"You scared, ain't ya? You should be! Christmas Eve is the scariest damn night of the year! You see Santa Claus tonight you better run boy! You better run for your life!"
-Grandpa Chapman warning a young Billy Chapman about how truly terrifying the holiday season can be (at least in his eyes), Silent Night, Deadly Night
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Stranger Sinema
Come one, come all to a midway of the most bizarre in pictures! Journey into the unknown through the deepest depths of celluloid film! Bear witness to some of the most unique and peculiar stories and characters! Dive into a rabbit hole and leave behind your mundane world for a glimpse into the upside-down world...of Stranger Sinema!
Welcome back, Young and Young-at-Heart explorers, to Stranger Sinema! The show on Something Niche where we take a deep dive into the strange world of cult cinema, discovering the most madcap, bizarre, or just strangely obscure parts of the film world!
Today, we will be inaugurating a new yearly tradition at Something Niche as we celebrate Christmas in July. Yup, we're jumping on that old bandwagon! We'll be celebrating Christmas 5 months early-at least for one day-by looking at a movie set in the snow during a time of year when you wouldn't see it on the ground.
Fun fact; Did you know that the Christmas in July joke actually originates from Australia? It was created as a way to capitalize on America's dominance in popular culture, including through Christmas. In Australia, December actually falls in the summer season, due to the nation being located in the Southern Hemisphere. The whole "Christmas in July" thing was thought up of as a way for the nation to celebrate Christmas in the same traditional way as the Northern Hemisphere!
But that little fun fact has nothing to do with the topic of today's post. No, today we will be taking a look at a rather unusual holiday film that belongs to a subgenre that would probably be the last you would associate with the holidays; the slasher film!
Specifically, we will be taking a look at Silent Night, Deadly Night, an addition to the ever-expansive pantheon of 1980s slashers in which Jolly Old Saint Nick goes on a killing spree! Ok, that part's actually not true. It's just a traumatized 18-year-old dressed in a Santa suit. But it's still got all of the regular trappings of this iconic subgenre of horror, as well as adding a few twists of its own.
Releasing to great controversy in 1984 (probably the greatest year of cinema in history, in my humble opinion!), Silent Night, Deadly Night wraps a nice bit of slasher sleaze in a nice holiday bow. It's got plenty of memorable kills, quotes, and a unique atmosphere brought on by its Holiday setting. And while it isn't the first horror film to be covered on Stranger Sinema, it does have the honor of being the first slasher film covered here!
So, let's all gather around the air conditioner with some ice-cold summer lemonade! Here's our look at the tale of yuletide terror that is Silent Night, Deadly Night!
Getting on the Naughty list
In a notable twist on traditional slasher storytelling, we end up finding out about the killer's backstory at the beginning of Silent Night, Deadly Night. We start out on Christmas Eve in 1971, where we meet a five-year-old Billy Chapman (Johnathan Best), who is visiting his grandpa (Will Hare) in the nursing home. When he is left alone by his parents (Tara Buckman and Jeff Hansen), the catatonic grandfather suddenly springs to life and warns Billy to fear Santa, as he punishes the naughty, leaving poor Billy with only the first bit of trauma he will experience on what is supposed to be the happiest night of the year.
Later that night, Billy's family end up crossing paths with a dangerous criminal dressed up in a Santa suit, who carjacks Billy's parents before murdering them in cold blood. After this horrific incident, Billy and his baby brother Ricky are placed in the care of a Catholic orphanage run by Mother Superior (Lilyan Chauvin), who's disciplinary actions only leave poor Billy with even more trauma.
We then cut to Billy's adulthood. Now played by Robert Brian Wilson with menacing delight, Billy has found work at a local toy store as a stockboy and lives a mostly normal life. That all changes the following Christmas Eve, when the store's Santa Claus gets injured, and Billy's boss, Mr. Simms (Britt Leach), decides to make him put on the suit, causing the horrific memories to come crawling back.
