That is until the young sorority pledges discover that the killer is part of an underground college conspiracy. Black Christmas is ultimately a missed opportunity and simply another in a long line of studio-approved PG-13 horror films for teens. Share Tweet. By Molly Freeman Published Dec 13, 2019. But if the 2019 “Black Christmas” is not nearly as chilling as the original, it is genuinely barbed as gender satire, and it cleverly pre-empts obvious outrage. Black Christmas ends up being a lump of coal with its poor screenplay and weak character development, even if it has some fun moments. IGN Store: We got Tees for Spider-Man, Star Wars, and more! This “Black Christmas” speaks to an era of campus curriculum debates and a national reckoning over the reporting of sexual assault. Blended brilliantly, this remake of Black Christmas makes for holiday horror that's a tantalizing and terrifying treat. It offers a setting familiar--almost mundane--which makes the intrusion of the killer heart-poundingly harrowing. Sophia Takal’s film isn’t particularly scary, but it has plenty on its mind. Black Christmas' is also complimented wonderfully by strong acting performances from Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, John Saxon and a highly pleasant and amusing turn from Marian Waldman. Uploaded for archival purposes. “Black Christmas” is a 1974 film that, like “Halloween” or “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is part of the decade’s genesis into the realm of classic fright. Certificate: 18. 15. ‘Black Christmas’ Review: Horror for a New Era of Campus Debates, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/12/movies/black-christmas-review.html, From left, Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon and Lily Donoghue in “Black Christmas.”, says she drew inspiration from the Kavanaugh hearings, self-appointed defenders of the “masculine spirit” like the Canadian academic Jordan Peterson. Rated PG-13. Black Christmas Revisited (HD) (36:25) Hosted by Art Hindle and Lynne Griffin this documentary from the Critical Mass DVD follows the two actors as they revisit the house from the film. Despite the tiny budget, this is a highly polished horror film that genuinely belongs among the elite of the genre. Its tweaked tale gives a new verve to the urban legend origin, while suspense stirs in quiet moments ruthlessly robbed of their presumed privacy. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 38% based on 109 reviews, with an average rating of 4.6/10. Black Christmas 2 / 5 stars 2 out of 5 stars. So while not everything works in “Black Christmas,” … Footage Filmed by US Navy, Essential Tips for Getting Started in Valheim, Little Nightmares 2 Spoiler-Free Puzzle Guides, CoD Zombies: Outbreak Mode Weapon Unlocking, Things to Do First in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, How to Get the New Mario Items in Animal Crossing, Bowser's Fury: 12 Big Tips for Getting Started. The new Black Christmas reinvents a 1974 slasher for a feminist era It isn’t subtle, but its look at campus sexism and rape hits uncomfortably close … We now have a third iteration of the holiday horror film Black Christmas. Date rape is discussed (and ridiculed in a song), and there's lots of fighting, stabbing, and killing with weapons/blunt objects. (Cert 15) Peter Bradshaw @PeterBradshaw1 ... reviews Most popular. But unlike Child's Play, this franchise only has one good installment, the original. We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY. It's a completely different standalone movie that happens to piggyback on the Black Christmas franchise name. Ever striking, Poots is joined by a charismatic ensemble that includes Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O'Grady, Madeleine Adams, and Caleb Eberhardt, all of whom are game for jaunty banter, blood-curdling screams, full-bodied fights, and even a smirking song number. Brad and Doug review the 2019 Black Christmas movie, which manages to be the worst remake of Black Christmas yet! Black Christmas (Movie Review) Posted at 15:44h Chris Hoffmann cryptic rock, CrypticRock, Movie reviews, News, Reviews 0 Comments. Some of the new ideas are silly. Unfortunately, Takal's Black Christmas is far more ordinary, a blunt object in a fight demanding either sharp knives or explosives. Sadistic garbage, Black Christmas is an ugly and vulgar film. Black Christmas Review - The movie will probably be most popular with females who are looking for "soft" horror, though viewers might not be able to get past the actual horror missing. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/12/movies/black-christmas-review.html This should be a fun one to talk about. https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/12/13/black-christmas-movie-review Film Books Music Art & design TV & radio Stage Classical Games News And that’s what makes it truly creepy. Review … My favorite part is the cringe-worthy recreation of their kiss from the film. This video was never uploaded to the Cinemassacre Youtube Channel. Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes. Hear full reviews on horrormoviepodcast.com episode 188: Christmas Horror (2019 Edition) - Black Christmas (1974) vs Black Xmas (2006) vs Black Christmas (2019) and more! Fascinating as opposed to wholly enjoyable, Bob Clark's Canadian sorority house slasher is largely gore-free, but bolsters the anaemia with a … A modern take on the 1974 horror classic arrives from director Sophia Takal just in time for Friday the 13th of December. Black Christmas (2019) Review: The Scariest Thing Is Its White Feminism. Critic Reviews for Black Christmas All Critics (110) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (68) The entire finished product feels like it was just rushed out into theaters as quick as possible. 