Black christmas movie review

Black Christmas movie review

This festive fright-fest was a nice surprise from what I was originally expecting. This is another horror remake (from the people behind https://medium.com/@neugebauerwanetta4 Final Destination great film), but un-like so many others; it did manage to come up trumps; such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This is a remake of Bob Clarkes 1974 classic slasher movie, Black Christmas; which actually came four years before John Carpenters Halloween. Some fans lay claim that it was the original slasher flick.

From the outside, this looks like just another of your basic theres a psycho hacking up a bunch of pretty girls, who are running up the stairs instead of out of the door, and to a certain extent thats correct, its the way this is conveyed which is interesting and enticing to watch.

The story: crazed killer, Billy Lenz, escapes his psychiatric ward and is determined to make it to his childhood home, where he was abused, by Christmas. Problem is, its years later and the home is now a Sorority house. Its Christmas Eve and a whos who of teen/horror girl stars are there to welcome him, including Melissa (Michelle Trachtenberg , Buffy the vampire slayer fame), Heather (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Final Destination 3), Dana (Lacey Chabert, Mean Girls) and Kelli (Katie Cassidy, When a stranger calls remake.)

This movie is actually pretty good, it has a constant feeling of being watched that runs right through it and adds a sparkle to the scares, and the tension is kept high. The actresses, although spouting some awful lines at times, also say some good ones. The https://medium.com/@diannholmer1991702/lists acting is good, and because most of Find out more the leading ladies are stars, and most of them https://medium.com/@gabynakia98ngaby98/list/reading-list horror stars, the audience doesnt guess https://medium.com/@olindafurness88/list/reading-list which one is going to make it to the rolling credits. The story-line builds well, and there is a mounting tension, as the killer first phones the girls, and then starts to do away with them.

A similar storyline to the original Halloween, with a killer coming home for the holidays, there are also many similar P.O.V shots of the killer, watching the girls throughout the house. The Christmas theme bleeds in nicely with the plot, and it comes across in places (especially, the flash-backs to Billy Lenzs childhood) like something, director, Tim Burton, would dream up. The film gets darker and darker as we move through it, with some very violent scenes, and the music by Shirley Walker is great; capturing horror and Christmas all in one twisted melody. Also, the use of red and green lighting throughout (owed to Christmas) is very cool, and creates a great atmosphere.

Due to it being set in a Sorority house, and this no longer being 1974, some of the dialogue just doesnt cut it. I cant imagine many of these girls staying in the house with a crazed serial killer, just because they cant find their sorority sister, believable in 2007 sad, but true. There is, unfortunately, the obligatory shower scene, but its used for scares, not thrills, and so works.

Right from the start you can tell, this isnt your usual run of the mill slasher, it actually has a back story, and we do find ourselves caring for some of the characters, for example, Kelli, played by Katie Cassidy is great; plus if you hated Dawn in Buffy the vampire slayer you are gonna love this movie.