Rating:  Summary: No great extra but a great movie Review: ***Contains Minor Spoilers*** The third of director Bob Clark's three horror movie's he directed in the 70's(Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things & Deathdream aka The Night Andy Came Home) and one of the best slasher's ever made. In my opinion Deathdream is slightly better but Black Christmas is right next to it. While a lot of people compare this with Halloween the two are like night and day. Clark brings a feeling of dead so thick you can cut through it with a knife. While Michael Myers is thouroughly explain in Halloween the killer is Black Christmas is a total mystery. Who is he? Where did he come from? While Myers never talked here the killer expains in phone calls to the victims how completely crazy he is. Most people don't get the ending but remember the phone rings after each murder. The extras are nothing to speak of: a short interview with John Saxton, short filmographies of the main players, & a very good film trailer. The remastering is very good, I noticed very little grain and excellent sound(something extreamly important in this type of movie).
Rating:  Summary: Crystal Clear DVD Quality Makes It Even More Frightful! Review: A crystal clear DVD print is the perfect enhancement to what many consider the scariest movie of all time! Hitchcock's "Psycho" may be more stylish (and polished), but this one tops them all in terms of mood, and pure, realistic, scary atmosphere! The VHS version is too dark, and diminishes the overall production quality although certainly not the overall effect! This long overlooked and somewhat obscure gem has picked up steam only recently thanks to a wave of extremely positive (and well written) amazon.com reviews! Margot Kidder steals the show with outlandish and biting off beat humor, but none if it would matter quite so much without fine set ups from creative, unique, and original director, Bob Clark . . . And beautiful (and very believable) leading lady, Olivia Hussey. In fact, the entire cast deserves grand applause for pulling off a truly horrific mainstream movie miracle! It has taken nearly thirty years for this chiiller to receive its due, surpassing even "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Wizard of Oz" in this regard. Finally, America has its third true albeit belated classic! Sometimes, words get in the way, and this definitely applies in attempting to describe "Black Christmas"--Leaving most of the suspense to the imagination of the audience (not unlike Hitchcock) lends itself to repeat viewings. One important word of caution: Do NOT view this movie during the holiday season, and NEVER before December 25--Your Christmas memories will never be the same!
Rating:  Summary: One of the best in horror Review: A madman sneaks into a seriority house and terrorizes the people inside.Great movie! I heard this movie was one of the movies to first use the "The call is coming from inside the house" bit; if it did, the movie's filmmakers pulled it off the bit brilliantly. What I really liked about the movie was that the audience was prevented from seeing the killer's face; this left the audience guessing as to who the killer really was. In one scene, the camera is in front of the killer, but the killer's face is hidden in the dark; the only thing we really get a good look on are the killer's eyes (we would later see these eyes again later in the movie). Probably the best part about this movie is the ending. The ending kind of makes you want a sequel.
Rating:  Summary: Excellent Print. Memorable Film. Review: A rare treat for fans of the genre. Two short interviews with John Saxon are an added bonus.
Rating:  Summary: Up In The Attic-Click-Click-Click-Uh-Oh! It Ain't St. Nick! Review: A sorority house is having one last bash before emptying out for Christmas. Meanwhile, someone has just climbed a trellis outside, and slipped through an attic window. After the party, the phone rings downstairs and it's "him again", a sick pervert who's been calling a lot lately. The girls listen as he makes his odd noises and obscene suggestions. One of the girls is offended by Barb's (Margot "Sisters/Superman" Kidder) vulgar remarks and goes upstairs to her room to pack. She is met by sudden death at the hands of our attic dweller, who now has full run of the house. Mrs. Mac, the lushy house mother, is next as she simply must find her cat that's somehow gotten into the attic. She sticks her head up there and WHAM! Jess (Olivia Hussey) is pregnant and having a battle with her boyfriend (Keir Dullea) over her decision to get an abortion. He is definitely against the idea, and grows increasingly (and suspiciously) furious. Later, Jess and the other girls plead with the police to do something about their friend's disappearance. A detective (John Saxon) finally listens and gets involved. Of course, we know that the girl is up in the attic with dear old Mrs. Mac! In the neighborhood, a 13yo girl has gone missing and a search party is assembled. Alas, the girl is found dead in a nearby park. Was she yet another victim of the attic man? Jess, Barb, and Phyl (Andrea Martin) are in the house trying to survive 'til new year's. Will anyone make it? Who is the utterly evil, twisted attic man? Why has he come to this particular address? Will we ever know for sure? BLACK CHRISTMAS is an overlooked, totally under-rated shocker from Bob Clark (Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things). The building horror is slow and effective. The characters are well played, especially Margot Kidder's "super-tongue" Barb! She is fun to watch and a trip to listen to! I loved her "potty mouth" and outspoken cynicism. Though Carpenter's Halloween (released 4 years AFTER Black Christmas) got all the press and accolades, BC stands as a unique take on the "looney-killer-on-the-loose" storyline. The fact that few seem to remember this movie is a crime! Watch it now and see what I mean. Highly recommended...
