was an absoslutely terrifying movie back in 1975 and it still scares me today. I think it was the horrible words and sounds that the killer said on the phone that was so creepy! Plus you're made to see the house through the killer's eyes as he or she moves around and toward its victims. I think that not actually seeing the killer is what makes it so scary! |
| Comment by:- trixie | | 13 June 2004 | ip: logged |
| Black Christmas is truly the greatest horror film ever crafted. Gary was obviously born a little too close to the scream generation of films to appreciate its finer qualities. I ujrge readers of review to challenge it by watching the movie for themselves and posting comments here. "Gary is also a St Johnstone supporter." The quote says it all. |
| Comment by:- It would be unfair to say. | Id love the promotion but I wo... | 31 July 2004 | ip: logged |
| BLACK CHRISTMAS IS SO ****IN FREEKY! BUT IT DOES SHIVVER YOUR SKIN! |
| Comment by:- Brad | | 25 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| Anyone who loves horror movies send me some names plz......... Thanxxxx |
| Comment by:- Matt | | 25 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| Ohh My Email is Princetonguy101@hotmail.com thanxxxx |
| Comment by:- Matt | | 25 August 2004 | ip: logged |
| What is wrong with Matt? I adore horror films especially Hammer as I am English. Whats with the princetonguy? If anyone wants to see a good horror film then check out Dario Argento and Mario Bava (from the fifties). Both Italian and very good. I recommend Suspiria and The Church. |
| Comment by:- Susan | | 05 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| I also recommed films from Hammer connected with Dennis Wheatley including The Devil Rides Out & To The Devil a Daughter |
| Comment by:- Susan | | 05 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| It's a sadly cheap and easy shot for "Mr." Panton to criticize a movie that was undoubtedly made before he was even born. (Unless the photo in his "bio" is a total misrepresentation of his present status, that is.) He is totally unqualified to make this review, or even deserve the title of "Journalist", as he quite plainly ignores what was the THEN state of the art in horror movies and movie making in general. His opinion (and that is all that it is) holds less value than the "absolute codswallop" he pronounces the movie to be by virtue of it's being utterly without any real meaning. Mr. Panton might as well be "reviewing" an old pickup truck compared to a shiny new latest model vehicle. It is absurd and ignorant to even try. He should voluntarily withdraw this "review" and refrain from making further ones until he matures enough to appreciate the difference between past and present. Black Christmas was, in it's time, one hell of a scary movie. Enough said. |
| Comment by:- Michael | | 20 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| Michael, has "anyone" ever told you that you "over-use" quotation "marks"? |
| Comment by:- Mr Pandrich | English department | 20 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| Wow. One of the classic horror films of all time ripped by a reviewer who would recommend "When a stranger calls". Hint to reviewer ; Halloween came out 4 years later, and much of the direction/action/production was taken from this film. Unfortunately, it became the catalyst for the eightees slasher flicks, but that shouldn't be put on Halloween or Black Christmas. Moody, atmospheric,this film works on many levels. One of the greatest horror films ever made. Period. |
| Comment by:- Chris | | 12 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Chris - you forgot to mention that it's also completely ridiculous. |
| Comment by:- Hamton the Pig | | 13 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Black Christmas is a big ****ing cheese movie. It sucks; you don't know WHY the killer kills, you don't know WHO the killer is, you don't see him, and all he says is "it's me Billy." Oh wow, I care lots? Granted, if this were to happen in reality it may be a little creepy, but I think people would start to notice women are randomly and rapidly disappearing at an alarming pace. Wouldn't the dead chick in the attic start to stink? Doesn't anyone sleep in whatserface's room aside from her? Or do they just hope her drunk ass would choke on her vomit and die in her sleep? I spent 98 minutes watching this movie, and I want them back. Who do I see about this? |
| Comment by:- Matt | | 19 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| What a horrible review. This is one of the greatest horror movies of all time. |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 03 January 2005 | ip: logged |
| Kudos for those who support this '70s horror classic. Any movie that originaly set the catalist for future house-murder horror flicks deserves credit for sure. Okay, so some people out there find it cheesy to today's standards, but they probably weren't even born yet at that time. Sure, it probably seems odd to them to comprehend crank calls to a house way before today's technology of phone display and call trace, but back in 1975 when those features weren't around, it spooked the hell out of 'ya. This one is still a classic in MY books. |
| Comment by:- Andy | | 03 January 2005 | ip: logged |
