SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984) (Scream Factory Blu-ray Review)

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984) 

2-Disc Collector's Edition

Label: Scream Factory

Region Code: A

Rating: R/Unrated

Duration: 82 Minutes/85 Minutes 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA Stereo 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1) 

Director: Charles E. Sellier Jr.

Cast: Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Toni Nero, Robert Brian Wilson, Britt Leach, Nancy Borgenicht, H.E.D. Redford, Danny Wagner, Linnea Quigley

Synopsis: Silent Night, Deadly Night is the heartwarming story of little Billy Chapman who was traumatized by his parents' Christmas Eve murder, then brutalized by sadistic orphanage nuns. But when grown-up Billy is to dress as jolly St. Nick, he goes on a yuletide rampage to "punish the naughty!" Santa Claus is coming to town ... and this time he's got an axe! Robert Brian Wilson and Scream Queen Linnea Quigley star in this jaw-dropping horror classic that a nation of angry mothers still cannot stop!

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) open in the year 1971 as young Billy (Jonathan Best) and his family are driving to see grandpa at the asylum on Christmas Eve, the old man is in a catatonic state and hasn't spoken in years. However, when Billy is left alone in the room with gramps the creepy bearded-elder awakens to warn the boy that Christmas Eve is the scariest night of the year, that old Saint Nick not only gives gifts to children who've been good, but he severely punishes the naughty ones. Billy is creeped by the odd event and later that night on the drive home the family encounters a man dressed in a Santa suit on the side of the road next to a disable vehicle, Billy's dad stops to assist the man, not realizing that  this Santa just robbed a store and shot the clerk three times. As his father rolls down the window to offer assistance he is shot dead, then Santa sets his sights in Billy's mother,  dragging her screaming from the car, ripping open her blouse exposing her breasts and attempting to rape her. While this is happening Billy's infant brother Ricky is left in the car screaming while Billy runs off into the nearby bushes to hide, witnessing the costumed criminal slash his mother's throat, scarring young Billy for years to come.

Three years later eight year old Billy (Danny Wagner) and his brother are living at St. Mary's Orphanage for children where the traumatized Billy draws bloody crayon pictures of Santa and a decapitated reindeer to the ire of the stern Mother Superior (Lilyan Chauvin, Predator 2) who scolds Billy mercilessly while Sister Maragaret (Gilmer McCormick) is a more caring and sympathetic force in his life. Mother Superior's brutal lessons in right and wrong continue to inform Billy's twisted perception of how the naughty must be punished. Billy is further traumatized on Christmas when Mother Superior cruelly forces him to sit on Santa's lap, whom Billy immediately punches in the face! The film really does a good job explaining the psychological traumas that inform what happens a bit later, but it's slow going after the initial Santa attack at the start of the film, particularly when you take into account that the film in only 82 minutes long. 

Flash forward 10 years later and the now strapping 18-year-old Billy Commando Squad) whom he fantasizes about having sex with before being stabbed, which is a terrible sex dream by the way, but he's been conditioned to punish the naughty, so it makes sense. Things begin to fall apart when Billy becomes unhinged after being asked to dress up as Santa on Christmas Eve, yeah that's gonna be trouble.
(Robert Brian Wilson), with the help of sweet Sister Margaret, secures a job at Ira's Toy Store. Things go relatively well for the young man, we even get an goofy montage set to a corny tune of Billy working around the store. He develops a crush on cute co-worker Pamela (Toni Nero,

When the store closes that night Billy get drunk at the office party, later he walks in on a co-worker attempting to rape Pamela which spurs a flashback to the traumatic childhood murder of his mom and he snaps, killing the co-worker by strangling him with a string of xmas lights, declaring him "naughty", and also stabbing Pamela with a box cutter. Now it's Christmas Eve and the death of his mother and father, the years of abuse at the hands of Mother Superior and his twisted sense of naughty/punishment all come to the forefront, there's psycho Santa on the loose and no one is safe. Billy continues his spree of punishing the naughty until he finds his way back to the orphanage to punish Mother Superior, the film ends with Billy's younger brother Ricky looking upon the dead brother and uttering the word "Naughty" thereby setting up the insane sequel.

