Black Christmas (1974) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Syd Brown, Leslie Carlson, Marcia Diamond, Keir Dullea, James Edmond
Studio: Eclectic DVD Dist.
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $59.99
Rating:  275 reviews
Format: Collector's Edition, Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 0
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 98 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 778854137394
EAN: 0778854137394
Theatrical Release Date: December 20, 1974
Release Date: December 3, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
You may never have heard of this neglected 1974 gem, but you've probably seen one of its many imitators. Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder (also look for Andrea Martin of SCTV fame) star as two residents of a sorority house that is emptying out as Christmas approaches. The atmosphere is jolly and carefree, except for an ongoing series of menacing telephone calls, and, oh yes, we've just seen someone climb into the attic with apparent ill intent. Kidder does some scene-stealing as the bad girl, Hussey illustrates one of the downsides to having beautiful long '70s hair, and Keir Dullea does a nice turn as the creepy boyfriend. Director Robert Clark knows that the unseen is far scarier than what can be seen and he ratchets up the tension beautifully, making good use of ominous shadows, and putting in nice touches like replacing the sound of a distraught woman's scream with the piercing ring of yet another ominous phone call. This is a terrific, well-made little movie that is genuinely sleep-with-the-lights-on scary. Don't miss it. --Ali Davis
Description
This Collector's Edition features the 98 minute stark and stylish horror/thriller movie! Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder star among an ill-fated houseful of sorority sisters celebrating the holiday season. But the festivities turn fatal when obscene phone calls break the serenity and it becomes clear that a psychopath is stalking the house. Includes over 2 hours of additional extras. Dolby Digital, documentaries, special feature gallery, commentary, and a reversible cover with the original 1974 artwork!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 270 more reviews...
 A holiday classic with real suspense November 8, 2008
Robin Solsjoe Hoeglund (Skelleftea, Sweden)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Finally seeing it after all too long, I was glad to see that Black Christmas really holds up. The story of a regular group of sorority girls stalked and murdered by a madman is very much a chilling, suspenseful and engrossing tale. What really works best is how the killer, who is perhaps called Billy, is kept entirely a mystery. We don't know where he comes from, why he does what he does, and often see things from his perspective up in the dark attic. His rants, screams, whispers, glances and shadow is what makes for a really frightening film to this very day.
There are weaker parts to the film though. Margot Kidder is at the forefront of weak sex jokes, and there's also a lot of goofing off with police detectives trying to crack the case.
Overall, I can highly recommend Black Christmas. But this is a case where the original and remake is night and day, so make sure you see the original film. It will give you shivers just in time for a cozy Christmas night, when you're not sure who is coming to visit at night..
 Still Makes My Skin Crawl October 30, 2008
CMC (Santa Cruz, CA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I saw this film within the first week that it was released back in 1974 in Toronto. At the time I was about 24, and saw it with a couple of friends. I knew the campus of U of T where it was filmed, so it made the whole thing more realistic. I can't remember EVER being so scared by a film since. Two of my daughters saw it and refuse to ever watch it again. They were horrified. Anyway, if you like horror films, I hope you see it at least once and enjoy. Every time I hear the phone ringing while I'm home alone, I think of the sorority house. Every time I look at an attic door....
 Not The Best Slasher I've Seen... September 9, 2008
Jigsaw (Kentucky)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Don't get me wrong, if you've read my reviews before, you'd know I love horror films, but this one is sorta boring at some parts. I actually saw the remake of Black Christmas before I saw this, maybe that's why I don't like it as much. In other words, I'm saying I like the remake better than the original. Usually, it's the other way around. It does have some good parts; like the killing scenes, and it has the classic look of the 70's. People are always saying this is the original slasher and HALLOWEEN isn't, but that doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter which is the original slasher, because I love HALLOWEEN better. Maybe one day, I'll give this movie a 2nd chance. If you love classic slashers, maybe you'll like BLACK CHRISTMAS!!!
Film making at it's best! August 26, 2008
Producer (New York, NY United States)
This 74'er jem - along with a few other movies - has influenced a whole generation of slasher flicks. Way ahead of it's time, one can clearly point out that the makers of films like When a stranger calls (78'), Halloween (78'), Friday the 13th (80') and all the Sleepaway Camp trash that followed with another few thousand mediocre to bad productions.
Director Bob Clarke has co-started a genre, however did so marvellously without much violence or any gore. Instead he relied on a solid script, some witty film edits, obscene phone calls that will make your skin crawl, a somber, abstract soundtrack and a few pretty watchable actor performances. With Margot Kidder as a delightful chronically drunk foulmouth, 2001 Space Odissey veteran Keir Dullea as a modern classical musician and John Saxon in his usual detective role...minus his usual cheesy factor, I'm sure fans of the genre will be enjoying this treat. Needless to say that some of the imagery I shall not forget all that quickly.
I say: Two thumbs and the hair on the back of my neck UP!
Saw Black Christmas Back In The Day... July 30, 2008
Mark Schaible (Everett, WA.)
...in a theater and it scarred me tremendously. As an adult, nothing special. Some good creepy moments, but over all very typical 70's horror movie. There is noticable camera work (subjective angle shots by the psycho killer) that was adopted by John Carpenter four years later in Halloween. Halloween is two stars superior to this movie. Can I recommend it? Only if you are a huge fan of horror from all time periods and do not expect too much from this film. Don't get me wrong. Its not a bad movie, just not as great as many of the reviews I see glorifying it. You will have to decide on your own about whether its worth a purchase or not. It does not have the re-watchability factor like Halloween does. Its not the ending on either film, but the journey along the way that brings you back again and again or not. I just didn't think this journey was worth much of a second time around.
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