As the rightful companion to yesterday's classic Silent Night, Bloody Night also from the golden year of 1974, today is Jesus's birthday and what better way to have a party for that crazy guy than to watch one of the era's most gloriously horrific horror films, set in a sorority house and starring Margot Kidder? The film's style is very dark and mysterious, as well as bizarre. While watching the film, you can see where John Carpenter might have gotten a lot of his filming technique from his 1978 classic, Halloween, and that clearly is one of the best reasons to watch. This genre of film was still in such a fledgling state at the time, and who could have possibly forseen the cheesy 80s horror films developing in the following years, but you just have to consider this premise: a college sorority house emptying out for the holidays, the remaining girls are unaware that a warped murderer has just climbed into their attic...
‘Black Christmas' is also complimented wonderfully by strong acting performances from Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, John Saxon and a highly pleasant and amusing turn from Marian Waldman. Despite the tiny budget, this is a highly polished horror film that genuinely belongs among the elite of the genre. This is where it all started and those familiar with later slasher films such as Halloween', Friday the 13th' (1980), Slumber Party Massacre (1982) and ‘The House on Sorority Row' (1983) should be able to spot several of the now-clichés that first materialized in Black Christmas.
So kick back in that easy chair with your closest family members, and pop this film full-screen and revel in the sadistic holiday horror of the original version of Black Christmas!
