Review of Christmas Evil (1980) by Paul M — 27 Dec 2014

The film is noted for starting a sub-genre of the jolly St. Nick as a psycho slasher killer. This is true holiday camp because Christmas Evil takes itself seriously as a psychological holiday thriller of dark proportions. You've got to be a bit naughty in spirit to truly appreciate this camp Christmas classic, but if you're the right level of twisted it will delight. Christmas Evil is darkly funny, and makes you realize exactly how creepy Santa can be. Maggart gives an incredibly sympathetic and disturbing performance in a part that requires very little dialogue. Yet we get ludicrous moments such as a Santa Claus police lineup, a murder with a tree topper star, and New Yorkers chasing bad Santa through the streets with torches as if they were villagers in a Universal monster classic. These images, coupled with an astounding ending, make Christmas Evil a joy to watch. It will keep you wondering what was in everybody's egg nog. This is director Lewis Jackson's only film to date, so perhaps the man was exorcizing some yuletide demons of his own. Christmas Evil was a labor of love for him, and it remains his sole cinematic achievement. Christmas Evil is slow in parts; more a character study than a straight ahead slasher flick. This is a bad movie in the classic sense, and you have to see it for what it is to enjoy it.

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film. (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).