Silent Night, Deadly Night is a fun, sleazy slasher with some decent kills, perhaps the most elaborate features 80's scream queen Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead) being impaled on the antlers of a deer which was just a very cool kill. There's also a memorable decapitation of a bully while he;s snow sledding down a wooded hill, his headless body continuing down the hill on the sled and his severed head rolling down after a few moments later, fun stuff. 

The acting here is not of the highest caliber and it's not exactly the best looking film you will ever see, there's plenty of out of focus shots, but as low-budget early 80's slashers go this is fun stuff, just keep in mind there's some real pacing issues when nothing much is happening, or is just happening for far too long. Despite the notorious controversy the film is petty tame by 80's slasher standards, but apparently the idea of Santa with an ax killing the naughty was pretty offensive in '84. The notions of little kids watching the trailer for this one on TV which is just hilarious to me, even though the idea of a killer Santa was not new at the time, it having been done 12 years prior with the "All Through the House" segment of the Amicus horror anthology Tales from the Crypt (1972). 

Audio/Video: Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) had been released previously on Blu-ray from Anchor Bay a few years back, it was a unimpressive transfer that was not even an upgrade from their previous DVD release, but now Scream Factory remedy that with a 2-disc Blu-ray. The Santa-slasher arrives with a 4K scan from the original camera negative, framed in the original 1.85:1 widescreen, of both the theatrical cut and unrated version. The image looks great, there's more detail and nuance to the image, film grain is consistent, colors are stronger and skin tones look more natural.  The unrated version is sourced from the same 4K restoration with standard definition inserts from a separate source, possibly VHS, and the drop in quality is significant but acceptable as these elements just do not exist in a better quality version. Audio on both versions comes by way of an English DTS-HD MA Stereo 2.0 track, it does the job, dialogue is crisp and well-balanced with the atonal xmas-tinged horror score from Perry Botkin Jr. (Goin' South), optional English subtitles are provided.   

Onto the extras, Scream Factory have stuffed this blood soaked xmas stocking to the very top with cool-new extras, spread out over the 2-discs, though the bulk of the extras show-up on disc two with the unrated cut. Disc one contains the 82-min theatrical version along with the theatrical trailer, VHS trailer, and TV and radio spots. 
Disc two contain the 85-min unrated version, with two audio commentaries, the first with actor Robert Brian Wilson And Co-Executive Producer Scott J. Schneid, and a second with Screenwriter Michael Hickey, Composer Perry Boykin, Scott J. Schneid, and Editor Michael Spence. We also get a selection of new interviews and featurettes, beginning with the 46-min long Slay Bells Ring: The Story Of Silent Night, Deadly Night which features interviews with Writer Michael Hickey, Co-Executive Producers Scott J. Schneid And Dennis Whitehead, Editor/Second Unit Director Michael Spence, Composer Perry Botkin, And Actor Robert Brian Wilson. This takes us through the journey of the genesis of the script, selling the film to Tri-Star, shooting and editing the film, and the moral outrage generated by the naughty slasher which sent parent's groups through the roof with yuletide horror, this is the doc I think we've all been waiting for. There's also an interview with scream queen Linnea Quigley who discusses her role in the film, what it was like working with the director, and the locations in Utah, and discussing nudity in the film, and being upset when another actress who refused to do nudity got a diamond necklace from the director while she didn't get squat.  

There's also a 10-min now and then look at various locations used in the film, an nearly hour-long interview with Director Charles E. Sellier, Jr. from Deadpit Radio, which is a longer extended version, running about 23-minutes longer than the Anchor Bay release. They also carry-over the quotes/letters from people condemning the film during it's initial release, which is a fun read. The disc is finished-u with an image gallery with posters, home video release art and still from the film.

