In the 70's director Monte Hellman built-up a mild cult following (after films such as 1971's Two Lane Blacktop) so suffice it to say when people saw he was helming this film they got upset.

Opening with a weak nightmare sequence that introduces us to blind psychic Samantha Scully this has doctors trying to get her to enter into the head of the "Santa Claus Killer" who is slumming in a coma. It certainly works as Scully and our killer (played by Bill Moseley) turn out to have a psychic link that isn't a good thing when he comes out of his coma and hunts down (killing anyone who gets in the way - of course!) our heroine who's off at her Grandma's remote house for the weekend.

While not using nearly as many flashbacks as the part before it and trying very hard to have a more psychological angle; this suffers from a weak lead actress, a bunch of pointless dialogue (during which it sounds like someone screws-up and refers to the events as a "sequel") and a whole bunch of unsuspenseful killer attacks.

The main problem here is a script that never explains how the killer gets out of his coma, has cop Robert Culp (who does nothing) and the doctor driving around pointlessly to help explain backstory and makes it hard for the killer to be menacing when he's shambling about with a really cheesy looking clear dome on his head that shows his brain.

And the colour red makes our baddie kill? What is he a bull? Not to mention that the killer is so very slow that our blind heroine could have easy run out of the house before getting caught.

Check out the badly staged "arm through door" scene and feel sorry for Moseley who made much a good impression playing "ChopTop" in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.

Hellman hasn't made a film since.

Followed by Initiation:Silent Night, Deadly Night 4.

Directed By: Monte Hellman.
Written By: Steven Gaydos, Carlos Lazlo.

Starring: Richard Beymer, Bill Moseley, Samantha Scully, Eric Da Re.