Black Christmas
KOCH Entertainment Distribution
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Synopsis:
The few remaining residents of a Canadian sorority house are celebrating the onset of Christmas vacation when a thirteen year-old girl is found dead in the park. Soon, it is discovered that one of the sorority sisters is missing, which triggers a terrifying chain of murders within the house. Director Bob Clark's (Porky's, A Christmas Story) tense, effective film is a precursor to the slasher films that would come a half decade later, but never relies on gore. Olivia Hussy (Romeo and Juliet) stars alongside Margot Kidder and SCTV's Andrea Martin.
Traditionally, Christmas movies are joyous affairs filled with laughter, Bing Crosby tunes, wool sweaters and all sorts of warm fuzzies. Black Christmas is an exception. While it may have a few laughs and lots of sweaters, it is a different sort of holiday classic. Now more than 30 years after it was first released, Black Christmas is recognized as one of the first -- if not the first -- in the slasher sub-genre of horror. It is a legitimately creepy film that was actually scarier to me in ensuing viewings.
Today, it may seem a little cheesy at first as horror fans have been given an endless diet of like movies over the course of the last three decades. But that still doesn't stop the claustrophobic feel of the cluttered rooms of the sorority house or the just plain nasty phone calls that come from the killer. Black Christmas is the anti-Christmas movie for those sick of hot chocolate and white Christmases.
Video: How's it look?
The film itself has been digitally re-mastered to include an anamorphic widescreen picture. It's rather grainy throughout the film, but that should be expected given the age, era and somewhat low-budget of the original production.
Audio: How's it sound?
Considering the film's age, the special edition release of Black Christmas is great stuff. It has been given the Dolby Digital 5.1 treatment and it sounds wonderful.
Extras: What additional goodies are included?
- Two scenes with newly found vocal soundtracks.
- "The 12 Days of Black Christmas" -- a nearly 20-minute documentary retrospective on the making of the film featuring several cast and crew interviews.
- A midnight screening Q&A featuring director Bob Clark, star John Saxon and composer Carl Zittrer filmed at a California theatre.
- Interview segments with stars Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder and Art Hindle.
Closing Thoughts
Black Christmas is a holiday classic, even if it isn't traditional. Combine that with a solid selection of insightful extras and a cleaned up delivery and you've got a must-have DVD for fans of the genre.
Review brought to you by our friend Ryan @ Movie-Views.com
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