Lewis jackson writerdirector, john waters connoisseur of all things different. Storyline widely recognized as the best of the christmas horror efforts, christmas evil is the story of a boy who loves christmas. Personally i dont like either films, but i can see how some may consider this to be a cult classic. Dec 25, 2016 rare trailer for 1980 slasher christmas evil under its original title of you better watch out a strange kinetic mix of character study and slasher movie with blackly comic overtone. Christmas evil 1980 if youre bad, then your name goes in the bad boys and girls book, and then ill bring you something horrible. Sep 04, 2010 this a film that some may consider to be the definitive christmas slasher, next to silent night, deadly night, of course. By 1980, the slasher formula was already well established, and lewis jacksons attempt to break the mold. With brandon maggart, jeffrey demunn, dianne hull, andy fenwick. Christmas evil 1980 like eve, this american film, is known as the first of many films where a guy dresses up as santa claus and kills the locals christmas evil starts with the origin of main character harrys homicidal insanity. As far as christmas horror movies are concerned, i think the best and most frightening is 1980s christmas evil. I think part of the problem here is the way in which christmas evil has been marketed, clearly painting itself as a slasher film and hoping to attract the bloodthirsty audiences. If your idea of heartstopping insanity is a man humming christmas tunes and donating toys to mentally challenged children, this is the movie for.
Christmas evil 1980 like eve, this american film, is known as the first of many films where a guy dresses up as santa claus and kills the locals. Christmas evil on dvd 7903579022 from troma team video. Just in time for christmas especially since vinegar syndrome does not have any december titles forthcoming christmas evil hits bluraydvd combo to slay your holiday. A toy factory worker, mentally scarred as a child upon learning santa claus is not real, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a yuletide killing spree. Christmas evil cast starring mark margolis, rutanya alda, jeffrey demunn, robert lesser, chris browning. Among the first films to introduce horror with a christmas theme, lewis jacksons 1980 christmas evil boldly brings horror to the holidays. Writerdirector lewis jacksons 1980 film is different. Christmas evil aka you better watch out 1980 full movie youtube. Its much more of a character piece than a body count movie as you watch a man slip into insanity after becoming sick of it all. The plot follows a deranged man obsessed with santa claus who eventually goes on a murderous rampage dressed in a santa claus suit. Nov 17, 2015 christmas evil 1980 like eve, this american film, is known as the first of many films where a guy dresses up as santa claus and kills the locals christmas evil starts with the origin of main character harrys homicidal insanity. Rare trailer for 1980 slasher christmas evil under its original title of you better watch out a strange kinetic mix of character study and slasher movie with blackly comic overtone. Christmas evil is a 1980 psychological slasher film, directed by lewis jackson and starring brandon maggart. Nov 29, 2011 scrooged deserves to top so many lists best bill murray, best film based on dickens a christmas carol, best use of 12 sharp knives as a christmas gift, and, perhaps most importantly, best christmas film of the 1980s.
New years evil is a 1980 american slasher film written and directed by emmett alston, cowritten by leonard neubauer, and starring kip niven, roz kelly, and chris wallace. Richard donner directs this updated version of dickens classic tale as bill murray plays an egotistical, selfcentred. Keep reading to see what i heard on the commentary track for christmas evil. After he dons the santa costume, harry takes an extreme approach to the role, as he rewards the nice and punishes those who mock the spirit of christmas. Its only notable for the fact that it was the first of the halloween ripoffs to feature a. But by the time christmas evil has finished, youd be wishing that youd put that one instead to get your fill of foolish festive frights. Christmas evil is a 1980 american psychological slasher film written and directed by lewis jackson and starring brandon maggart. He is scarred as a boy when he learns that santa is not real. Christmas evil centres on harry stadling maggart, a man who works at the jolly dream toy factory and takes his job very seriously. Throughout the rest of his life, the toymaker tries to make the christmas spirit a reality. Dec 06, 2016 in 1980 the legend that was david hess directed his sole feature film with to all a good night, a slasher involving a christmas party, sorority girls and a crazed santa claus out for blood. The movie really isnt all that bad, but then it isnt all that good either, especially with that sillyass ending. A misunderstood gem from the very beginning, christmas evil was largely panned by critics for its slow pace, and the fact that it was billed as a slasher film but quite frankly was anything but hell, its barely even a horror film.
