Other Titles • Silent Night, Evil Night • Stranger in the House • Jessy - Die Treppe in den Tod (1974)
Synopses for Black Christmas (1974)
1.
You may never have heard of this neglected 1974 gem, but you've probably seen one of its many imitators. Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder (also look for Andrea Martin of SCTV fame) star as two residents of a sorority house that is emptying out as Christmas approaches. The atmosphere is jolly and carefree, except for an ongoing series of menacing telephone calls, and, oh yes, we've just seen someone climb into the attic with apparent ill intent. Kidder does some scene-stealing as the bad girl, Hussey illustrates one of the downsides to having beautiful long '70s hair, and Keir Dullea does a nice turn as the creepy boyfriend. Director Robert Clark knows that the unseen is far scarier than what can be seen and he ratchets up the tension beautifully, making good use of ominous shadows, and putting in nice touches like replacing the sound of a distraught woman's scream with the piercing ring of yet another ominous phone call. This is a terrific, well-made little movie that is genuinely sleep-with-the-lights-on scary. Don't miss it. --Ali Davis
2.
Black Christmas is a stark and stylish thriller that turns everyone''''s favourite time of the year inside out. Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder star among an ill-fated houseful of sorority sisters celebrating the holiday season. Festivities turn fatal when obscene phone calls break the serenity and it becomes clear that psychopath is stalking the house.
3.
The few remaining residents of a Canadian sorority house are celebrating the onset of Christmas vacation when a thirteen year-old girl is found dead in the park. Soon, it is discovered that one of the sorority sisters is missing, which triggers a terrifying chain of murders within the house. Director Bob Clark's (PORKY'S, A CHRISTMAS STORY) tense, effective film is a precursor to the slasher films that would come a half decade later, but never relies on gore. Olivia Hussy (ROMEO AND JULIET) stars alongside Margot Kidder and SCTV's Andrea Martin.
4.
A Christmas of another color brings a killer on the loose.
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house a creature was stirring… In Bedford, several unsuspecting people are about to receive Season's Greetings - of terror.
Black Christmas is a stark and stylish horror/thriller that turns everyone's favorite time of the year inside out. Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder star among an ill-fated houseful of sorority sisters celebrating the holiday season. Festivities turn fatal when obscene phone calls break the serenity and it becomes clear that a psychopath is stalking the house.
Predating Halloween and Friday the 13th by several years, Black Christmas effectively laid the groundwork for murder thrillers that would follow with its clever interplay of tension, shocks - and humor. Producer/director Bob Clark earned his reputation as a hitmaker for the first two Porky's and the celebrated Sherlock Holmes caper, Murder by Decree. Ironically, after bringing us the terror of Black Christmas, Clark went on to take a lighter look at the holidays with the hilarious film, A Christmas Story.
5.
It's time for Christmas break, and the sorority sisters make plans for the holiday, but the strange anonymous phone calls are beginning to put them on edge.
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