Black Christmas

BLACK CHRISTMAS

Year Of Release : 1974
Director : Bob Clark
Genre : Horror / Thriller
Rating : ****1/2

Quite often, I am asked what my favourite ever horror movie is and only ever one movie title will come out of my mouth. However, this simple question will then be followed by the dreaded question, ''Why?''. I am now going to try explain why everyone should watch 'Black Christmas'.

'Black Christmas' is the story of a group of sorority girls living in a large house over the Christmas period, whilst at the same time a psycho is around and murders them one by one. In that sense 'Black Christmas' is a very standard slasher movie. But in so many other ways, it is head and shoulders above the other horror movies that followed it.

When talking about the genesis of the modern day slasher movie, many people would cite John Carpenters excellent 1978 movie, 'Halloween' as the main kick-start. However, 4 years before Halloween would be released, an independent Canadian film maker, Bob Clark, would make a movie which would revolutionise the horror genre. It would create all of the conventions which then could be found in countless other slashers in the early 1980's.

The beginning of 'Black Christmas' is one of the most disturbing parts of the film. The screen fades from black to a shot of the sorority house with the titles overlaid. A male voiced choir then starts to sing, 'Silent Night'. I cannot explain why this is so chilling but after so many views of Black Christmas, the innocence of the song of the birth of the son of God takes on a very dark tone. The use of Christmas carols are used brilliantly throughout the movie, with the centre piece being a murder with 'O Come, All Ye Faithful' being sung over the top. In saying that, the majoirty of the soundtrack of 'Black Christmas' is conposed of  dischordant piano chords and this conveys an unbelievable sense of dread and terror. This is possibly the main reason why the film is such a scary watch. Unfortunately, this same musical idea would later be reused in the inferior 'When A Stranger Calls' which basically copied the main blueprint for 'Black Christmas' and used it in the first 20 minutes of the movie.

The cast is mixed, from a very good turn from '2001 : A Space Odyssey's Keir Dullea and 'Superman's Margot Kidder, to a frankly dreadful performance from John Saxon of 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' fame as the bumbling town cop. The main actress is the beautiful Olivia Hussey who would go on to star in Romeo & Juliet and Roxanne, and she is perfectly cast as the virginal good girl who will inevitably end up confronting the psycho by the end of the movie. Marian Waldan plays the hilarious, foul mouthed housekeeper, who has a habit of hiding alcohol in various places in the sorority house. She has the best performance in the whole movie, and is probably the most memorable character in the whole film.

Compared to later slashers like 'Friday The 13th', 'My Bloody Valentine' and 'A Nightmare On Elm Street', 'Black Christmas' is virtually bloodless, and does the things that the best horror movies do. Like 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and 'Halloween', 'Black Christmas' doesn't show you any of the carnage instilled on the characters, and the actions are left entirely in your imagination. This is another reason why 'Black Christmas' stays with you long after you've watched it. In that sense, it is thematically suitable for those of a younger age. However, there are long sections which use extremely explicit language which many viewers may find offensive and parental viewing is obviously necessary. The movie is an 18, and for very good reasons.

Christmas has always been plagued by cult movies, such as the dreadful 'Santa Claus Vs. The Martians' to the brilliant 'Brazil' and 'Gremlins'. 'Black Christmas' is up there with the best and should definitely be added to the list of essential Christmas viewing. Don't bother watching it at any other time, as the effect won't be as half as strong. Watch it when it is pitch black outside, the snow or frost is glistening on the windows, and all of your decorations are up. Then the full effect of 'Black Christmas' will be felt. Because, as the tagline says:

''If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl, it's on too tight'