97 minutes. They might also ponder that they are now forced to answer for self-appointed defenders of the “masculine spirit” like the Canadian academic Jordan Peterson, at whose worldview this “Black Christmas” takes implicit aim. Dec 24, 2015. From director Bob Clark comes the classic horror film, Black Christmas. SHARES. The website's critics consensus reads, "Better than the 2006 remake yet not as sharp as the original, this Black Christmas stabs at timely feminist themes but mostly hits on familiar pulp." Same thing as the Child's Play remake, totally different movie that just happened to use the name to sell tickets. (Takal says she drew inspiration from the Kavanaugh hearings.) Another remake of BLACK CHRISTMAS; this time, with a social justice twist. This re-remake of Black Christmas isn't really a remake at all. Kris (Aleyse Shannon) is circulating a petition against a plummy professor (Cary Elwes) who favors white male authors. Parents need to know that Black Christmas is a reboot of a 1974 holiday horror classic, which was previously remade in 2006.Characters are murdered, but very little blood is shown -- villains emit a weird, black goop instead. Additionally, the violence is extremely gruesome and lacks any subtlety. Here's my review.#BlackChristmas Black Christmas movie reviews & Metacritic score: Hawthorne College is quieting down for the holidays. With Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O'Grady. Bows and arrows are tough to make look scary onscreen, and a supernatural element — the college’s founder dabbled in the dark arts — undermines the movie’s grounding in the here and now. Review: Black Christmas (2019) PLOT: A group of sorority sisters are terrorized by a masked assailant during Christmas break.Yet as the attacks get worse, they begin to … Instead of prank phone calls, it has strangers sliding into your direct messages. We can easily imagine the robed threat creeping down our own hallways, hearths, and attic stairs. The bustle of activity mitigates a central implausibility of earlier versions, whose characters seemed slow to notice the missing women. Black Christmas is a decent slasher flick with trite feminist themes, until it takes a wildly baffling turn and becomes a whole different movie. Initially a sluggish … The sorority’s sisters are preparing for a talent show at which they plan to call out a graduated frat boy who raped the heroine, Riley (Imogen Poots), and escaped punishment. When you purchase a ticket for an independently reviewed film through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. A group of female students is stalked by a stranger during their Christmas break. Horrified men may consider that its assessment is no more damning than that of “The Stepford Wives,” a male creation. Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 Anton Bitel Projected Figures With Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lacey Chabert, Katie Cassidy. Those who've relished the layers in Get Out, Cabin In The Woods, Midsommar, and Us will have new cause to rejoice this holiday season. The director Sophia Takal, who wrote the screenplay with the film critic April Wolfe, has taken the 1974 Canadian sorority slasher standard — remade once before, in 2006 — and run with it, emerging with a movie significantly different in style and tone from its source. Violence, terror, thematic content involving sexual assault, language, sexual material and drinking. By thoughtfully--and provocatively--addressing gender politics, Takal and Wolfe present a Black Christmas for horror fans that crave more than just scares, but also food for thought. Black Christmas works best as a campy deconstruction of the genre than it does as a horror film. Its a simple movie with poor effects, bad lighting, and crude holiday decor. The slasher subgenre's subtext has dealt with gender dynamics and sexual repression since its infancy. (This time, the police’s hand-waving of complaints is not portrayed as funny.) And as for those who just want something scary and satisfying, this holiday slasher works on that level too. Carlos M Super Reviewer. On Christmas Eve, an escaped maniac returns to his childhood home, which is now a sorority house, and begins to murder the sorority sisters one by one. Sophia Takal’s Black Christmas is a film full of good intentions marred by poor execution. Directed by Sophia Takal. Full Review Norman Gidney HorrorBuzz If all you wanted for Christmas was a smarter “Black Christmas,” you are in luck. Led by writer/director Sophia Takal (“Always Shine,” “Into the Dark: New Year, New You”) and co-writer April Wolfe, “Black Christmas” is a PG-13 horror film for general audiences—it never really needed to be R-rated, especially since the 2006 “Black Christmas” remake is gory enough for two movies—that follows realistic characters who are trapped in a genuinely disturbing situation. Directed by Glen Morgan. Less gore than expected. In 1974 Bob Clark, future director of 1983’s beloved A Christmas Story, tackled a different kind of holiday favorite. Amazon's The Lord of the Rings Prequel: The Second Age Explained, Spider-Man: No Way Home: Alfred Molina Talks About His Return as Doctor Octopus, Winter Soldier Co-Creator Bemoans Marvel Studios' Treatment of Comic Writers, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: Season 1, Episode 5 Review, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: The Secret History of That Surprise Cameo Character, Lord of the Rings Actors Reveal the Origin of One of Its Most Infamous Memes, Google Earth Update Lets You See How Climate Change Has Dramatically Altered Our World, Pentagon Confirms U.F.O. Editor’s note: This review was originally published for the theatrical release of “Black Christmas.”Universal Pictures will release it to VOD on Friday, March 20. Review by James Rolfe. Share.