After the store closes and has a Christmas Party, Billy witnesses two of his co-workers getting involved in a sexual assault incident that finally causes him to snap. After "punishing" them both, Billy snaps and goes on a murderous rampage across the town in order to punish those he finds "naughty" on Christmas Eve.
Another, more sympathetic sister of Billy's Childhood orphanage, Sister Margaret (Gilmer McCormack), catches wind of the carnage, and must team up with the local police in order to track down Billy and end his Yuletide reign of terror.
Unhappy Holidays
Silent Night, Deadly Night's production story begins with one Paul Caimi, a university student who submitted a short story about a killer Santa to William Morris Agency employee Scott J Schneid. Schneid took interest in the story and teamed up with his friend Dennis Whitehead in order to further develop the story. The duo hired recent New York University film school graduate Michael Hickey to turn their story ideas into a spec script. Several rumors have stated that Caimi had planned to turn his story into a book initially, but these rumors have never been proven
"We agreed that the most interesting and fun way to do it would be to examine the sequence of events that lead, like dominoes falling, to Billy-as-Santa's ultimate Christmas Eve killing spree, rather than following the usual approach of focusing on the victims." says Hickey, explaining the writing process of the film's screenplay.
Hickey's spec script, which initially gave the movie the title of Slayride, proved to up to Scheid and Whitehead's standards, and the group would spend the next few years attempting to raise funding for the film. Luckily for them, Dennis' brother had connections to the film industry, and set them up with Tri-Star producer Ira Barmak. They were able to sign a contract, but Schneid and Whithead would unfortunately be excluded as executive producers on the film, and they were eventually "frozen out of the project." Schneid would luckily reacquire the right to the film in 2019.
Several young directors were considered for the project, which Barmak had intended to portray as the Christmas equivalent to John Carpenter's slasher megahit (and now, beloved classic) Halloween. These directors included Sam Raimi, fresh off of his success with The Evil Dead. However, the man who ultimately got the job proved to be a rather odd choice.
The director chosen was Charles E. Sellier Jr, a worker in the television industry who had produced several made-for-tv movies, but at that point, was probably best known as the creator of the cult tv show The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams. Strangely enough, Sellier would later go on to produce several faith-based films.
The sturdy Kind that Doesn't Mind the snow
With the funding secured and the creative team assembled, Silent Night, Deadly Night officially began filming only a few months before its official release...in the Spring of 1984! Yes, a movie set at Christmas was filmed in the Spring! Luckily, there was still a little bit of snow left from the winter months, which the production crew had to film rather quickly. Plastic snow displays were also nailed to the roofs of building for a few shots.
Filming primarily took place in the Salt Lake City area of Utah, particularly in the small community of Heber City. Notably, the film had a few strange production quirks behind the scenes. Most notably, director Sellier actually didn't film most of the death scenes in the film, as he was rather uncomfortable with much of the violence, something that probably came about as a result of his past working on family-friendly films and tv shows. Instead, editor Michael Spence temporarily jumped into the director's chair.
As a low-budget film, several other members of the crew also had to get creative. Composer Perry Botkin Jr., for instance, had to improvise a lot of the movie's score. He watched an early workprint of the film on Betamax (a form of physical media that competed with VHS during the 80s), would write his score, replay the tape with said score, and polish things off with additional melodies and layers.
After a successful LA test screening in September, Tri-Star Pictures was ready to release the movie into theaters. However, several last-minute edits were made to the film in the months leading up to its release. The film notably received an adults-only X rating (known today-at least in the U.S.-as NC-17) because some of the film's deaths were considered too extreme. Some of these scenes had to be pared down in order to get the desired R rating. Tri-Star also changed its title to the one we all know today shortly before releasing it to theaters.
However, shortly after the film made it to theaters, something happened that caught the filmmakers off-guard. Or so it seemed.
