Movie Review: Silent Night (2012, Anchor Bay)

The Silent Night, Deadly Night series has been a pretty formidable franchise since the first movie debuted in 1984. The series has never been quite near the Halloween or the Friday the 13th series in box office receipts as most sequels went straight to video - but the killer Santa flicks accumulated a fan base worldwide. Naturally a remake was going to happen. Sure there are some good remakes but many of us horror geeks (especially over 30) hold our noses at the thought our movie’s legacies being tarnished. Director Steven C. Miller ( The Aggression Scale) and writer Jayson Rothwell take the challenge with their re-imagining Silent Night.

It's Christmas Eve and bodies seem to be piling up all over for a small town in Wisconsin. This maniac has certain targets in mind - fornicators, snotty kids, pornographers and lecherous priests are at the top of his list. Finding out just who is behind these brutal killings is up to a young officer named Audrey Bradimore (Jaime King, My Bloody Valentine and Mother's Day remakes). With the help of Sheriff Cooper (played by the incomparable, Malcolm McDowell) the duo scope out the town so the killer Santa Claus doesn't slaughter anymore victims.

Movie Review: Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 1 & 2 (Christmas Survival Double Feature)

Reviewed by: Rob Sibley

With the remake “Silent Night” being released onto DVD/Blu, the fine folks over at Anchor Bay entertainment have decided to re-release the double feature of the original two films. Tis the season for some bloody Christmas fun. Axe wielding Santa's, deranged nuns, candy canes and sugar plum fairies.

First things first, it should be noted that when “Silent Night” was first released it was greeted not with open arms but with public outcry. Siskel & Ebert gave the film a scathing review and boycotted the film. They weren't alone, community leaders and P.T.A.'s were also not to keen on TV spots showing the lovable big man in a red suit carrying an axe!

All that aside, how is the actual film and does it hold up today? Well it's certainly not what I'd call a classic but it's above average more so then your typical slasher fare from the 80's. The story concerns a fella by the name of Billy Chapman, who as a child witnessed his parents being slaughtered by a man dressed as... you guessed it Santa.

Cinema Head Cheese: The Podcast! #74 - Silent But Deadly Night

Dave, Jeff and Kevin each throw out a couple of their favorite holiday horror flicks. They get into Santa Claws, Jack Frost, Elves and GingerDead Man, as well as Silent Night, Deadly Night and the new remake.

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If you still think Halloween is the scariest night of the year… RING IN THE HOLIDAYS THE ANCHOR BAY WAY WITH SILENT NIGHT

In select theaters November 30th;  Blu-ray™/DVD combo and DVD on sale December 4th

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – You better watch out! Santa Claus is coming to town, and he knows who’s been bad. On November 30th, Anchor Bay Films presents Silent Night on screen in ten major U.S. metropolitan areas. Blu-ray™/DVD combo and DVD will be available to unwrap nationwide on December 4th.

A loose remake of the horror classic Silent Night, Deadly Night, the film’s stellar cast includes Malcolm McDowell (Rob Zombie’s Halloween, Easy A), Jaime King (Sin City, My Bloody Valentine 3D), Donal Logue (Shark Night 3D, Blade), Lisa Marie (Sleepy Hollow), Brendan Fehr (Final Destination, X-Men First Class), and Ellen Wong (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World).