December 15^th, 2000

CHRISTMAS "FEAR"

Being the last grab bag of the year and being that the holiday season is almost upon us we here at the Video Graveyard decided to spill yet another round of Christmas blood. This time we offer three movies that show Santa in a new "light".

And since we've just finished reading Robert Deveraux's demented "Santa Steps Out" novel (pick-up the paperback for a twisted read) we just have to sit down with any of these holiday anti-classics and enjoy the fact people will twist one of the more "sacred" holidays into a feast of terror and murder.

Tales From The Crypt [1972] is included here just for it's scene with housewife Joan Collins being stalked and terrorized by an escape lunatic dressed ever so chic'lly in a Santa outfit.

Brimming with menace and pretty suspenseful this is just one of the many cool stories within this 1972 classic that proves that, yes, it is possible to make a kick-ass anthology film.

Christmas Evil [1980] is an underrated psychological low-budgeter that has a guy going quite nutty and punishing those he considers "naughty" while sporting a hatchet and Santa suit. Of course there's murder, mayhem and our nutty Brandon Maggart (in a good performance) flying off in his van "sleigh" at the very end.

If you can find this one you'll see a well-done, character driven and good time that deserves the DVD release fans of it demand. Even I admit the first time I saw this (at a young age) I wasn't impressed but that was before I could grip the psychological undertones.

Silent Night, Deadly Night [1984] is the obvious choice. A movie that was protested on release because of it's distributors boldness to advertise it during Saturday morning cartoons!!

After seeing his parents killed by a mugger dressed as Santa a guy is understandibly traumatized. Years later as an adult after enduring a rough orphange childhood he flips out during the holidays, dons a Santa suit and chops of a sledding kids head, impales a naked Linnea Quigley on mounted deer antlers and does other murdering things.

Followed by four sequels (part three being the only other one worth your time) this is now notorious and a cult classic.