Review of Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) by Dylan C — 21 Jul 2010

When a sickening idea is crafted together well enough, it no longer sickens it's audience, but engrosses them. Such is the case for this surprisingly well done horror movie, "Silent Night Deadly Night".

The premise is simple, as a young boy, Billy Chapman (Danny Wagner) witnesses his parents get murdered by a killer in a Santa Claus outfit. Years later, Billy (now 18 and played by Robert Brain Wilson) works at a toy store and after being forced to dress up as Santa Claus, he has a mental breakdown and goes on a killing spree.

This may sound like a typical slasher flick, but the film is done with a real knowledge of what creates fear in an audience. Believe me when I say this film has no redeeming values whatsoever but in the vast genre of horror movies, this one actually creates tension, chills, suspense, and genuine scares.

Director Charles E. Selliers Jr. skillfully creates a sense of dread and tension throughout most of the movie. The directing style and music score evoke a classic 80's feel to the film and even creates hope at times, making the scares all the more surprising.

Perhaps I'm wrong in recommending a film that celebrates carnage and resorts to using a beloved childhood figure, Santa Claus, to cause the bloody mayhem; but there are so many badly made horror movies out there, that to not recommend "Silent Night, Deadly Night", a horror movie that creates true terror and real suspense, feels even more wrong.