Comments on: Halloween Love’s 40th Anniversary Black Christmas Retrospective

By: Graham

Graham — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 21:07:00 +0000

This is one of my favourite horror movies, favourite Christmas movies, and I guess just one of my favourite movies, period. Oddly enough, though, I didn’t like it when I first saw it, probably because it was so different from what I expected it to be. I expected something along the lines of a typical slasher film with a clear resolution and when I didn’t get that, I was unsatisfied. I revisited the film again a few years later, and by that time I suppose my taste in horror and film in general had developed because I thought it was actually a lot better than I remembered it. I’ve watched it several more times since and my appreciation for it grows every year. I think it’s a masterful film, particularly in how the emotional, psychological horror is entwined but never explicitly or directly tied to the physical horror. This makes the film not only frightening, but thought-provoking as well. I love it! And as a side note, as a Canadian, I’m so proud that Black Christmas is too!

By: Michael D. Okum

Michael D. Okum — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 17:54:00 +0000

Great Article! Great Film! Thanks John Squires!

By: @SBofSelfAbuse

@SBofSelfAbuse — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 13:09:00 +0000

Good post. It’s definitely one of the most important movies for the genre. I had forgotten that bit about Carpenter talking to Clark. Black Christmas has been in my yearly holiday rotation for probably a decade or better. Unfortunately I didn’t see the film until I was in my early 20s, but it’s remained a staple ever since. It’s right in there with A Christmas Story for me.

Can’t wait to read your follow-up on the remake. I think it’s one of the better modern remakes, and is pretty underrated. The approach they took with it was pretty interesting in that in some ways it’s a very faithful remake, while in others it’s almost the complete opposite of Clark’s film (particularly in its lack of restraint). The latter is probably the problem most people have with it, but I think it helps it stand on its own and bring something different to the table. It’s just a fun horror movie, and I like to include it in the yearly rotation as well.

By: John Squires

John Squires — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 00:54:00 +0000

In reply to cubbies1967.

Haha, I’m actually going to be reviewing the remake later this week, which is why I didn’t mention it in this post!

And yes, that shot is indeed awesome. One of my favorites of all time.

By: cubbies1967

cubbies1967 — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 00:14:00 +0000

Excellent article. I agree that it is a horror masterpiece. I would have added in your description of Billy that bone chilling shot of his eye through the crack in the door, which I feel is one of the scariest shots ever. PS, thanks for not mentioning that awful remake/insult to the original.