For anyone sick of all those saccharine Christmas films, 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' is a notorious antidote from 1984. It caused huge controversy upon its release when respected reviewers Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert publicly damned the film on their television show. As a result, audiences flocked to the film, wanting to see what all the fuss was about.
When young Billy (Danny Wagner) sees his parents murdered by a man dressed as Santa Claus, he is mentally scarred for life. He is sent to live in a foster home run by nuns and headed by a cruel and heartless Mother Superior (Lilyan Chauvin). When Billy is released from the home at the age of eighteen, the Mother Superior has arranged for him to go to work at a toy shop named Ira's Toys.
Everything is going great. Billy (now played by Robert Brian Wilson) is popular and well-liked, and it looks as though his reintegration into society is going to be a success. Then Christmas Eve arrives, and the man who is meant to dress up as the shop's Santa is indisposed, so Billy is asked to don the costume and to assume the role. Terrible memories come flooding back into Billy's troubled mind, he grabs a handy axe, and begins slaying everyone who crosses his path.
Porn star and bad horror film regular Linnea Quigley pops up as Denise, one of Billy's victims. One scene which is really memorable is the one in which Billy is confronted by an innocent young girl. Believing him to be Santa Claus rather than a deadly psychopath, she asks him if he has brought her a present. Billy reaches into his pocket and presents her with a dangerous-looking Stanley Knife. Twisted stuff.
If you are a horror aficionado then 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' and its first sequel are required viewing. Anyone else should probably steer clear. Merry Christmas everyone.
When young Billy (Danny Wagner) sees his parents murdered by a man dressed as Santa Claus, he is mentally scarred for life. He is sent to live in a foster home run by nuns and headed by a cruel and heartless Mother Superior (Lilyan Chauvin). When Billy is released from the home at the age of eighteen, the Mother Superior has arranged for him to go to work at a toy shop named Ira's Toys.
Everything is going great. Billy (now played by Robert Brian Wilson) is popular and well-liked, and it looks as though his reintegration into society is going to be a success. Then Christmas Eve arrives, and the man who is meant to dress up as the shop's Santa is indisposed, so Billy is asked to don the costume and to assume the role. Terrible memories come flooding back into Billy's troubled mind, he grabs a handy axe, and begins slaying everyone who crosses his path.
Porn star and bad horror film regular Linnea Quigley pops up as Denise, one of Billy's victims. One scene which is really memorable is the one in which Billy is confronted by an innocent young girl. Believing him to be Santa Claus rather than a deadly psychopath, she asks him if he has brought her a present. Billy reaches into his pocket and presents her with a dangerous-looking Stanley Knife. Twisted stuff.
If you are a horror aficionado then 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' and its first sequel are required viewing. Anyone else should probably steer clear. Merry Christmas everyone.