PopHorror Let's Get Scared
After a childhood encounter with Santa leaves both of his parents dead, Billy (Rohan Campbell, Halloween Ends 2022) becomes a killer transient who spends his holiday seasons spreading holiday cheer in his own twisted way. This Christmas, he ends up in Hackett, Minnesota, where he meets Pamela (Ruby Modine, Happy Death Day 2017). Is he able to move on from his Christmas “traditions” or will he stay naughty?
As far as horror movies go, the Silent Night, Deadly Night (Original Film Review) franchise is infamous for its take on holiday mayhem. A notoriously short theatrical run was marred by boycotts and protests for its depictions mixing Santa with sex and violence (Read About the Controversy). After a string of barely connected sequels and a reboot in the early 2010s, it all but seemed Santa’s slays had come to an end. In 2025, director Mike P. Nelson (V/H/S/85 2023) takes another crack at rebooting a dormant franchise with Silent Night, Deadly Night.
While his previous reboot efforts with Wrong Turn (2021) had deviated too far from the franchise’s roots and led to mixed results, Nelson’s new take is surprisingly fresh. In the Silent Night universe, any plotline is acceptable. With previous Christmas mayhem involving psychic powers, witch covens, giant larvae, killer robot boys, and more, it’s moot to pigeonhole the franchise into a single category. This flexibility allows the movie to incorporate a plot that embodies its own forms of “Christmas Magic” without feeling sporadic or out of place.
The sheer lunacy of the plot could easily lead to a disjointed film, but all the actors deliver great performances. Already no stranger to the role of a crazed holiday slasher, Rohan does a fantastic job as Billy. It’s easy to see how others quickly fall under Billy’s spell because he is charming. He makes it easy to ignore the alarmingly vibrant red flags when he’s on screen. Pamela, Billy’s love interest, is also played perfectly. Pamela is beyond unhinged and sporadic in her own right, but her naughtiness is outmatched by her kindness. All the other characters in Hackett are just as naughty and disturbed, but it’s obvious to see that the actors are having a great time working with the material.
The body count is surprisingly higher than one might assume. Creativity, for the most part, takes a back seat as most executions consist of heavy axe swings and plenty of splatter. With a limited budget, it doesn’t feel lacking — that is, excluding the film’s standout moment. Rather than showing the carnage in all its glory, there is a heavy reliance on sound effects. While the myriad of thuds, sloshes, and stomps help sell the scene, it becomes apparent that despite what is being heard, it doesn’t correlate to what is shown. There’s a disconnect between the sound effects and visual effects as we hear splatter, but we sure don’t see it. It doesn’t detract from the scene, but it does lead to a bit of longing for what could have truly been one of the messiest Christmas parties in cinematic history.
Silent Night, Deadly Night isn’t the greatest Christmas horror film of all time, but it’s an enjoyable ride. Strong performances and a fun plot help make the Christmas season a bit more cheery for even the grinchiest of fans. It’s a gift to slasher fans all around the world, no matter how naughty or nice.
