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Rating
Synopsis
When he was only 5, Billy Chapman (Jonathan Best) witnessed a crazed maniac dressed like Santa kill his parents. Three years later, Billy (Danny Wagner) and his younger brother Ricky (Max Broadhead) now live in an orphanage. Despite the pleas of Sister Margaret (Gilmer McCormick), Mother Superior (Lilyan Chauvin) beats Billy into believing that punishment is good. Ten years later, Billy (Robert Brian Wilson) gets a job as a stock boy in a local toy store. Things go smoothly until Christmas when memories of his parent’s murder and the Mother Superior’s abuse still haunt him. To make matters worse, the store owner, Mr. Sims (Britt Leach), has Billy fill in as the store Santa. This act leads to him finally snapping and going on a rampage, killing anyone he deems naughty. Will Sister Margaret be able to stop Billy, or will it be too late to stop his murderous wrath?
Review
It would be a vast understatement to say that Silent Night, Deadly Night upset some people upon its 1984 release. Groups protested in front of the theaters, and child advocacy groups worked to get the film pulled after two weeks. To top it off, critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert denounced the movie and tried shaming the filmmakers involved. It’s hard to say if a film like this would generate the same controversy 40 years later, but who knows? Regardless, TriStar is at fault for creating such a sensationalist marketing campaign that, while effective, ultimately was their undoing. I agree with Lilyan Chauvin, who said in a documentary that the distributor should’ve focused on the psychological aspects. Much like Happy Birthday to Me, while the ad campaign has become iconic, it doesn’t represent the film truthfully. Otherwise, parents should have talked with their kids instead of demanding the film’s expulsion.
Controversy aside, this is one of the better slashers to come out of the slasher boom of the early 1980s. There’s much more depth and layers for a movie about a guy dressed as Santa killing people than expected. Like Christmas Evil, this works as a slasher and a character study of an otherwise typical person’s descent into madness. While most slashers briefly explain the killer’s motive, this one spends the first half developing the killer. While you disagree with him killing people, you understand why Billy does what he does and feel sorry for him. Adding to this is Robert Brian Wilson’s performance, where he perfectly goes from friendly and charming to sinister and chilling. Every performance is strong, particularly Lilyan Chauvin as the ruthless Mother Superior and Gilmer McCormick as the sympathetic Sister Margaret. Another highlight is Will Hare, who spectacularly milks his one scene.
Like any good slasher, the kills are well done and brutal, utilizing Christmas iconography in twisted ways. Whether it’s hanging someone with Christmas lights or impaling a girl on deer antlers, the kill scenes are memorable. But for all that works, the film has its share of flaws, namely some flat direction and slow pacing. Several scenes involving people either driving, walking around, or staring go on way longer than needed. One particular scene involving a cop exploring an underground boiler room goes on for way too long. Also, you can tell that Sellier didn’t think too highly of the film since the direction is mostly flat. Even so, taking the controversy out of it, this is one of the best slasher films the ’80s offers. Overall, Silent Night, Deadly Night is a smartly written, well-acted horror film that deserves more credit than it gets.
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