He's just going crazy. (Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays) It's nonsensical and focused on the sympathetic performance of a man who goes on a violent spree at the same time as he goes out giving gifts to the good children. Save CHRISTMAS! It is not your ordinary horror film. You also might want to give the much more gruesome MANIC a look. He never kills a child...only some adults...and not very many at that. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. The second time was last year when I realized just how brilliant this bizarre horror film was. American-made toys may be extinct, but here they are assembled in the shadows of New York City. I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe last night, Man, there's nothing like a little childhood trauma and sexual confusion derived from Santa groping up Mommy to really spice up the holiday season! Just when you think Dick may be right, the Joker strikes. Directed by Kent Butterworth. 15:11. Do they actually have to show the van crashing to get that idea across? Geoff T’s review published on Letterboxd: ... Joker), and this isn't much different. Hell, if you go in expecting a straight horror film, you may be disappointed as well. It is well written and acted. Christmas Horror Flick Worth Checking Out, A world long gone but one still haunted by such sad and tragic figures. A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I would say that a better parallel is Frankenstein. Jackson worked for years on the script for Christmas Evil and envisioned a mainstream, big-budget movie. Very weird feeling, but it works shockingly well. Christmas Evil (1980) 7 /10. In real life, the van hit the bottom of a very long fall and Santa, no doubt,was dead. I still highly suggest this film. One longs to fast forward it; it could use some cutting--yet, by the time it's over, one is curiously moved. This is an entertaining Christmas horror movie that in the end is about much more than just old Saint Nick running around with an axe as the movie poster suggests. Areas adjacent to Montclair, New Jersey, are working class neighborhoods rather than homes of the McMansion. Very creepy and brilliantly darkly hilarious . This is NOT a slasher, though the blood effects are silly enough for one. I felt sorry for him. In both films, the main character kills three people to begin his mayhem. It’s not. It really is an interesting look into the psyche of a deranged mind. Whether it's in comics, voiced by Mark Hamill in Batman: The Animated Series, or reimagined as an agent of chaos in The Dark Knight, the Joker is endlessly popular. Not, perhaps, to kill, but in a general…, Review by Tony the Terror️‍ ★★★★½ 4. It features audio commentary from the director and cult filmmaker John Waters, who is quoted as saying it is the "greatest Christmas movie ever made". Being a big fan of dated horror movies i found this low budget holiday horror to be quite entertaining. Christmas Evil is one of those films that could possibly fool some as it might be branded as a more traditional slasher flick with a killer Santa Claus, but it is not like that at all, at least for most of the film. Some people may be surprised to know that Frank Darabont-regular, Jeffrey DeMunn is featured as Harry's brother in Christmas Evil. Poor Harry, all he wants is to show his colleagues, family and neighbors how much Christmas means to him. 23 November 2019. Sourced from Reddit, Twitter, and beyond! Christmas Evil is sad, touching, startling, and heartwarming all at once. Catching up on some Joe Bob. 57:55. He even has a list of who's been naughty and who's been nice. Both deal with a mentally disturbed man in a serious and thoughtful manner. I love holiday horror films. One Christmas Eve he snaps and sets out to kill the naughty people--dressed as Santa of course. So this movie could have just as easily been directed by Fritz Lang than made a mere 30 years ago. 'In honor of this holy season' Saint Peter said, 'You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas … Christmas is widely known as the day on which Jesus Christ was born. Glad he covered this groovy flick. | It is a sad fable, and when the infrequent violence does erupt it is far more effective than in the average slasher film. Other horror films which might be compared to it... Maniac (with Joe Spinell) and Don't Go In The House. So...I'd recommend this movie for those who enjoy psychological studies or can simply leave themselves open to the experience. TMDb Dressed as Santa he brings presents to nice kids and kills a bunch of people who aren't so nice. I use to think this was just a lesser version of Silent Night, Deadly Night. When I was ten, things took a bizarre and evil … It's slightly tasteless and wholly campy. Literally. In both films, a man is killed with a sharp object embedded in his face, with blood gushing out. My favorite fact in the history of the world is that THIS SANTA is Fiona Apple’s dad. It's definitely not as good as SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT but it is pretty funny watchin homeboy flip his wig. It is strangely moving, like a classic monster movie in which we find ourselves feeling sorry for the monster. 4. It was really trying something different. I have a particularly fond memory of jamming out to this song after acquiring the VHS of A Virgin…. This episode was the first appearance of The Joker, voiced by Mark Hamill Children witnessing ordinary sexual activity (most typically involving other immediate family members, and on or near a holiday) has tragically cost the lives of literally thousands of innocent movie characters. I saw this under the title CHRISTMAS EVIL and it starts in 1947 where a young boy Harry watches his mom get it on with Santa Claus. A young boy sees mommy having sex with Santa Claus (this seems to turn a lot of people crazy in these movies) and grows up Christmas-obsessed. Finally, in both films, the killer eludes justice and merges with his adopted identity at the end in spectacular fashion. Televisions are black and white and the viewers don't use remotes. The legendary finale is as wondrous as the holiday itself. If you go in expecting a slasher, you’re going to be awfully disappointed. Apr 29, 2016 - Because It's Christmas. If you are a bad kid, he will bring you something horrible . He's simultaneously creepy and awkward but also good man in the middle of a mental breakdown. Apple’s “Criminal” is my favorite song of all time. "Christmas With