Scream Factory have now given us definitive editions of two Christmas horror classics, Bob Clark's seminal Black Christmas (1974) and now we have Silent Night, Deadly Night! I would love to see the sequel Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 (1987)on tap for 2018, hoping for a sweet Garbage Day Collector's Edition of that one, make it happen Scream Factory! 

This 2-disc Blu-ray release comes housed in a standard Blu-ray keepcase with a sleeve of reversible artwork, side-a featuring a new murderous yuletide illustration from artist Joel Robinson, the b-side featuring the classic one-sheet featuring Santa climbing down the chimney with an ax in hand. This release comes with a limited edition slipcover also featuring the new illustration, the artwork on the Blu-ray discs mirror the reversible artwork, it's a very attractive package. 

Special Features:

DISC ONE: Theatrical Version (82 Minutes)

-NEW 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative

- R-Rated Theatrical Trailer (2 min) 
- VHS Trailer (1 min) 

- TV Spots (1 min) 

- Radio Spot (1 min) 

DISC TWO: Extended Unrated Version (85 Minutes)

- NEW 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative With Standard Definition Inserts

- NEW Slay Bells Ring: The Story Of Silent Night, Deadly Night – (46 min) HD Featuring Interviews With Writer Michael Hickey, Co-Executive Producers Scott J. Schneid And Dennis Whitehead, Editor/Second Unit Director Michael Spence, Composer Perry Botkin, And Actor Robert Brian Wilson

- NEW Oh Deer! – An Interview With Linnea Quigley (21 min) 

- NEW Christmas In July – Silent Night, Deadly Night Locations – Then And Now (10 min) 

- NEW Audio Commentary With Actor Robert Brian Wilson And Co-Executive Producer Scott J. Schneid

- Audio Commentary With Michael Hickey, Perry Boykin, Scott J. Schneid, and Michael Spence

- Audio Interview With Director Charles E. Sellier, Jr. From Deadpit Radio (Extended Version)(58 min) HD

- Santa’s Stocking Of Outrage (5 min) HD 

- Poster And Still Gallery (1 min) 

My love of this santa-slasher grows with each watch, a well-made  yuletide psycho-thriller that offers up some naughty Christmas murder for lover's of bloody Santa mayhem. Thankfully it can now it can be enjoyed in a 2-disc collector's edition with a proper 4K restoration and loads of value-added extras, this is the perfect stocking stuffer for the horror fan on your Christmas list, highly recommend.
    

DVD REVIEW: SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PT. 1&2

SILENT NIGHT,  DEADLY NIGHT (1984)
SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART 2 (1987) 

CHRISTMAS SURVIVAL DOUBLE FEATURE 

Label: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Region: 1 NTSC

Rating: Unrated l R

Duration: 85 Mins l 88 Mins

Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Widescreen (1.85:1)

Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono 

Director: Charles Sellier, Jr. l Lee Harry

Cast: Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormich, Toni Nero, Robert Brian Wilson l Eric Freeman, James L. Newman, Elizabeth Cayton, Jean Miller

In 1984 when I was 11 years old I remember Siskel & Ebert shaming the filmmakers behind this sleazy killer Santa nugget on TV and thinking to myself that I just gotta see this piece of Christmas trash, yet somehow 24 years later this film had remained in my yet to be seen file until just now. The fact that the films have gone twice out of print and were fetching major dollars on eBay probably had something to do with not catching up with it so I am quite thankful that Anchor Bay whom have re-issued this double feature to coincide with the remake starring Malcolm McDowell (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE) and directed by Steven C. Miller (AUTOMATON TRANSFUSION). 