Rating:  Summary: Not as good as I thought it would be.... Review: After reading several very positive reviews for it, I had to get this movie. I threw it in the DVD player and was fairly disapointed. Its a cool movie, but very SLOW! There are a few jumpy parts, besides that definetly not worth buying. This movie cant even come close to being compared to a great film like Halloween. So overall, Its worth a rent, the killer is pretty cool in some of the things he does, but dont buy it, You'l watch it once and it will be left on the shelf forever......
Rating:  Summary: Classic Review: After reading the tons of positive reviews on the internet about this movie, I started my own personal search for it. I tried to find a store in my town that rented it, but was unsuccessful. So, I finally decided to order it and I was NOT disappointed. This movie is eerie, creepy, and overall a wonderful horror film. Forget the disgusting Texas Chainsaw Massacre or overrated Blair Witch Project, this movie is a fear inducer. I was completely freaked by the sight of the killer's eye peering through the door. Buy this film. Five stars. Fine holiday fun.
Rating:  Summary: great friday night/turn out the lights/popcorn flick Review: although i was disappointed with the ending (am i the only one who didn't get it?)it's a movie i'd watch over and over. margot kidder is a great bad girl and the lush of a house mother is a hoot! classic 70's horror flick.
Rating:  Summary: Creepy expose' on repressed emotion Review: Although the film looks dated,"Black Christmas",is easily one of the most unnerving,chilling,and horrific cinematic experiences ever created.It strikes at the core of what terrifies us the most,being terrorized in our own homes or dwellings,our last refuge from the evils of the world.To add to the terror and intensity,the homicidal maniac stalking the young ladies in the sorrority has multiple personality disorder,shifting abruptly between sorrow,anger,hatred,sexual excitement,fear,and pure rage.The phone calls he makes illustrate how deep his psychosis is,it's obvious he's not recovering anytime soon,and the only way he feels he can relieve the pain is to destroy the hate object,which in this film is Women.This is the rare film that gets under your skin and stays there long after it's conclusion.I saw this on television in 1976,and it still gives me chills,i still have this intense feeling of dread with regards to attics,and i'm sure you will too after seeing this.Much has been said about Margot Kidder's performance,and although it is effective,Olivia Hussey is the real foundation to the film.As the independent,intelligent,courageous,mature young woman she's the xcellent counterpoint to the sexual repressed,immature,childlike,developmentally disabled homicidal maniac.I highly recommend this classic of the Horror/Suspense/Thriller genre,but i would also suggest waiting to see if Anchor Bay will be releasing this in a special edition with extras.From the edition details it seems the DVD only consists of the film itself.
Rating:  Summary: Scary and Creepy? Review: Am I missing out? I think I have the same DVD that everyone else has. Covers sure are decieving these days. This movie was far from "scary as hell". Only a short list of 70's horror is considered great, and this is not one of them. I guess I am the only one that picked up this DVD and was greatly disappointed. It got such great reviews, as you can see here, but I was the least bit scared. I actually laughed through out pretty much of the film. I must admit though, that ending was a good one. I wasn't expecting it. All in all though, if you score it cheap, like I did. I picked this baby up at a Flea-Market for $5, then the loss isnt that great. Lastly, I guess this movie is loved for its cinemegraphic style, and the boundaries it seem to break for a 70's movie. I like vulgarity of it, also.
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