the Joker" is the thirty-eighth episode of Batman: The Animated Series, though the second to be produced. It's awkward in a way that heightens the drama. He's dismayed at the attitudes displayed by co-workers at his place of employment, a toy factory, and goes so far as to catalogue the naughty or nice activities of children in his neighbourhood. or variations, Jayce Fryman 18,680 films 3,591 116 Edit, This list collects every film from the Starting List that became They Shoot Pictures Don't They's 1000 Greatest Films. I read some "non spoiler" reviews on this site before I watched it. It is nowhere near as graphic as a film like Maniac, but it is just as much of a character study. Both men come to be identified with fictitious characters; in this film, it is Santa Claus. Christmas EVIL reminds me of a murky, clumsily violent dream an alcoholic stepfather is having during the holidays while passed out in his recliner, translated to shoddy film stock - and that isn't an effect commonly or easily achieved by any movie. I’m sick of sorting through concerts, series, and other non-movies. Christmas Evil is different from those typical 80s slasher films, which gives me a lot of surprises. Remarkable horror thriller is more a excellently played psychodrama than an exploitation flick; the ending is a bit over-the-top, though. While it's not as good as that classic... it really works for me. In both films, one of the victims is a co-worker of the killer who has been very nasty to him in different ways. If you get a chance watch this movie, the ending alone is worth the buck fifty rental fee. I'm not a film expert and I rarely notice things like camera angles or specifics in cinematography and yet I couldn't help but notice some of the smart and equally creepy shots in this movie. In this article, we are going to expose Christmas as the evil holiday that it is. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone convince me of that. The similarities between this 1980 film and the 2019 "Joker" are striking. We are going to point out the things that we see that are defiling BILLIONS of people, as they are celebrating this holiday. Great holiday horror film. Just remember, this is not supposed to be another Friday the 13th. This episode is notable for being the first produced episode with Joker, Robin and Summer Gleeson.. Christmas with the Joker was the second episode to be produced and the 38th to be aired. Its slower pace might not engage some, but this one for me was definitely a delight to watch because of its Joker-esque character study on the main character. Joker Hulk Save Santa Claus Kidnapped Amazing Sup. This is the greatest killer santa claus movie of all time!!!! There's a couple rad kills but most of the movie a pretty tame. His van is painted with a lovely Christmas sleigh. Is Christmas evil is the question that emerged together with the revealing of the dark origins present in the foundation of one of the world’s most popular tradition. It has a great soundtrack, too. You Better Watch Out is set in a world that no longer exists. A masterpiece. It isn't long before he snaps, decides to be Santa and starts attacking! This…, Watchlist of movies that only you and your best friends might appreciate. I saw this under the title "Christmas Evil". Quite interesting and very creepy as he watches the children and he appears at people's windows a few times in the film watching their lives. It starts off with a kid watching his mom getting (mildly) jiggy with ol Saint Nick which totally trips him out. It also can be a little boring at times but it's got a really cool (extremely cheesy) ending that i was definitely not expecting. 40 years later he's a total loser on a full on Christmas trip. dm_50a232f8475ea. He works in a toy factory, keeps note of which of his neighbours is naughty or nice, and idolises St Nick as a figure of goodness and justice. 7 out of 10. Christmas Evil 1980 ★★★ Watched Dec 25, 2019. going travis bickle mode because my mom got her back walls blown out by santa. A toy factory worker, mentally scarred as a child upon learning Santa Claus is not real, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a Yuletide killing spree. Made by fans in Auckland, New Zealand. | Thing is Santa was actually his dad, but poor little Harry didn't know any better. I found it unsettling to watch him lose his mind. What makes the movie work is Brandon Maggart’s performance as Harry. But pretty much everything else works. I did not enjoy watching it; yet, when it was over, I remember it fondly. Christmas Evil is different from those typical 80s slasher films, which gives me a lot of surprises. I was a little bored at the very beginning and almost considered turning it off, but then I was drawn into the story. There's a number of…, Chris Vandenberg 1,000 films 6,920 108 Edit. You better watch out (which is the original title) because Santa is always watching. I know this movie was marketed as a slasher/horror flick, but it's not and if you go into it expecting that, you'll be disappointed. Shockingly sad and kind of touching? It was written by Eddie Gorodetsky and directed by Kent Butterworth. The thing is, I don't really like these when I'm not ready for it. That said, in 2008's graphic novel, simply called Joker, he (freshly released from prison after somehow convincing the doctors of his sanity) gets peeved after hearing a henchman of his, Monty, … For Christmas I want Santa's list of naughty girls. There is a special place in hell for people that play Christmas music before Thanksgiving. FAQ Definitely check out SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT before this one. If a person goes into Christmas Evil (You Better Watch Out) expecting a slasher then they are obviously going to be disappointed (if they can not appreciate good cinema). He watches kids to see if they've been naughty or nice, makes a list, checks it twice, and goes totally crazy. I know there's a lot of people writing that Santa's van magically flies away at the end...well..I don't think that was intended to be taken literally. Yoheyavipa. (Episode: Christmas with the Joker. Christmas Evil. Now this is what happens when you are naughty and go on the bad boys and girls list. It's really a passion that has blown way out of preportain. It's not a bad movie but slowness kind of bogs it down. I fully expected a slasher movie, but ya... this is a character being driven insane movie. 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