How do you top a slasher classic?  The 1975 BLACK CHRISTMAS was scary as bitingly funny and oddly became a cult classic long before slasher films became a movie staple diet.  If you can’t recall Canadian Bob Clark’s (PORKY’S) original, rent it or catch it on TV on the scream channel.  Why was the original so fantastic?  Clark whose only projects at the time included films like (great titles, aren’t they?) CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS and DEAD DREAMS, knows how to jolt the audience out of their seats without blood and gore. The open ending was great as well as the casting of Canadian Margot Kidder as the constantly drunk but cleverly outspoken sorority mother.  It helps for Canadians that the film was shot at Hart House, a favourite haunt for University of Toronto undergrads and graduates.

The new version of BLACK CHRISTMAS opening Christmas Day holds to the spirit of the original BLACK CHRISTMAS.  It opens with a asylum cell scene in which a dispirited worker in Santa garb delivers festive goodies to the inmates, one of which is the killer.  Margot Kidder is absent, but the humour is provided by Canadian and SCTV staple Andrea Martin (MY GREAT BIG GREEK WEDDING) as the house mother.  Martin had a small role of Phyllis in the original.  Bill Lenz is coming to town!  The story concerns Lenz who is coming home for Christmas.  Trouble is that he is a psychotic serial killer who escapes to continue his festive tradition of killing in a sorority house full of screaming girls led by Katie Cassidy (WHEN A STRANGER CALLS).

Though not as inventive and fun as the original, writer and director Morgan’s BLACK CHRISTMAS delivers what it promises – a slasher film set during Christmas with lots of festive joy and horror!  Like the film says – Come home to bury the hatchet, though it might be in your head!  The Christmas tree decorated with popped eyeballs, the icicle that impales a screaming victim and the candy cane sucked to form a sharp weapon all give new meaning to the term Christmas highlights.  Well musically scored, edited and shot with effective camera positioning, this film is not half bad.  BLACK CHRISTMAS also offers a fair alternative to the numerous feel-good films playing during the season.  Christmas films can be naughty besides being just nice!