Review of Black Christmas (2006) by Scott O — 22 Feb 2009

** Because Hollywood is increasingly incapable of coming up with original ideas even cult films like Bob Clark's original "Black Christmas" get an overhaul. This retake again inspires me to say, why don't they remake crappy movies instead of good ones? Actually, this updated version of "Black Christmas" clicks along in a very slick fashion longer than I expected.

Glen Morgan does a fair job with shot composition and lacing the script with enough coal-black humor to keep me amused. I admire his motivation to give some back story and character development to the would-be killer but a lot of it comes off as if Tim Burton and Wes Craven remade "A Christmas Story" together.

Unlike the original, the girls here are all nearly interchangeable, so I really didn't give a hoot as they started to get dispatched in increasingly bloody ways. Which bring me to another point: "Black Christmas 2.

0" certainly doesn't concern itself with building up tension, instead choosing to trowel on the gore and violence. Yes, it's slickly realized and the action/escape portion of the final act is expertly done but having said that, Morgan shoots himself in the foot at the very end by tacking on an obligatory false ending which pretty much put a nail in the coffin for me (no pun intended).

This remake is quite interesting when you compare it to the original since it plays out like a checklist of what a horror film look like when it's made with committee-style creative decision, test screenings and thirty years worth of cliches.

Tilt: down.