Lynn Betts’s review published on Letterboxd:
Christmas Evil
Aka Better Watch Out in the title card
#SlasherSaturday
(And counts in the ADVENT CALENDAR 2024)
It's Arthur Fleck's Christmas special!
Seriously, this film, along with THE KING OF COMEDY, had to be on the inspirations for Todd Phillips's rendition of THE JOKER. There were a lot of tragicomic loner horrors in the 70s and 80s, but this is a big player.
Ah... The "But think of all the good he did" defence... Interesting moral dichotomy here in public perceptions.
As a double feature with the the original SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, their overly-righteous trauma-born puritanical panic origin stories aren't that dissimilar. As a darker character study I prefer CHRISTMAS EVIL, and as a lighter slasher watch with enough goofiness to propel a whole festive camp franchise, I prefer SNDN (of which I will be watching the other installments in order to be up to date for this week's SlasherSaturday with #5!)
Don't watch this with the kids... And be careful to be on your best behaviour and don't be naughty when you dress up as Saint Nick! Apparently them seeing Mommy kissing Santa Claus can ruin their life...
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