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Kick Off the Season with 1974’s ‘Black Christmas’

Published

6 years ago

November 25, 2017

Before Jason, before Freddy, before even Michael, we had Billy.

In 1974, Bob Clark unleashed a dark, foreboding piece of horror that quietly snuck into our homes in the middle of the night and brought death instead of presents. Mixing Clark’s trademark black humor (the man would go on to direct A Christmas Story, after all) and a mix of psychological horror with urban legend, Black Christmas is an often-overlooked yet fantastic piece of horror cinema. So why isn’t it always remembered as such?

To discuss this, we’ll need to talk about the events that transpire throughout the duration of the film. So if you haven’t yet watched it, go see it and then return to the article. It’s Christmas horror at its absolute finest.

If you simply need some refreshing, the basic storyline is this: A deranged psychopath named Billy begins making obscene phone calls to a sorority house. After one of the sisters goes missing, a hunt is on for the identity of Billy. A young girl has also been killed in town, and to complicate things, our protagonist Jess (Olivia Hussey) is pregnant and wants an abortion. Her boyfriend, Peter (Keir Dullea) does not. All signs point to Peter, and it seems quite clear that Peter is actually Billy.

Warner Bros.

But here’s the thing: He isn’t. Billy and Peter are two separate people, and Mr. Clark has been trailing us along the whole time. In fact, we never see more of Billy than his silhouette and his right eye. Black Christmas even teases us throughout by showing the killer’s point of view. We are able to see through his eyes, but we never even get to know what he looks like, or why he’s doing this.

Therein lies the greatness of the film. At the end, nothing is resolved. We’re left unsatisfied. Why did Billy kill these girls? And he never left the house, so who killed the young girl in town? What made Billy so deranged?

The simple takeaway that I had always left the film with is that life is not so black and white. Some things we will never get to know. Sometimes, horrible things happen to good people for absolutely no reason, making it all the more tragic. It’s one of the scariest concepts I could think of, and it’s disturbing to this day.

Yet, unfortunately, so many of us have been catered to with over-explanation and brainless exposition throughout the years. We’ve been spoiled rotten with too much backstory and too much resolution. In knowing everything, we the viewer become satisfied, despite the fact that maybe our beloved characters have been brutally murdered right before our eyes. So maybe everyone dies, but hey, at least we know why.

Warner Bros.

It could ruin a film, as well. Though Alexandre Aja’s High Tension has been widely regarded since its release due to the revelations in the film’s twist, I believed it to be way too blatant. When the reveal happens, all the mystery of the film is gone. There’s nothing left to wonder about because we’ve had everything explained to us in an effort to make the viewer happy. It’s a good feeling when we can sit back and say, “Oh, so that’s what this means!” But in a horror movie, I don’t always believe that to be the best route. Black Christmas understands this.

Many horror films set around Christmas tie the killer in with some sort of holiday theme. Silent Night, Deadly Night, Krampus, A Christmas Horror Story all do, and they’re great for what they are. Black Christmas is simply set during the holiday period and that’s about it. There are no killer Santas or Yuletide demons. It’s just that much more tragic when these events unfold during such a joyous holiday.

Black Christmas exists to paint a picture of mystery, terror, and despair and excels at it. It’s possibly the greatest Holiday horror film of all time, and if you don’t believe me, maybe you need a second watch. If you still don’t agree, that’s fine, but there’s one thing I won’t leave up for debate, and that is the fact that it holds the title for the greatest tagline of any horror movie ever:

“If this movie doesn’t make your skin crawl…it’s on too tight!”

Warner Bros.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

11 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

14 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.