Check Out the Trailer

Here’s the plot — a lunatic killer stalks a sorority house. You’re probably moving onto the next review right about now. If not, then you might learn more about one of the most underrated horror films of all time.

Just off the top of my head the film clearly influenced HALLOWEEN and WHEN A STRANGER CALLS and horror fans will also see parallels to NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and FRIDAY THE 13TH as well. And let’s not forget all the SLUMBER PARTY and SOROITY HOUSE MASSACRE-type films that ripped off the film’s premise. When it comes to slasher films, this is one of the all-time best.

As the film begins, the sorority house is having a party to celebrate the Christmas vacation. From the point of view of the heavy breathing killer — we watch as the mad man stalks the house and climbs into the attic. Jessica Bradford (Olivia Hussey, ROMEO & JULIET) is torn about telling her high-strung boyfriend Peter (Keir Dullea, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY) that she is pregnant and plans to have an abortion. Barbie Coard (Margot Kidder, SUPERMAN) is rejected for the holidays and goes on a drinking binge, which leads her to lash out at everyone. Virgin Clare Harrison (Lynne Griffin, STRANGE BREW) gets most of Barb’s flack. The rest of the plot I will keep secret.

Other key characters include Lt. Kenneth Fuller (John Saxon, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET), drunken house mother Mrs. Mac (Marian Waldman), brainy Phyllis Carlson (Andrea Martin, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING), Clare’s hockey-playing boyfriend Chris Hayden (Art Hindle, PORKY’S) and dimwitted desk sergeant Nash (Doug McGrath, PORKY’S).

Bob Clark directed the film. He’s obviously a talent who has one of the most eclectic (nice way of saying it) resumes one may ever see. He helmed the classic A CHRISTMAS STORY as well as its less than stellar sequel IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY. He also directed the notorious PORKY’S as well as its infamously bad sequel PORKY’S II: THE NEXT DAY. Of late, he’s been relegated to making awful kid’s films like BABY GENIUSES and THE KARATE DOG. He’s made some questionable project choices for sure. RHINESTONE anyone? But I digress.

Here Clark constructs a taut thriller that is more about atmosphere and creepiness than gore. Roy Moore’s screenplay is surprisingly good, bucking horror clichés before the clichés were even established. Who would of thought that a sorority house slasher film would be a feminist argument? That’s what it is right from the first killing to the ambiguous ending.

The cast is also unusually good for a film of this kind. The beautiful Hussey is captivating in the lead. Kidder plays a wonderfully resentful drunk, who says inappropriate things to push people’s buttons and prove to herself that she is in control. Waldman’s character serves as comic relief and she plays it perfectly.

Ironic imagery always plays a key role in any great horror film and this film delivers from the shot of the attic window to the solo eye. When you see them you’ll know what I mean. Moreover, the obscene phone calls are unforgettable. Hollywood is remaking this one in time for the holidays and I have a great deal of trepidation about it being good. PSYCHO is so well established that a bad remake doesn’t hurt its reputation, but this film is undervalued and a bad remake could taint this movie forever. That would be a shame because BLACK CHRISTMAS is the real deal — it’s horror at its best.