A Reception Filled with Coal
After it's not-so-lengthy production process, Old Saint Tri-Star left Silent Night, Deadly Night underneath the metaphorical tree for horror fans on November 9th, 1984. And the film would immediately start making headlines. However, it wouldn't be for the reasons the producers wanted it to.
Upon its release, the movie would spread a wave of controversy all across the nation, mainly due in part due to its advertising campaign, which focused on the fact that the film had a Santa-suited killer. This image was considered blasphemous amongst many families, due to the image of Santa being considered a symbol of purity to most families. Groups were formed in an attempt to get the movie pulled, such as Citizens Against Movie Madness, founded by Milwaukee housewife Kathleen Ebert. Many of them even lined up outside theaters showing the film with picket signs while singing Christmas Carols in a few cases, like in the image shown above.
Critics would also lambast the film for its concept and violence. Most infamously, legendary television critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel would go as far as to call out several people who worked on the film directly, delivering harsh words such as "Shame on You!" and "You have nothing to be proud of."
Several outlets and individuals would even write the film off as a form of child abuse, saying that children who saw even the ads would have the pure image of Santa ruined for them. One press release form my home state's own Asbury Park Press said that the film could cause children to "regress in their toilet training", and a Vermont-based school principal called it a "form of child abuse." Former Norwalk, Connecticut mayor Thomas O'Connor also had a few things to say about the movie;
"I'm not one for censorship. I believe in free speech, free expression. But Christmas is sacred. To make one of those killer movies with Christmas as the theme-that's going too far."
Grandpa Chapman's previously quoted lecture towards a young Billy at the film's opening probably didn't do the film any favors, nor did the fact that a lot of the film's TV spots (one of which we posted above) ran during showings of family-friendly shows like Little House on the Prairie. However, the film's producers weren't expecting the film to release without controversy, though not for the reasons listed above.
Several "killer Santa" films had been released in the years prior, such as Christmas Evil, which even depicted Santa Claus holding an ax while smiling evilly on the poster. As a result, the film's producers expected the film's main controversy to be directed toward the Catholic Church's less-than-flattering depiction in the film. They even tried to play up this controversy by opening the film in the Catholic-majority Midwest and Northeast.
Eventually, the controversy reached a boiling point, and Tri-Star Pictures pulled the film before it could be released widely, despite the film proving to be a financial success.
However, what interests me most about the film's release is that it coincided with another slasher that would go on to change the landscape of cinema. One that Silent Night, Deadly Night could have completely surpassed had the controversy not hampered it. And a film that has played a big part in my personal identity as a horror fanatic and film fanatic in general.
Sharing Nightmares
On the same day Silent Night, Deadly Night slashed its way onto the big screen, another slasher film reared its ugly head. That film had become a personal favorite of mine not only in the horror genre, but one of my favorite movies in general, and a work that I plan on taking influence on for my own future creative projects. That film was none other than the original A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Indeed, Freddy Krueger's debut happened to fall on the same day as the release of Silent Night, Deadly Night. And what's even more ironic is that Silent Night initially outgrossed Nightmare at the box office. Of course, most of this can come down to the fact that Silent Night initially had a wider theatrical release compared to Nightmare. Despite this, it was clear that Silent Night had the potential to surpass this classic slasher in popularity. But then the controversy hit, and Silent Night Deadly Night was pulled. And Nightmare on Elm Street would end up expanding its release in the coming weeks after, eventually becoming a household name in the horror landscape.
Looking back on this, it makes one wonder how different not only the horror landscape could be today, but also how cinema in general would be had Silent Night, Deadly Night not been pulled. Freddy Krueger would end up becoming the face of a major franchise that spawned multiple sequels, a crossover film, a tv series, and countless merchandise that continues to this day.
