Black Christmas debuted in October 1974, and as the name implies, it was not the usual cheesy holiday movie. It sent chills down viewers’ spine back then, and still does today, with “Silent Night” playing over the opening credits.
The Bob Clark-directed thriller was released in the same year as another unforgettable horror film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and it inspired the likes of John Carpenter’s Halloween. Black Christmas featured a unique close-in feeling for the viewers due to how it was shot, making it even more eerie.
‘Black Christmas’ featured violence and zero holiday cheer
Black Christmas features a sorority house with decorative lights outside; however, the view grew darker as someone with the Steadicam moved further in. The background sound went from festive music to heavy breathing while the intruder, who killed some of the ladies, viewed the activities in the building at a disturbing range.
He did not only appear physically at the sorority house, but he also harassed the ladies with phone calls and soon got dubbed The Moaner. When reported to the police, they assume he is just another pervert or one of the sisters’ boyfriends playing a prank on them.
Thoughts on the horror Christmas movie today
Black Christmas ends with the killer still alive, even though another person named Peter, one of the ladies’ boyfriends, gets killed in his stead. Both Peter and The Moaner began haunting the sorority house after brawls with their girlfriends, which revealed they felt in control of women’s bodies.
Viewers still feel chills down their spine even five decades later and have shared their thoughts about Black Christmas on social media in recent times. “I have seen just about every major horror film there is, and I love horror and this film is the only one that is ever truly terrified me,” someone said.
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