BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

Film of the Day #172 - 31 Days of Halloween #8

BLACK CHRISTMAS
1974 • Bob Clark

Screenplay: A. Roy Moore
Producer: Bob Clark
Cast: Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon
Cinematography: Reginald H. Morris
Music: Carl Zittrer

Warner Bros.

Jess, the caller is in the house. The calls are coming from the house!

Black Christmas unfolds within a sorority house as its inhabitants prepare for the festive Christmas season. Their holiday spirit is quickly dampened by a series of anonymous, bone-chilling phone calls that gradually escalate into a nightmare. At first, the local police dismiss the sorority sisters' concerns as mere pranks. However, when a missing child is discovered dead nearby, they begin to take the situation seriously. The suspense intensifies as the girls teeter on the brink of survival.

Black Christmas broke new ground in the world of horror cinema, leaving an indelible mark on the slasher genre that continues to resonate with audiences today. This 1974 classic shares striking similarities with John Carpenter's Halloween: both films are meticulously themed around specific holidays, opting for a slow-burning, suspenseful approach rather than the immediate gore seen in many slashers of the later era.

Beyond the tension-filled atmosphere and chilling phone calls, Black Christmas delves into the personal lives of its characters, notably exploring the relationship dynamics of the main character and her boyfriend, adding depth to the narrative. This subplot underscores the film's ability to balance suspense with character development.

What's remarkable is that Black Christmas emerged as a suspenseful gem from the same director responsible for beloved comedies like Porky's and A Christmas Story. The film showcases Clark’s ability to navigate different genres and demonstrates his skill in crafting an atmosphere of palpable dread.

While it may appear that the film relies on familiar tropes, it's important to remember that Black Christmas helped establish those very tropes. It served as the catalyst for the slasher genre's explosion in the late '70s and early '80s. Some horror scholars would argue that Mario Bava's Bay of Blood (1971) had ventured into similar territory, but it was Black Christmas that became a cult classic and inspired Halloween, which became one of the most iconic slasher movies, if not the most iconic, of all time.

Filthy Billy, I know what you did, nasty Billy!

Notable Awards & Accomplishments

• Saturn Award Nominee: Best Horror Film
• Edgar Allan Poe Award: Best Motion Picture
• Ranked #87 on Bravo's The 100 Scariest Movie Moments

Streaming: Peacock, AMC+, Roku, Hoopla, Tubi, Kanopy
Digital Rental/Purchase: Available at most digital retailers
Physical Media: Available on 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD