PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Among the first films to introduce horror with a Christmas theme, Lewis Jackson’s 1980 Christmas Evil boldly brings horror to the holidays. For the times, this cult classic and the few titles that came before, risked being perceived as taboo. While they weren’t widely received, these films found a niche helping to pave the way for other holiday films of terror such as Gremlins (1984), Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), P2 (2007) and All Through the House (2015). While twisted slasher films are always fun for horror lovers, there is a uniqueness found in Christmas Evil that simply works with the Christmas horror theme.
As a little boy, Harry Stadling Jr. (Gus Salud) is traumatized when he witnesses Santa doing more than kissing mommy on Christmas Eve. In a fit of shock, young Harry shatters a snow globe and cuts his hand with a glass shard in a scene symbolizing the death of his childhood and the beginning of his descent into insanity. As an adult, Harry (Brandon Maggart) works at a toy factory while secretly watching the neighborhood kids and recording their names and behavior in his own naughty and nice lists.
As Christmas quickly approaches and Harry learns that his employer’s charitable campaign is merely a façade to hide their greed, he becomes increasingly unstable. Cancelling plans to be with his brother’s family on Christmas Eve for the first time in years, Harry’s obsession with Christmas and Santa takes a dangerous turn as he slaves away preparing to his version of Christmas cheer. Crafting a homemade Santa suit, Harry transforms himself into Santa Clause gluing a long white beard to his face and painting a big red sleigh on his white windowless van. Driven by good intentions and a complete lapse of sanity, this crazed Santa sets out to make good on the toy company’s generous charitable promise while reigning down a night of punishment on Christmas Eve.
While Christmas Evil has some creative kill scenes, the uniqueness lies within Harry’s character. Rather than relying on a high body count for suspense, it is Harry’s obsession with the season and descent into insanity that drives the film. Fixating on the innocence of the holidays, likely due to his childhood trauma, Harry finally snaps when it becomes clear to him that purity behind Christmas is fading.
With an outstanding performance by Maggart, a story holiday insanity and an interpretive ending, this film was ahead of its time. Though a few scenes come off too cheesy and it could have gone a little darker, this feature helped pave the way for holiday ho-ho horror. If you’re looking for a holiday cult classic to view with Christmas right around the corner, revisit this twisted story of the night this Santa went crazy.
