Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Genre: Horror
Duration: 79 minuten / 85 minuten (uncut version)
Country:
United States
Directed by: Charles E. Sellier Jr.
Stars: Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick and Toni Nero
IMDb score:
5,8 (22.567)
Releasedate: 9 November 1984
Silent Night, Deadly Night plot
"He knows when you've been naughty."
When Billy was a child, his parents were murdered around Christmas by someone dressed as Santa Claus. This traumatic experience led him to a youth institution, but there too he could not get this event off his mind. Much later, he has to play Santa himself in a shop, unwillingly, although he is terrified of Santa Claus and Christmas. Suddenly something inside him snaps...
Actors and actresses
Mother Superior
Sister Margaret
Pamela
Billy at 18
Killer Santa
Denise
Andy
Mr. Sims
Mother (Ellie)
Grandpa
Reviews & comments
FillumGek
-
- 8987 messages
- 3475 votes
The rest of the year I try to avoid Christmas movies, but now that the time of year has come again, this is an ideal opportunity to put these on. One of the many Christmas slashers.
A theme that has never blown me off my chair, but which are often worth a look. Silent Night, Deadly Night has not reinvented the wheel either, but delivers a nice movie with a few good kills, some nudity and above all a lot of trash.
The intro in the orphanage took me too long. But as soon as the first kill is a fact, the film doesn't get boring anymore. Make-up is not of a very high level, but the overall atmosphere is enough to start Christmas with a smile this year.
Translated from Dutch · View original
namingway24
-
- 1117 messages
- 1403 votes
The title screen with the splattering blood was a nice opener of this Christmas slasher.
If you're looking for the perfect anti-Christmas movie, Silent Night Deadly Night has you covered; what an evil movie this is. Poor Billy has a hard time in his youth and this pays off in his rampage with some very brutal murders. The blood flows freely and there is also enough nudity to fill a few slashers. These elements come together perfectly in the scene where Linnea Quigley is strung on a deer's antlers: a scene that certainly deserves its infamous status. Furthermore, the soundtrack was on the evil side, which worked well in contrast to the Christmas songs.
There are some nice dark moments in the movie, like the deaf priest who is mistaken for Billy and is unceremoniously shot. The final scene in which a horde of children are traumatized by the death of 'Santa Claus' is also a nice one, and the last kick is nice and leaves the option for a sequel wide open.
In terms of acting performances, the film is unfortunately a bit hit and miss. The young versions of Billy are not even bad, but adult Billy has little knowledge of acting. He has his moments but is otherwise somewhat apathetic. Maybe this was the intention, but I didn't think he was a very impressive villain. Mother Superior is a straight-up bitch you'd love to hurt, but the rest of the cast wasn't very memorable.
All in all, an impressive piece of slasher trash for the dark Christmas days!
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
-
- 12083 messages
- 7064 votes
Funny slasher.
These types of slashers generally do a bit better with me. Just a very simple slasher that also knows how to entertain. The fact that it takes place during Christmas also has some kind of added value, but certainly no added value to the story.
First 15 minutes end surprisingly hard. Not immediately expected from a slasher like this one, but better because of that. Everything that comes after that, however, does not transcend this hard tone and is actually just a simple slasher.
The film seems to follow a certain line of "who is good gets goodies, who is naughty, the roe" (then we leave Sinterklaas out of it for a while) but follows it fairly amateurishly. Regularly random people are killed of which you do not immediately see whether they are naughty or good.
Acting is not too good, as expected. The killer is actually a bit of a wimp and it doesn't exactly make a menacing impression. Quite a comical impression when he tries to be menacing. The film is often full of (probably unintentionally) hilarious moments.
The kills are often fun and last long enough to keep it all interesting. Not exactly over-the-top, which is why this film ultimately cannot distinguish itself from other standard American slashers.
However, this one is just fun and smooth. Not every slasher movie can say that. Nice and simple and not with too much drama in between. The fact that the film tries to tell a story in the first 30 minutes does not exactly add value.
I was through it quickly, it's not good, but it sure is entertaining.
Translated from Dutch · View originalPre- and sequels
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
1991
Initiation: Silent Night, Deadly Night 4
1990
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!
1989
Silent Night, Deadly Night 2
1987
Latest News
Recent films that turn the gaming table into a pressure cooker
Why Casinos Remain a Popular Setting in Crime Dramas
Oscar Isaac after Dune: roles that reveal a different side of the actor
Behind the Scenes: The Making of Star Wars and Its Legacy
Corporate & Media
Realtimes Network
Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31(315)-764002