The year is 1971 and young Billy (Jonathan Best) and his family are driving to see grandpa at an asylum on Christmas Eve. Gramps is in a catatonic state, that is until his family steps out of the room and Billy is left alone with him, then the creepy elder awakens to warn the boy that Christmas Eve is the scariest night of the year, that old Saint Nick not only gives gifts to children who've been good but severely punishes the naughty ones, too. Of course Billy is super-creeped out by the odd event and no one believes that Grandpa talked. Later that night on the way home the family encounter a man in a Santa suit on the side of the road next to his broken down car, what they don't realize is that this Santa just robbed a store and shot the clerk three times. Dad rolls down the window to offer assistance and is  shot dead, mom is dragged from the car and Santa attempts to rape her, ripping open her blouse exposing her breasts - which we will see many times throughout not just this film but it's sequel as well. All the while Billy's infant brother Ricky is left in the car screaming and Billy has run off to the bushes and  witnesses the costumed criminal slashes his mother's throat, scarring young Billy for years to come. .

Now three years later eight year old Billy (Danny Wagner) and his brother are living  at St. Mary's Orphanage where the traumatized Billy draws macabre pictures of a bloody Santa and a decapitated reindeer in class to the ire of the stern Mother Superior (Lilyan Chauvin, PREDATOR 2) who scolds Billy mercilessly while Sister Maragaret is a more caring and sympathetic force in his life. Mother Superior's brutal lessons in right and wrong inform Billy's twisted perception of how the naughty must be punished and that punishment is good. Billy is further traumatized on Christmas at the orphanage when Mother Superior cruelly forces him to sit on Santa's lap whom Billy immediately punches in the face, the film really does set about to build some character development for young Billy to help explain what transpires a bit later, but it's slow going after the initial Santa attack at the start of the film, particularly when you take into account that the film in only 82 minutes long. 

Flash forward 10 years and the now strapping 18-year-old Billy (Robert Brian Wilson) with the help of Sister Margaret secures a job at a Ira's Toy Storre. Things go relatively well for the young man, we even get an goofy montage set to a corny tune of Billy working around the store. He develops a crush on co-worker Pamela  (Toni Nero) and fantasizes about fucking her and then being knifed, that's a pretty terrible sex dream by the way. Things become unhinged when he's asked to step in for the store Santa on Christmas Eve, yeah that's gonna be trouble, he tells a young girl how Santa punishes the naughty, uh-oh. 

When the store closes that night Billy get snockered at the office party, later he  walks in on a co-worker attempting to rape Pamela which spurs a flashback to the traumatic events of 1974 and he snaps killing the co-worker by strangling him with xmas lights declaring him "Naughty" and also stabbing Pamela with a box cutter. Now it's Christmas Eve and the death of his mother and father, the years of abuse at the hands of Mother Superior and his twisted sense of punishment all come to the forefront and now there's a psycho Santa on the loose and no one is safe. Billy continues his spree of punishing the naughty until he finds his way back to the orphanage to punish Mother Superior. The film's ends with Billy's younger brother Ricky looking upon the dead brother and uttering the "Naughty" thereby setting up the sequel. 

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT is a fun, sleazy slasher with some decent kills, perhaps the most elaborate features 80's scream queen Linnea Quigley (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD) being impaled through the abdomen on deer antlers which was just a very cool kill. There's also a memorable decapitating of a bully  on a sled, his headless body continuing down the hill on the sled and his severed head rolling down after a few moments later, fun stuff. 

The acting here is pretty terrible through and through and the film's cinematography and editing are workmanlike, it's not exactly the best looking film you will ever see but as early 80's slashers go this is fun stuff, just keep in mind there's some real pacing issues and large swaths of screen time where nothing much of note is happening or is just happening for far too long. Despite the notorious controversy the film is petty tame by even 80's slasher standards of the day but apparently the idea of Santa with an ax killing the naughty was pretty offensive in '84, surely there were more than a few upset kids watching these trailers on TV which I think is just hilarious. The idea of a killer Santa was not exactly new at the time, it was done 12 years prior with the "All Through the House" Segment of the horror Amicus horror anthology film TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972) starring Joan Collins. 

