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Black Christmas (1974)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
20 December 1974 (USA) moreTagline:
If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl... It's On Too Tight! morePlot:
A sorority house is terrorized by a stranger who makes frightening phone calls and then murders the sorority sisters during Christmas break. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
2 wins & 2 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(23 articles)
Supernatural’s Katie Cassidy Joins Elm Street Cast (From HorrorYearbook. 1 May 2009, 6:45 AM, PDT)
"Weird Al" Yankovic joins the cast of "Halloween 2"
(From JustPressPlay. 26 March 2009, 12:38 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Amazing moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Olivia Hussey | ... | Jess Bradford | |
| Keir Dullea | ... | Peter Smythe | |
| Margot Kidder | ... | Barbara 'Barb' Coard | |
| John Saxon | ... | Lieutenant Kenneth Fuller | |
| Marian Waldman | ... | Mrs. 'Mac' MacHenry | |
| Andrea Martin | ... | Phyllis 'Phyl' Carlson | |
| James Edmond | ... | Mr. Harrison | |
| Doug McGrath | ... | Sargeant Nash (as Douglas McGrath) | |
| Art Hindle | ... | Chris Hayden | |
| Lynne Griffin | ... | Clare Harrison | |
| Michael Rapport | ... | Patrick Cornell | |
| Leslie Carlson | ... | Bill Graham (as Les Carlson) | |
| Martha Gibson | ... | Mrs. Quaife | |
| John Rutter | ... | Laughing Detective | |
| Robert Warner | ... | Doctor |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Noël tragique (Canada: French title)Silent Night, Evil Night (USA) (wide-release title)
Stop Me (Canada: English title) (working title)
Stranger in the House (USA) (TV title)
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Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
98 minCountry:
CanadaLanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Netherlands:12 | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Argentina:18 (re-rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-18 (DVD) (self applied) (2004) (2007) | USA:TV-MA | Argentina:X (original rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Canada:14A (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2008) | Australia:R | Norway:16 (1976) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:A (Ontario)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
During an interview with director Bob Clark, Clark said Olivia Hussey's decision to take the role of Jess was based upon advice given to her by a psychic. According to Clark, Hussey said her psychic believed that the film would be successful and a wise career choice for her. She took the role. moreGoofs:
Boom mic visible: About seven minutes into the film, when "the moaner" calls, you can very clearly see the boom mic at the top of the frame as everyone gathers around the phone to listen. moreQuotes:
Sergeant Nash: Excuse me? Could you give me the number at the sorority house? Please?Barb Coard: Yeah, sure. It's, ah... Fellatio 20880. Fellatio. It's a new exchange, FE.
Sergeant Nash: That's a new one on me. How do you spell it?
Barb Coard: Capital F, E, little L, LA, TIO.
Sergeant Nash: Thanks.
Barb Coard: Don't mention it.
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Soundtrack:
Silent Night moreFAQ
What is the body count?I just watched the movie and I'm confused about the ending. Who was the murderer??
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It's not often that you find a film in the thriller/horror genre that has something "new" to say, so it's even more exciting to find that one of the original films in the "slasher" genre is actually still one of the freshest, most unique and utterly entertaining of them all. This is the kind of movie you can't wait to tell your friends about, knowing full well they've probably never seen it, but they've heard of it.
Everything about this film is stellar. The acting, to steal the words of a great reviewer who loves this movie, is flawless. The direction is confident and assured. What is Bob Clark's story? How did he go from making quirky, ground-breaking horror to...well..."Baby Geniuses 2?" His black-humored wit is on display in all his movies, and here too. Margot Kidder and Marian Waldman shine as foul-mouthed alcohol abusers. Particularly Kidder--it's hard to believe she did this at the BEGINNING of her career, she's that assured...and fun to watch. Olivia Hussey is alluring as the lead, Jessica, and her beauty, as well as her speaking voice are a welcome presence.
The plot might seem clichéd now, until you understand that it was all the movies that came AFTER that were the clichés--even "He Knows Your Alone," which seemed so vital at the time, can't compare. "Black Christmas" is a FILM, and goes beyond the conventions of a cheap slasher. The key is the ending--only a director with an artistic sensibility would have fought for it (no spoilers here). Suffice to say, in all the slashers I've watched I've never seen the equal. It's a tricky business to sum up a mystery in a plot, and few can maintain the element of surprise, intelligence or creativity required. You will NOT see the ending coming here, and though the end is a surprise, it works well.
If you're like I was and hesitating to watch this because you think it'll just be "another fear film," don't waste anymore time! You will NOT be sorry you spent your Christmas "black..."