Ready For A Classic Shocker?
This is one of my favorite scary movies of all time, and since it is “Shocktober 2024” – and more importantly just a week to go before Halloween night, let’s dive into a classic slice of 70’s cinema – from a Director best known for another classic “Christmas” film!
First, let’s look at a film with a terrific movie poster tagline, upper left:
“IF THIS PICTURE DOESN’T MAKE YOUR SKIN CRAWL – IT’S ON TOO TIGHT!”
I mean, what a tagline! And one of the great images on a poster as well:
A classic 70’s horror film that has been rediscovered thanks to home video, “Black Christmas” is a tight, vicious thriller that is one of my top five horror films of all time!
Let’s look at the original trailer, which is not only lengthy at four minutes, but scary as hell as well:
The plot is straightforward: it’s time for Christmas break, and a group of sorority sisters make plans for the holiday – but for a few, they will remain at the sorority house, when the horrifying anonymous phone calls begin. Olivia Hussey stars in the film…
Hussey starred in “Romeo & Juliet”, but this is no love story…one of the reasons the film works so well is that her performance is so grounded in reality – she is very much like Jamie Lee Curtis in “Halloween” – a “real” person who makes the horror all the more real…
Margot Kidder also stars as one of Olivia’s sorority sisters, and she’s got a wicked sense of humor and an acid tongue…this was just prior to her breakout role as Lois Lane in “Superman”…
Kidder really elevates the film with her caustic wit…and the film is full of familiar faces…
Kier Dullea also stars in the movie – Dullea of course was in Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, “2001: A Space Odyssey…”
Great character Actor John Saxon also stars – and action movie fans will always remember him showcasing his kung fu moves in the Bruce Lee classic “Enter The Dragon.”
Since this was a low budget film, Keir Dullea worked only for a week, and never met Margot Kidder! He barely met John Saxon either, but the film is edited in such a way that he appears to be present throughout the film…
“Black Christmas” Fan Steve Martin!
Around 1986, Olivia Hussey met Steve Martin for a role in “Roxanne”, and Martin said “Oh my God Olivia, you were in one of my all time favorite films”. Hussey assumed it was her role in “Romeo and Juliet” – but she was surprised to find out it was “Black Christmas!” Martin claimed he had seen it over 20 times!
This is a tight, claustrophobic thriller with a terrific ending.
What’s amazing is that the Director, Bob Clark, also made one of the holiday’s greatest films – a beloved comedy!
That’s right, Clark also directed this classic – oh, and “Porky’s” as well! Read all about this under-appreciated Director here:
It’s been a horrific Shocktober so far – and so much still to go, like what I feel is one of the greatest Directors tackling one of the most intense Halloween movies:
Yes, these two want to welcome you to the Overlook Hotel, where Jack Nicholson and Stanley Kubrick hung out for a few months and created “The Shining”:
See the iconic trailer – an elevator full of blood – by clicking here:
Another classic horror film is from the great John Carpenter – yes, the Director of “Halloween” took it one step further in the 80’s with this horror classic:
See some amazing special effects by clicking here:
And if you haven’t heard of this film, you are missing out on a beautifully realized film about a woman who may or may not be crazy…
Here is a list of ten great scary movies I shared years ago like this to enjoy this weekend:
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Categories: 70's Cinema, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Grindhouse, Halloween, Horror films, Movies, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies
johnrieber 
Looking forward of your review on this horror for the John Saxon blogathon… great intro.
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I am going to do another re-watch and analyze it specifically for the role Saxon plays – and will compare and contrast it to his work in “Enter The Dragon” – fun to put a film through a very specific filter1
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Looking forward to your post.
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It seems like the 70s was definitely a golden age of horror/thriller movies, there are so many greats to choose from for a re-watch this spooky season!
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Yes indeed! “Carrie” and “The Exorcist” are two of my favorites, and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is also a classic! Thanks for the comment!
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I’ve only ever seen Olivia Hussey in ‘Lost Horizon’, and I think that’s how it’s going to stay, lol.
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It’s a very intense thriller but it’s also a classic!
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I saw this on release in a cinema at the time and really enjoyed it. I don’t recall seeing it again since, so might look out for a TV showing.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, it holds up very well and what a great cast! Hope you feel better soon!
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wowza! excellent tagline and poster! I may have to check it out, love all the up and coming stars in it ,and I’ll just have to bury my face through most of it). the shining is one of my fav scary films ever, and the twins, the worst –
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It is a terrific shocker but make sure to watch the 70’s version NOT the horrible remake! It’s scary but so well done with a GREAT cast!
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