Not only that, but the film's success put its distributor, New Line Cinema, on the map, paving the way for it to become a notable player in the Hollywood system in the coming decades. They would distribute many classic (and/or cult classic) movies in the years since, launching the career of Jim Carrey with The Mask and Dumb and Dumber, giving Marvel Entertainment it's first major success with the Blade trilogy, unleashing the multi-billion Lord of the Rings franchise onto the world, and even going on to have its own Christmas classic with Elf. They would end up being majorly folded into Warner Bros following the failure of The Golden Compass in the late 2000s, but have continued to thrive under their new parent company to this day, working on films like Shazam and continuing to have success in the horror genre thanks to the likes of It and The Conjuring franchise!
And lastly, the original Nightmare on Elm Street also served as the film debut of one of my favorite actors; one Johnny Depp, who would go on to become a major star in the coming decades, including as a collaborator with one of my favorite filmmakers; Tim Burton.
With all of this in mind, and the fact that Silent Night, Deadly Night was initially successful in beating Nightmare on Elm Street, one could argue that had Silent Night, Deadly Night's release not been so controversial, then perhaps a lot of things about the cinematic world would be different today. Maybe the Chapman family would've been the one's to go up against Jason Vorhees instead. Maybe New Line Cinema would've faded away into obscurity and a lot of the films I had just mentioned never been made (or made by someone completely different). Maybe Johnny Depp wouldn't have been as big of a star as he became. It's truly strange to think about.
Underneath the Beard
Silent Night, Deadly Night's controversy, whether it was warranted or not, would not slow down even after it was pulled from theaters in its native U.S. Most notably, our neighbors across the pond in the United Kingdom wouldn't release the film in any way shape or form until 2009, likely on account of its brief stint with infamy. The film's content would also briefly bar it from release in parts of Canada.
However, the movie wouldn't be down for the count for much longer. A few months after it was pulled by Tri-Star, producer Ira Barmack brought the rights to the film, and with the help of independent company Aquarius Pictures, he released the film back into theaters. It received an out-of-season limited reissue in the May of 1985, with a new marketing campaign that highlighted the controversy it caused a few months prior.
Furthermore, while it would ultimately lose its spot on the Slasher Mount Rushmore to Elm Street, Silent Night, Deadly Night managed to become a well-respected slasher franchise in its own right, no doubt buoyed by the Streisand Effect that came about from its controversy. The film would spawn a respectable 4 sequels, many of which have achieved their own cult following. The first sequel in particular-released in 1987-became particularly well-known for its "Garbage Day!" scene, which became a popular meme in online circles during the 2000s. Two reboots were also made, with the second releasing into theaters just this past holiday season. It has also been referenced multiple times in other works of horror, including in a book that I happen to be reading right now-The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix.
And nowadays, in an era where every work of fiction seems to be deconstructed via retrospectives in online communities, the film's cult popularity hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. Many members of the horror community have noted the film for its unconventional killer, as unlike in most slashers at the time, we get to follow Billy's descent into madness, caused by several very real traumatic factors, including child abuse and untreated mental illness. Some even consider Billy to be more of a tragic anti-hero than an actual villain.
And these reviewers honestly aren't completely wrong, though I do feel that Silent Night, Deadly Night is ultimately just another dumb fun slasher at its core. Like all slasher films, we mostly come to watch the movie in order to see a few bodies piling up in increasingly quirky ways. It just so happens to be set during the holiday season. Billy also doesn't have that complex of a personality, especially after he puts on the Santa suit and starts the killings
However, that isn't to say that the film isn't without some of its own merits. Much like a lot of other Christmas-set horror flicks, the film manages to use the normally bright colors of Christmas Eve in its own strange way in order to build an atmosphere that comes off as surprisingly unnerving at a few points. All of the bright reds and greens shimmering against a dark, snow-covered night shows off how chilling the winter weather can truly be if utilized correctly. There are also a few genuinely unnerving scenes, with one common standout amongst fans of the film (me included) being a scene where Billy asks a child who had just awoken if she has been bad or good, giving her a bloodied box cutter when she insists she has been the latter.
