You Better Watch Out (1980)

Director:

Lewis Jackson

Writer:

Lewis Jackson

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

You'd better take care...Santa is coming to town!

Plot:

A psycho in a Santa suit gets to decide who's been naughty and who's been nice.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Toy | Children | Killing | Christmas Horror

Cast

Brandon Maggart	...	Harry Stadling
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Philip Stadling
Dianne Hull	...	Jackie Stadling
Andy Fenwick	...	Dennis Stadling
Brian Neville	...	Marc Stadling
Joe Jamrog	...	Frank Stoller
Wally Moran	...	Philip Stadling Jr.
Gus Salud	...	Harry Stadling Jr.
Ellen McElduff	...	Harry's mother
Brian Hartigan	...	Harry's father
Peter Neuman	...	Moss Garcia
Lance Holcomb	...	Scotty Goodrich
Elizabeth Ridge	...	Susie Lovett
Chris Browning	...	Richie Sharp
Tyrone Holmes	...	Frankie
Patricia Richardson	...	Moss' mother
Scott McKay	...	Mr. Fletcher
Peter Friedman	...	Mr. Grosch
Owen Hollander	...	Ben
Horace Bailey	...	Jake
John Brockman	...	Dr. Probst
Burt Kleiner	...	Sol Wiseman
David Hughes	...	Worker
Lloyd David Hart	...	Tipsy worker
Francine Dumont	...	Mrs. Fletcher
Pamela Enz	...	Mrs. Gosch
William Robertson	...	Guard
Sheila Anderson	...	Nurse
Robert Ari	...	Doctor
Philip Casnoff	...	Ricardo Bouma
Michael Klingher	...	Peter (as Michael Klinger)
Mark Chamberlin	...	Charles
Colleen Zenk	...	Binky
Lisa Sloan	...	Khaki
James Desmond	...	Man #1 (as Jim Desmond)
Mark Margolis	...	Man #2
Jennifer Novtney	...	Little girl
Audrey Matson	...	Woman
Danny Federici	...	Accordion player
Arthur Bressler	...	Saxophone player
John Scarangella	...	Drummer (as Jack Scarangella)
Raymond J. Barry	...	Det. Gleason (as Ray Barry)
Sam Gray	...	Insp. Grello
Robert Lesser	...	Gottleib (as Bobby Lesser)
Will McMillan	...	Young Man
Bill Raymond	...	Priest
Joan Jonas	...	Older woman
Nancy Clark	...	Female witness
T. Wellington Perkins	...	Black Santa
Jim Gagan	...	Santa #1 (as Jim Gagen)
Leib Lensky	...	Santa #2
James Gallagher	...	Santa #3
Hy Mencher	...	Older woman
Michael Gordon	...	Policeman
Stephen Mendillo	...	Tom
Rutanya Alda	...	Theresa (as Ratanya Alda)
Kerry Broderick	...	Angeline
John Towey	...	Joe
Annette Kurek	...	Mary
Matthew Levine	...	Matthew
Marian Vitale	...	Mrs. Stoller
Carrie Steele	...	Daughter
Sam Samilari	...	Son (as Robert Samilari)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Annie Gagen	...	Dancer at Party (uncredited)
Don Stitt	...	Dancer at Party (uncredited)

Directed by
Lewis Jackson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lewis Jackson

Produced by
Pete Kameron	....	producer
Burt Kleiner	....	producer
Michael A. Levine	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Ricardo Aronovich

Film Editing by
Linda Leeds
Corky O'Hara

Production Design by
Lorenzo Mans

Costume Design by
Deirdre N. Williams

Production Management
Graham Place	....	production manager

Sound Department
Sally Menke	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Tom Brumberger	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
David M. Dunlap	....	first assistant camera
Richard Garber	....	electrician
Ralph Perri	....	key grip
James Wilberger	....	electrician
James Wilberger	....	swing grip

Editorial Department
David Block	....	colorist (uncredited)

Other crew
Mary A. Kelly	....	craft service
James Y. Kwei	....	production assistant
Edward R. Pressman	....	presenter
Barry Shapiro	....	production assistant
Harry Streep	....	choreographer (as Harry Streep III)

Production Companies

• Edward R. Pressman Film (as Edward R. Pressman Productions)

Distributors

• Pan American Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical) (retitled re-release)
• Saturn Productions (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Troma Team Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• EastWest Entertainment (2004) (worldwide) (DVD) (as "Christmas Evil")
• Synapse Films (2006) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Finnkino (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Academy Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Cinemavault (????) (worldwide) (all media)
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Genesis Home Video (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• Iver Film Services (IFS) (198?) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Screen Time Images  DVD menus and authoring
• Screen Time Images  film restoration

Also Known As:

"Christmas Evil" - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

100 min | USA:95 min (re-release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (self applied) (2008) | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Edgewater, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Edward R. Pressman Film

Trivia:

When Harry slips on the street running from the mob, he really did slip, and Lewis Jackson left it in the film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Harry's brother falls down the hill, it's obviously a fake sheet of snow as it all lifts off the ground.

Quotes:

[last line after Harry gets away from the vigilante mob]
Harry "Santa":But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010) (V)

Not bad

Clearly an indie classic. It's not going to be for everyone, especially those under 30, as this is a film of its time, the mid-70s, and presumably was a drive-in staple. (What's a drive-in, you say?) Not a horor film per se, but a pyschological study of a loser coming apart at the seams. He imagines he is transforming into Red Dragon -- oops, I mean Santa Claus. Only this Santa likes to kill people. You may recognize a number of folks in this, although you may be hard-pressed to come up with their names (Jeffrey DeMunn of THE GREEN MILE is probably the most familiar face). Lead actor Brendan Maggart is far better than the material, but it it never gets boring thanks to Maggart's deft performance.Wait until you see him dancing and prancing in full Santa regalia at a house party and later getting stuck in a chimney. And watch out for a truly surprise ending!