Black Christmas

     BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974): Starring- Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, Keir Dullea, Marian Waldman, Andrea Martin, James Edmond, and John Saxon.

                                                          Directed by- Bob Clark

     Well, Merry Christmas, everybody. Yes, I know it's been a while since my last post, but I have some vacation time coming up, and I thought I'd get myself in the good old Christmas spirit by watching the ultimate Christmas themed horror movie: BLACK CHRISTMAS.

     You may remember that in my review of HALLOWEEN, I called this movie the original slasher film. I stand by that comment. While this may not be the first movie to feature a psychotic maniac killing off the cast one-by-one, this is the first movie to employ all the classic elements of a slasher film. It's all here: The point-of-view shots, the slutty teenage girls, the isolated setting, the nasty death scenes, the creepy phone calls, the clueless police officers, even the holiday-themed title.

     The film was directed by Bob Clark, whose name you might recognize from another Christmas classic:

       Can't you just imagine little Ralphie turning into a serial killer?

     That's right. The guy who directed A CHRISTMAS STORY also directed this. In fact, this wasn't his first horror movie, either...

                     Oh, Dear God, why did I have to bring this up?   

     ....Right. Well, I promise you that BLACK CHRISTMAS is much, much better. So, with all that said, break out the fruitcake and the butcher knife, and let's dig into this charming little holiday classic. 

     The film opens in a college dormitory. The girls are all prepared to leave for Christmas, when the get a strange phone call from an unknown source. The caller says a number of grotesque, profane remarks, grunts, and screams before hanging up. This can't be a good sign. But, before the terror begins, we get a window into these girls' lives. Jess (Hussey) is having relationship problems with her unstable boyfriend, Peter (Dullea, who is way too old for the part he's playing here).  Clare (Lynne Griffin) is leaving to visit her family. Phyllis (Martin) is just the nerd who doesn't have much of a backstory.  Mrs. MacHenry is intent to drink every form of alcohol in sight, and Barbara (Kidder) does pretty much the exact same thing....

     All of these story threads could make for an interesting drama film, but then I wouldn't be reviewing it, would I? Yes, before you know it, Clare has been suffocated with a plastic bag and propped up in the attic. Somehow, no one notices this.

     The next day, Clare's father (Edmond) shows up looking for his daughter. He's fairly stiff, and has some fun scenes with Mrs. MacHenry before she gets a hook driven into her throat. 

     Meanwhile, Jess discovers that she is pregnant with Peter's child. This doesn't go over well with Peter, who seems less sane every time he's onscreen. More phone calls are made, and Jess and Phyllis finally decide to call the police. Lt. Fuller (Saxon) arrives and begins the process of tracing the calls, while also mounting the search for Clare.

     More people are eventually killed and Jess begins to suspect that Peter may be behind all of this after it is discovered that the calls are coming from inside the house (yeah, big surprise....).

     I'll also add that this film has one of the most unnerving endings of all time, but I'll never tell you what is. You'll have to watch the movie yourself.

     Anyway, this movie may not have the most original premise (though it was the first movie that I know of to use the "Calls-from-inside-the-house" twist), where it really shines is its direction and acting. The film is just oozing with atmosphere and is beautifully shot. I don't care what people say, John Carpenter definitely ripped off the opening POV shot in HALLOWEEN.

    And then there's the cast. This movie has one of the most unique casts I've ever seen in a slasher movie. First we've got Olivia Hussey, who would go on to great fame, and Margot Kidder, who later played Lois Lane in the SUPERMAN films, giving a hilarious performance. I often wonder if she was actually drunk on the set and they just let her wander into scenes. Her character also has one of the weirdest death scenes I've ever seen. Then we have Kier Dullea. I still maintain that he's too old for this part. I mean, he was in 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, for god's sake! What, was he in his forties when he made this? And he's playing a college student. Yeah, sure.... Finally we have John Saxon, fresh from his role in ENTER THE DRAGON, as the police lieutenant. He's essentially just playing the exact same character he played in A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, so, if you've seen that, you can almost pretend that it's the same character before he got married and had a daughter. It's a small role, but his presence is still felt.

     So this Christmas Eve, if you're tired of watching IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, or A CHRISTMAS STORY, do yourself a favor and watch this instead. I guarantee that you'll still be awake on Christmas morning....

     My rating: * * *  out of  * * * *