Black Christmas (1974) Review

Written by: yourmotheratemydog715   

"Black Christmas" is one of my favorite horror movies of all time. And, no, I'm not talking about the awful remake. No, I'm talking about the 1974 classic, directed by Bob Clark, who coincidentally directed one of my other favorite Christmas movies, "A Christmas Story".

This gem, which really should be much more well-known than it is now, is probably one of the most influential horror films of all time. Without "Black Christmas", there would be no "Halloween". No "Friday the 13th". No "Nightmare on Elm St." "Black Christmas" practically created the slasher sub-genre. Sure, there was "Psycho" and "Peeping Tom" ten years before this came out, but "Black Christmas" really laid the ground plan for all slashers to come.

And unlike some films that were influential when they first came out, "Black Christmas" is still amazing and holds up well today. In fact, the first real slasher ever made is also one of the best ever made. In my opinion, it's only second to "Halloween".

"Black Christmas" accomplishes a creepy vibe throughout its entire running time. The POV shots with the ominous breathing, the amazingly well-done phone calls, and the famous scene at the end with the eye are some of the best scenes in horror history. The prank call scenes still send a shiver down my spine every time I hear them, and the voices used are some of the most disturbing and flat-out weirdest voices you'll ever hear. Seamlessly varying from pig squeals to mother imitations, those prank call scenes are just awesome. Just awesome.

The kills are also very well-done, without using the buckets of blood that would later be present in slashers. Now, I'm as much of a gorehound as the next guy, but gratuitious gore during a kill scene doesn't make that kill scary, it does just the obvious. But in "Black Christmas", the kills are awesome and disturbing, which just goes to show ya that gore isn't needed all the time.

I don't think my words can express how well-done this movie is, so I'm gonna keep this review short and sweet. "Black Christmas" is one of the greatest slashers ever made, and if a movie can still be creepy after 35 years, it's obviously doing something right. If you haven't seen this movie and you're a fan of horror, you owe it to yourself to see it. You're missing out. The film is almost perfect, and I'll give it the highest score I can give it.

10 out of 10.