And finally, if nothing else, the film manages to deliver in the department any slasher film should deliver; the kills! Many iconic kills from the slasher subgenre can be found in this movie, with some standouts including a woman being brutally impaled by deer antlers and a trouble-making teenager getting decapitated while sledding down a hill. Like many slashers, it's ultimately just a film to throw on at your local slasher party where you can turn your brain off for a little bit and enjoy the ride!
Freakish Fun Facts
It looks like most of our presents to you have already been unwrapped! All that's left is a few Freakish Fun Facts! These are a few last-minute curious facts about Silent Night, Deadly Night! Why don't you sit down by the air conditioner and unwrap them as Mom and I go make breakfast!
- At one point in the film, the police confront a man in a Santa Claus uniform who isn't Billy. He's just a father trying to surprise his kid for Christmas. This man was played by Don Shanks, who would later go on to portray Michael Myers in Halloween Part 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers!
- Ironically, a tongue-in-cheek soundtrack of happy-sounding Christmas songs was put together, one of which-entitled "Santa's Watching"-actually plays in the end credits of the movie. However, due to the film's controversy, it sat on a shelf for decades, only being released to the general public in 2014 as a part of the film's 30th Anniversary Celebration.
- Veteran actor Mickey Rooney, who voiced Santa in many Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, was among the film's most notable detractors. Despite this, he would later go on to have a major role in one of the film's sequels; Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 5: The Toy Maker!
- The toy store where Billy finds work at was named Ira's Toys after producer Ira Barmack. The building that was used for filming still stands today, and has operated as a dance studio, a hardware store, and currently as a gym.
- One location from the film that unfortunately does not stand today is the orphanage. The scenes were filmed at an abandoned schoolhouse that was renovated for production. The building was demolished shortly after filming had wrapped.
- Acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarentino is a noted fan of the film, even owning his own print of the film for himself. He once re-enacted Grandpa Chapman's speech alongside fellow filmmaker Robert Rodriguz when the two of them attended the Austin Film Festival one year.
- Boston-based Metal band Ice Nine Kills, known for their tributes to the horror genre, wrote a song based on the events of the film entitled "Merry Axe-Mas" for their 2018 album The Silver Scream (Which I am actually listening to as I'm typing this!)
Not so Naughty After All
Overall, Silent Night, Deadly Night might not exactly be high art. Very few slasher films honestly are. But if you want something morbidly fun for you to watch, you could honestly do much worse. Plus, it has several of its own quirks that make the film worthy of its status as a cult classic.
For one, the holiday setting adds a uniquely chilling atmosphere to the film. It uses the darkness of Christmas Eve in order to create a strange killing ground for its killer. Speaking of the killer, the film's screenplay causes the film to take a unique turn with its killer, giving us a glimpse into his past and showing us every step of his descent into madness.
And it even has a few themes of repressed trauma and child abuse that actually continue to be relevant today, adding a nice bit of smartness and critique to its otherwise simplistic slasher story. Even if it doesn't explore these themes very deeply.
And if nothing else, it's still a fun slasher film that actually knows how to get genuinely unnerving at times, no thanks in part to its memorable slasher and juxtaposing setting during what is supposed to be the time of year when we are all supposed to be good to each other. And despite (or perhaps, because of) its initial controversy, it has gone on to become a respectable franchise with legions of fans that still indulge in its Yuletide terror to this very day.
Many people who once disowned the film have even come around to embrace the film, including Billy's actor Robert Brian Wilson, who continues to make many convention appearances to this day.
But what about you? Were you familiar with Silent Night, Deadly Night before this article? What did you think about it? Are you interested in hunting it down after hearing my thoughts on it? Please leave your thoughts in the comments down below! And make sure you leave some ice pops and lemonade out for Summer Santa tonight!
Sources:
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