Horror Holidays

Two more days until, Black Christmas.

I received the critical mass re-issue through the mail almost three weeks ago. It came out of the blue. I was already having a bad day, but this little snail mail surprise was certainly a welcomed event. Not to actually grade the dvd on merits and detractions, but the picture quality surprised me. Not in a good way, however. The quality certainly wasn't bad - especially for a film released in 1974. It was free of most of those tiny black squibbles and other grainy elements, but its was obvious that not much time was spent on repairing those saturated colors.

Now, the re-release isn't a bad one. Critical Mass has released a version of this before - if not two. I think the only thing that's changed since then are the updated interviews and commentaries. There were a few of the stars that made it back for rehashes, with different templates to go by - Hussey, and a deranged Margot Kidder. We are also treated to a narrative by easygoing police captain, John Saxon, but I think the most welcomed returns had to be that of 'Sergeant Nash' ( Doug McGrath) and 'Clair Harrison (Lynne Griffin ).'

Both stars have held up pretty well over the years, although, Griffen looks like an eccentric old lady - Her hair tied in what looks to be a bun. She definitely has lost those shy-girl charms over the years, but her input on the dvd was a welcomed gesture.

I wouldn't swear on it, but I'd say that for a third release (maybe), and especially a third release so close to the second one, this was to cash in on the remake of Black Christmas, due out, well, on Christmas. I don't know how black it will be on Christmas, but I'll probably have to wait and see it after the new year. As much as I hate remakes, (especially remakes of true classics) I'll still see it.

I know the target audience these days is the same as a film of its ilk in the 70's and 80's - Mostly tweenagers (the years in between ), but the attention span has certainly dwindled away to something of non-existence. The 1974's classic outline would really make way for viewings better suited to 40 year olds, so, the impact and sheer perverseness of the movie has lost steam since all the violence we see even on the small screen these days. Like 80% of teenie-kill films in the 80's, Black Christmas '74 follows a certain pattern the film itself started.

Halloween became most popular for doing it, but BC '74 certainly inspired it. It's well known that in the mix somewhere, directors Bob Clark, and, Halloween's John Carpenter, collaborated on a few ideas which eventually lead to what we've gotten. Black Christmas is also one of the first movies to exploit a holiday theme. Silent Night Bloody Night also did this in the same year. It's a very disturbing film in its own right.

I read somewhere that religious groups are trying to stop the film from being released on Christmas. (The remake) This makes me laugh, not because I'm against Christians and what they stand for, I'm not, but for the fact that these same religious groups are promoting one of the most pagan characters in history...Santa Clause

Anyway, whether or not Black Christmas 2006 will even tip the firm iceberg of Black Christmas 1974 doesn't even hold a light to itself. It's completely irrelevant since the film itself is basically just wearing the same jump suit as Black Christmas, but has a completely different person wearing it.

It's also suffice to say that the the internet has helped/hurt the classic horror film. The internet allows thousands of films every year to be released (and some to have theatrical runs) - films we would have never gotten if not for it. This is a double edged sword, because with the internet popularity of horror and other review sites, remakes, wanna-be filmmakers , and every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a camera is making films. Bad films.

I have an online friend who lives in the United Kingdom. They have already gotten to see Black Christmas 2006 (Which has a completely different ending than the US version) and he didn't seem dissatisfied with it - and he's the king of the slasher film. I'm sure he went in not expecting too much, and ultimately wasn't disappointed.

So, we'll have to see, but until then, I'm going to be giving Black Christmas '74 a run in the privacy of my own home - me and the wife.