Black Christmas (2006)

Date Of Release: 15^th December 2006 (UK) and 25^th December 2006 (US)

Director: Glen Morgan

Producer: Glen Morgan, James Wong, Odgen Gavanski, Bob Clark, Mark Cuban, Todd Wagner 

Starring: Katie Cassidy, Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Oliver Hudson, Lacey Chabert, Kristen Cloke, Andrea Martin

Running Time: 84 minutes

Distributor: Dimension Films & MGM

Review

This film is a very loose remake of the 1974 film of the same name. I had seen that film years ago and was a little bit sceptic about this one. I don’t do remakes to well but seeing as this one was loosely based I thought that I should give it a go. I have to say, I was highly surprised. I expected this to be another teen slasher with a stupid twist set around Christmas. It is a little bit like that but better than you think.

To start off with, the theme of the film. Yes, it is Christmas, but when you are watching it you actually believe it is Christmas. They have all the decorations, the snowy weather and the music. I especially like the part where one of the girls explains that all of the customs are actually Pagan. I also love how the make the scene cheery yet very dark. The film is set in a sorority house, but it’s not your typical bimbo like setting, they don’t play on that too much. The look of the killer is different too. He was born with jaundice which gives him a yellow tint to his skin. In the scenes where he was younger, I think the yellowness was a bit over the top. It’s weird how they got something so common to actually look quite creepy. 
 

The plot itself is actually not half bad, even if the ending was a tad sloppy. I’m not sure about the whole “mother rapes her son to have a baby storyline”, made me gag a little if I’m being honest but I guess that is what the director may have been going for. The whole part with the cheating boyfriend was unnecessary though, too mushy and forgetful to be honest. My favourite part has to be where the bible basher got her head chopped off. All these girls get their eyes gouged out and this geeky little girl gets beheaded?! I found it highly amusing.

This film was actually a lot better than I expected it to be. Not the most amazing horror out there but certainly good for a night in. I would definitely suggest watching this on a cold winters night…with all the doors locked that is.

 

Rating: 6/10 – Simply having a wonderful (BLACK) Christmas time!!!