Silent Night, Deadly Night
Director: Charles E. Sellier Jr Run Time: 79 min. Format: DCP Rating: R Release Year: 1984
Starring: Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Toni Nero
What could possibly be more frightening than having the ultimate child-friendly figure, Santa Claus, turn out to be a maniacal killer? Tales from the Crypt did it back in the early 1970s and the vivid image of a deranged Saint Nic has never left our collective conscience. Silent Night, Deadly Night brings Christmas horror home and down the chimney when an adult-age Billy puts on a Santa costume at his new job and starts hacking people to bits. He’s unable to escape his performing his cruel actions but, then again, witnessing your parents’ murder and then suffering abuse at the hands of a frustrated nun doesn’t bode well for normal adult behavior. Silent Night, Deadly Night is a certain kind of holiday classic – it slays.