Silent Night, Deadly Night 1984 - REVIEW

A Classic for the holiday season. One of the most controversial horror movies of the 80’s and also one of the best. While this movie lacks the big name talent it doesn’t lack a body count, nudity, and of course Santa Claus with an axe. Starring in the lead role is Robert Brian Wilson as Billy , and it’s also worth noting that the original scream queen herself Linnea Quigley makes an appearance of an unfortunate victim.

Silent Night Deadly Night starts out with Billy (Danny Wagner) in the backseat as his Mother and Father are driving through what seems to be the middle of nowhere to visit Grandpa at a nursing home. After arriving, Billy’s parents talk to the Grandpa’s doctor and leave Billy with Grandpa. He snaps out of his catatonic state revealing to Billy that if you are naughty Santa will not bring you presents but he will punish you instead, scarring Billy to his core. While driving back from the nursing home Billy’s Father stops to help a broke down motorist dressed as Santa. Santa then pulls a gun killing his father as Billy escapes the car and hides in the brush. Santa pulls Billy’s Mother from the car pins her to the ground and slits her throat.

The story then picks up years later as Billy and his Brother Ricky (Alex Burton) are in an orphanage now run by nuns which we all know are wicked and will scare the piss out of you. Billy is subject to beatings from Mother Superior (Lilyan Chauvin) for being “naughty”. While kindly Sister Margaret (Gilmer McCormick) feels he remembers his parents murder and feels the evil is still in him. Mother Superior feels Punishment is the only thing he needs.

Picking up 10 years later Billy (Robert Brian Wilson) is now 18 yrs old and with the help of Sister Margaret he obtains a job at a local toy store. Life is seeming relatively normal until he is asked to dress up as Santa for the little kids. This disturbs Billy, and as a result after the store employee Christmas party on Christmas Eve Billy starts this reign of terror to punish all the “naughty”. With a killing spree that would make Jason Voorhees proud.

Silent Night Deadly Night spawned 4 sequels while only parts 2 & 3 are direct sequels to the original story. This by far is the best of the series and will make you think twice about being naughty as we all know Santa is watching.

Reviewed by JR Watkins