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CHRISTMAS EVIL/SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT Starring Brandon Maggart, John Carradine and Robert O'Neal
Holiday-themed horror films have existed for decades (such as Silent Night Deadly Night, My Bloody Valentine, and Halloween). However, the Christmas-themed horror film has become a holiday favorite for horror movie fans, as more an more Christmas horror films have been released. Catcom Home Video, the DVD distributor responsible for dozens of budget double-feature discs, has released Christmas Evil and Silent Night, Bloody Night in a nice little package for those who want to sit by the fire and enjoy a couple of tales of Christmas violence..... Christmas Evil Harry Stadling is a strange man. He is obsessed with Christmas. His entire apartment is littered with Christmas memorabilia, decorations, toys and other objects that a normal person would only see in December. Ever since he was nine, he has dedicated his life to the very holiday because he saw his mother kissing his father, who was dressed as Santa Claus.
When he isn't spending his time working at the local toy factory, being mocked by his Scrooge-like coworkers, he is keeping a list of who is "naughty" and who is "nice." His coworkers and superiors who make fun of him and forgot what the holiday "is all about" all end up in his "naughty" book. After much planning and preparation, Harry sets out into the night on Christmas Eve dressed like Santa Claus, carrying a sack of gifts......and armed with an axe, knives and just about anything else that can be used as a weapon..... Christmas Evil is a very unique Christmas-themed horror film in that there is very little running time dedicated to violence. Most of the consists of seasonal festivities, music and the main character having psychotic episodes in his apartment. If the violence were removed, the film would be a mildly aggravating story about a person who is pushed too far around the time of his favorite holiday.
Silent Night, Bloody Night The old Butler house has a reputation of being cursed ever since the owner and patriarch of the family, Wilfred Butler, mysteriously burned to death. Decades later, Jeffrey Butler, the Wilfred's son, plans to sell the house. On Christmas Eve, Butler's lawyer is murdered when staying in the house. When the Mayor and other town employees (who seem to have a skeleton in the closet and a mysterious past involving Wilfred Butler) cannot make contact with the lawyer, they make their way, one by one, to the Butler house, and meet grisly deaths. When the Mayor's daughter and Jeffrey Butler arrive at the Butler house, they stumble upon the truth behind the house and the murders with terrifying consequences.....
Silent Night, Bloody Night is much like other "body count" films of the time (like Bay of Blood, Savage Weekend and even Black Christmas) but contains a great deal of backstory and suspense. Point of view shots and quick editing make this film an interesting cinematic experience. However, many may find the storyline of Silent Night, Bloody Night sluggish. Repeated viewings may lead to a better understanding of the story, and maybe, an "acquired taste." Catcom Home Video presents both films 1.33:1, and the image is fair at best. The source materials used for the mastering of these public domain titles are most likely old video releases. The film quality is that of battered, washed out film prints and the video quality is, as one would expect, as good as video quality can be.
The sound quality is as good as the video sources used. The disc contains Dolby Digital mono tracks that are not in any way special, but audible. The extras included on the disc are of the usual Catcom nature. Two short cartoons (Popeye and Casper), relevant classic television commercials (Rockem Sockem Robots; a John Wayne PSA for buying Christmas Seals to fight Tuberculosis; a Lionel Train commercial; Pressman Shrunken Head Kits) and even an intermission advertisement are included. Run after each film and sandwiched between "moviehouse" style announcements, Catcom tries to duplicate the old-style movie theatre experience. Many DVD studios attempt the same gimmick with a "drive-in" theme.
Although not the highest quality release, the Christmas Evil/Silent Night, Bloody Night double feature DVD can give the warm, fuzzy feeling that a pair of violent holiday movies provide. Hang up the stocking and watch out if you are naughty..... |
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