Ho Ho Horror: Silent Night, Deadly Night

Much has been made about the controversial nature of a killer dressed as Santa Claus. Perhaps it is my wizened historical perspective, but I just don’t see the problem. It’s not like Jesus is on a rampage here, and the film bends so far over backwards to present a psychologically compelling reason why a man in a Santa suit my go on a killing spree that the average viewer (read: Lydia, Chris, myself) forgets after the first half hour that they’ve rented a horror movie and not a tragic character drama about the results of too much exposure violence, nipples, and a catholic education. Did we need a reason to believe seasonal Santas might go berserk? I’ve heard David Sedaris’ Santaland Diaries, and I firmly believe that madness is a tragic but inevitable side effect of the season. Sadly, this Christmas special has no consumer commentary at all—it’s more a morality tale on the power of sex and violence to turn even the sweetest strapping young milk-drinker into an axe-wielding murderer. The psychology is delightfully hysterical, more so the more the nun and the cop insist that Billy’s hatchet spree has “a logic to it!” Really? Logic? I understand that naked babysitters get a beat down, but did the kindly shopkeeper and his assistant have to die? Does the tiny jammied tot who swears she’s been good all year really deserve a bloodied box cutter? When you rent Silent Night, Deadly Night, you enter a world where illogic reigns king, and your only hope for survival lies in a roomful of friends willing to suffer through this screening with you. I am happily anticipating our upcoming screening of its sequel. [Photo: Billy lives for just two things: MILK! and to PUNISH!]

Tag lines released with the movie:
* You've Made It Through Halloween, Now Try and Survive Christmas.
* He Knows When You've Been Naughty
* He's Dreaming of a Red Christmas
* Shocking... Disturbing... the Movie They Tried to Ban
* If A Nightmare On Elm Street gave you sleepless nights, or if Halloween made you jump in every shadow, or if Friday the 13th was more frightening than others... THEN BEWARE! [I assume this is a warning that these movies will produce sequels?]