Special Features: 

- Audio Interview with Director Charles E. Sellier, Jr. (25:39)
- Poster and Still Gallery

- Santa’s Stocking of Outrage (Screen Text) 

Not surprisingly the sequel picks up some years after the original film as Billy's younger brother Ricky (Eric Freeman) is committed to an asylum while awaiting trial for several murders. Apparently the traumatic experiences at the orphanage and his super-human recollection of his parents death as an infant fucked him up, too. Psychiatrist Dr. Henry Bloom (James L. Newman) is interviewing Ricky and through this device we get numerous flashbacks to nearly every scene from the first film as he explains the traumatic events of '74, the orphanage and Billy's psycho-Santa killing spree. Heads up, seriously more  than half of this film is just a re-edit of the first film and oddly enough I think it works better than the original film by excising the filler stuff that slowed it down. 

After all the flashbacks we get to Ricky's own story and his life after Billy's death, his adoption by a sweet couple. We get a super 8mm montage of Ricky's happy new life and all seems great. However, his traumatic childhood has left him with a few psychological scars and a phobia of nuns. The death of his foster father for some reason spurs his own killing spree punishing those who've been naughty, including a young couple fornicating a wooded clearing which induces a flashback to his mother's assault - which is really odd as he was an infant and there's just no way he could remember it. Regardless, he flips his wig and repeatedly runs over the man with his own Jeep until he is nothing but a grease stain in the grass. Another memorable kill comes when Ricky happens upon a loan shark strong arming someone in the alleyway, he steps in and runs the umbrella right through his abdomen which opens comically, this film is definitely more comical than the first and I am not entirely convinced this is done purposefully either, there's some serious filmic ineptness on display here, but it makes for some entertaining viewing, that's for sure. 

Eric Freeman as Ricky is just awful in the best possible way, a jocular meat-head with a stilted line delivery, intensely arched eyebrows and a hilarious maniacal laugh that had me rolling on the floor, his laughter was just the gift that just kept giving throughout the film. 

Ricky falls in love with a woman named Jennifer (Elizabeth Cayton) whom he takes out the theater and guess what they're watching? SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, of course! Things are going swell but a chance encounter with her ex sends him off the deep end.  We get a scene I saw once but for the life of me could not place and as it turns out it's from this psycho-Santa 80's gem, the scene is question features Ricky electrocuting Jenny's ex via battery jumper cables attached to the ex's sunglasses electrocuting him and causing his eyes to burst, let me just say it's not quite a gooey as my 13 year old self remembered but it's still quite a sight. A cop arrives on scene and attempts to apprehend the lunatic but he turns the gun on the officer shooting him through the head, from here he begins a hilarious suburban rampage shooting a neighbor who's putting his trash can  on the corner while comically yelling "It's Garbage Day!", definitely the best line in the film. He continues his killing spree shooting a car which overturns and explodes in a fireball until he is apprehended by police.

Keep in mind this is all being shown through flashback and we now come back to present day and Dr. Bloom lies dead, strangled by his own reel to reel tape, and Ricky is on the loose and his first order of business is to swipe a Santa suit from a Salvation Army Santa and to visit Mother Superior to punish her for what she did to Billy, not quite the end but check this one out for yourself, it's awful and amazing. 

Special Features:  

- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Lee Harry, Writer Joseph H. Earle and Actor James Newman
- Trailer (1:57) 16:9
- Poster and Still Gallery
- Screenplay (DVD-ROM) 

Verdict: So awful, so good, so much fun these two psycho-Santa slashers are a scream to watch and while they're definitely lower tier slasher fare I still say this set is a must-buy, a true cult classic of the highest order, a schlock-mas masterpiece. I am of the opinion that you could watch the sequel and skip the first film, trust me you're not missing anything, but since it's a double feature watch 'em both. Get it now before this set goes out of print for a third time and once again is fetching exorbitant prices on eBay. Next up for review is Steven C. Miller's loose remake of this Christmas classic! 3.5 Outta 5