Here is a guest review by Eddie of a horror classic that deserves to be watched each October. Without further ado, here’s Eddie.
In 1974, writer Roy Moore and director Bob Clark, created a film that would help invent and define the modern “slasher” flick. That film was “Black Christmas”.
The women of the sorority house Phi Kappa Sig are ready for an amazing holiday season, little do they know that a serial killer has just broken into their home. They start receiving obscene phone calls putting everyone on edge. Fair warning, the first call uses a lot of graphic sexual references and a gratuitous amount of the “C” word that would make the demon in “The Exorcist” blush. Things begin to escalate when a member of the sorority goes missing and the body of a 13 year-old girl is found in a local park. Who is this mysterious killer? Who is safe? Why this house? Are these questions answered?
First things first, let’s talk about the great things about this horror classic. Bob Clark assembled an incredibly talented cast. Our protagonist is Jess (Olivia Hussey of “Romeo and Juliet” fame) a smart beautiful girl who is dating Peter (Keir Dullea) an aspiring concert pianist. We learn early on that Jess is pregnant with Peter’s child and that she has decided to have an abortion whether Peter agrees or not. This leads to Peter’s breakdown. Has this pushed him over the edge? Is he the killer?
Her two friends and fellow sorority sisters are Phyl (Tony award winning actress Andrea Martin) and Barb (Margot Kidder a.k.a. Lois Lane). Phyl is the girl next door. She is friendly, warm, and incredibly charming and Andrea Martin portrays that perfectly. Barb is that stereotypical drunk sorority bitch with family issues and Margot Kidder plays her to a tee. She is the perfect blend of someone who we both hate/love just because she is so brutally honest and upfront. My favorite line in the entire film is delivered by Barb — “No, it’s just the annual Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s obscene phone call!” The cop on the case is Lt. Fuller (John Saxon of “A Nightmare on Elm Street), and you can see in this performance why Wes Craven chose him for his horror classic. We also get a great comedic performance Marian Waldman who plays Mrs. Mac the sorority house mother. Mrs. Mac is a drunk who has booze stashed around the house and obviously can’t stand her job but still cares for these girls. Marian’s performance is hilarious and adds some comic relief from an otherwise very grim film.
The cinematography should also be commended. We get some amazing P.O.V. shots from the killer, especially in the beginning when he climbs up a trellis to break into the house. The phone calls are also extremely uncomfortable. When not using incredibly obscene language the killer starts to scream and rant in both female and male voices that is both unnerving and disorienting. There are also some very grisly murders and images that stick with you, especially if you have a fear of being asphyxiated.
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
Now on to the major problem with this film for me, none of the questions I put forth before are answered!!!!!! I know some enjoy this fact but I find it frustrating. Who the hell is this guy? Why this house? Why does he keep saying certain names? I know the inferior remake answers these questions but it’s still not satisfying to me.
(END SPOILERS)
All in all, “Black Christmas” is a scary film and one that was imitated by favorite scary film of all time, John Carpenter’s “Halloween”. Thus I highly recommend it for your viewing pleasure!