BLACK
CHRISTMAS (1974)Director: Bob Clark
Critical Mass (Canada)
BLACK
CHRISTMAS (1974)This Canadian DVD release is certainly a pleasant surprise considering the title is owned in the U.S. by Warner Bros., a company that would never issue it on disc in my lifetime (or probably longer).
I was lucky enough to have originally seen this on the big screen when it was re-issued as a second feature to HALLOWEEN. Years later, I'm still very fond of both films but partial to BLACK CHRISTMAS because unlike Michael Meyers, the antagonist of BC is not an unkillable boogeyman, just a homicidal lunatic, which gives the film a little more believability.
Without going into minute details of the plot, I'll give a brief synopsis, but my lack of writing talent cannot do the film and its level of suspense justice.
An unseen (POV only) person breaks into a sorority house and makes himself at home in the attic, occasionally coming downstairs to knock off anyone unfortunate to be in the house at the time. He also has a habit of making calls from the upstairs phone to the college girls downstairs, speaking, screaming and rambling (not necessarily in that order) in what sounds to be several voices at once. If I were home alone and got a call from this guy my hair would stand on end to say the least! Never fear though because B movie great John Saxon (as the local lawman) is on the job!
Towards the end of the film when cutie pie Olivia Hussey realizes that the killer is in the house, instead of getting out A.S.A.P., she very thoughtfully goes upstairs to awaken sorority sis Margot Kidder. As Olivia peeks into the bedroom and finds Margot to be dead in bed, she hears a whisper and turns to see the killer peering at her from behind the door of the room. My words are inadequate but believe me, this is ONE SCARY SCENE, one of many in fact!
Director Bob Clark really created a masterpiece of celluloid suspense and it is THIS movie, not HALLOWEEN which it preceded, that was the blueprint for all the "killer on the loose" films that would follow in the years to come. I have one complaint and that is that all the humor in the film is crude and rather sophomoric, but then I'm watching it for thrills, not laughs. And it is thrilling!
As for the DVD itself, all I can say is... FANTASTIC! The picture is perfect, although some dopes have complained that it should've been letterboxed. The transfer is in the original aspect ratio, therefore letterboxing would only remove picture rather than add. The sound is also excellent.
Extras include a four and a half minute (British?) trailer, bios of the stars and a recent but brief on-camera interview with John Saxon, reflecting on his involvement with the film. I don't know anything about the company that is responsible for this disc, Critical Mass, but I wish them success and I hope they've got more titles in the works.
To sum it all up... buy this disc!! Order it from chapters.ca at $29.95 Canadian and you'll only pay about $18.00 U.S. (that is, if you live in the U. S., of course!) (Pat Tierney)