Stars: Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, John Saxon
Director: Bob Clark
Another year with two classic horror films. Once again, my personal taste is the deciding factor and I much prefer the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre to the original by Tobe Hooper. This is a film where I think the overhyping of its reputation may have ruined my viewing of it. I was promised a bloody and terrifying film but the film I saw was an almost bloodless 80 minutes of screeching and chainsaw revving. I respect the film’s place in horror history but up again Black Christmas, it wasn’t even a close contest. One of the first modern slasher films, my favorite subgenre of horror films, was the easy winner.
Brief synopsis: It is almost Christmas and sorority girl Jess has just gotten an unwanted gift – she is pregnant by her music scholar boyfriend Peter. Peter wants to get married but Jess is a modern 1970’s gal who wants to exercise her right to choose and have an abortion. In the middle of this romantic drama, the sorority girls and house mother are getting ready for the holidays while receiving obscene phone calls, and an escaped madman has taken up residence inside the house.
Spoilers below (you have been warned):
It’s a slasher film – almost everyone dies in various ways. The police get involved and discover the phone calls are coming from inside the house. Jess, crazed from being chased by the killer all night, begins to think Peter is the killer and ends up dispatching him with a fireplace poker. The police think the case is solved. Jess goes to bed and the phone starts ringing as the killer emerges from the attic.
My thoughts (with spoilers): When I first saw A Christmas Story in 1983 it never occurred to me that the same man who directed it also directed the slasher film Black Christmas. While Clark definitely had some bombs, including the notoriously bad Baby Geniuses, he also had two classics in two different genres and that takes talent. Rest in Peace Bob and thanks for the memories.
Black Christmas is a creepy ride with great atmosphere and setting. The sorority house is covered in dark wood and has a more morose feeling than you would expect for college girls. We very rarely venture beyond its walls, adding a sense of claustrophobia to the film. Clark moves the camera well and creates a real sense of fear throughout the film. He also gets the most out of his cast and what a cast this film has.
One of the things I love about watching older horror movies is seeing who may appear before they became famous and this one has quite a few. Unfortunately, the star of the film could be considered on her way down. Olivia Hussey was best known for Romeo and Juliet and, while she worked steadily her whole life, these two films are probably her best known. But then, we are treated to Margot Kidder before she was Lois Lane, John Saxon before he fought Freddy Kreuger as Lieutenant Thompson, and Andrea Martin before she was a comedy genius in everything.
Another interesting thing about the film is that we never get a full view of the murderer, Billy. We hear his voice and we see him in shadows, but I could not even tell you the color of his hair. Because of this, we the audience can believe that Peter could be the killer, set off by Jess’s decision to have an abortion. Jess’s decision isn’t treated lightly but she makes it clear that, for her, it is the right decision. When the fireplace poker comes out and Jess kills Peter, we can believe it is justified, that she feared for her life or at least what Peter would do to stop her from following through on her plans. It isn’t until she is left alone that we realize she killed the wrong man and it is left ambiguous as to whether or not she will survive the night.
Is Black Christmas the best slasher of the 1970’s? In my opinion, no, but it is one of the better ones and a great starting point for someone wanting to get into the genre. The acting and directing are great and the story builds well, even leaving us on a cliff hanger that will never be resolved. Avoid the remakes and stick to the original.
Other films from 1974 to check out:
Young Frankenstein – Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Teri Garr, and Madeline Kahn all at their best in this loving homage to the classic Universal films.
Blazing Saddles – Another great Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, and Madeline Kahn film, this time a Western parody. Throw in legendary performances by Harvey Korman and Cleavon Little and this is a must see. Word of warning – avoid TV edits. This is a film that must be seen in its original theatrical form.
The Towering Inferno – A grandaddy of the disaster film genre with famous faces like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway, and Fred Astaire stuck in a burning building.