As he watches everyone around him mock the spirit of the holiday season, a seemingly ordinary man snaps and develops a murderous rage. Lewis jackson writerdirector, john waters connoisseur of. He is obsessed with the quality of the toys that the company produces and finds himself continuously belittled and frustrated by the company management who are more interested in the bottom line. Dec 04, 2014 keep reading to see what i heard on the commentary track for christmas evil. Everything in harrys life is a mess all because of that one incident as a child. In 1980 the legend that was david hess directed his sole feature film with to all a good night, a slasher involving a christmas party, sorority girls and.
Transferred from the directors own personal film elements, this version of christmas evil is the original first cut of the film containing even more scenes and neverbeforeseen footage. You can watch it on youtube if you are ever in the mood for a really depressingly wonderful christmas movie, look no further than christmas evil. With roz kelly, kip niven, chris wallace, grant cramer. Christmas evil 1980 was originally titled you better watch out. Christmas evil, 1980 a psycho in a santa suit gets to decide whos been naughty and whos been nice. For the times, this cult classic and the few titles that came before, risked being perceived as taboo. Time to hang those stockings from the fireplace and get ready. John waters says that this is the best seasonal film of all timetrue cinematic masterpiece.
Somewhere along the way, it altered course into something much more disturbing than mere killing. Natal diabolico christmas evil 1980 legendado 1080p fullhd nota. Like many horror soundtracks of the era, synthesisers. You better watch out, as it is also known, is a much better moniker, but still implies a more chilling threat than this movie presented. Synapse films presents christmas evil 1980 if youre bad, then your name goes in the bad boys and girls book, and then ill bring you something horrible.
Una pelicula dirigida por lewis jackson con brandon maggart, jeffrey demunn, dianne hull, joe jamrog. Terror in toyland, 1980s christmas evil amounts to little more than a crass attempt to hitch onto the holidayhorror gravy train initiated by john carpenters universally better halloween in 1978. Christmas evil sets up harry as being santa obsessed from the beginning. A top 10 list of christmas tvmovies from the 1980s and 1990s. The music is composed by the trio of don christenson, joel harris, and julia heywood, who created a score both menacing and upbeat, with tunes in the christmas tradition. Vinyl 10 don christensen, joel harris, julia heyward christmas evil you. Christmas evil 1980 eavesdropping on mother turns a boy into a killer brandon maggart who roams the streets dressed as santa claus. In fact, he wants to be santa claus, with a real suit, sleigh, and reindeer. Dcp projection writerdirector lewis jacksons 1980 film is different.
One dvd release of the film has a commentary track by john waters who claims the film to be the greatest christmas movie ever made. Rent christmas evil 1980 starring brandon maggart and dianne hull on dvd and bluray. Don christensen, joel harris, julia heyward christmas. Terror in toyland, 1980 s christmas evil amounts to little more than a crass attempt to hitch onto the holidayhorror gravy train initiated by john carpenters universally better halloween in 1978.
Dec 22, 2016 as far as christmas horror movies are concerned, i think the best and most frightening is 1980s christmas evil. Christmas evil you better watch out is the taxi driver of. Rent christmas evil 1980 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. In each scene where harry interacts with one child or a group of children, there is a noticeable lack of conviction in the child.
An illustration of a computer application window wayback machine an illustration of an open book. Not good creepy mind you, but creepy like that guy in your office with dandruff that doesnt seem to bathe. This movie was originally billed as a routine christmas horrorslasher flick. So what really happened at the end of christmas evil. Its much more of a character piece than a body count movie as you watch a man slip into insanity after becoming sick of it all and its really lead actor brandon maggarts. Its been compared to as the taxi driver at christmas and i pretty much agree with that comparison.
Ever since he learned the truth about santa, hes tried to make christmas a reality, wanting people to get the presents they deserve, even if that means the gift of murder. Dec 24, 2007 it seems wrong to criticize a childs acting abilities but in a film that puts child actors in front of the camera as much as christmas evil does, a critique must be made because the end product noticeably suffers. A deranged departmentstore santa becomes a coldblooded killer in this taut psychothriller that spends time looking back at the poor fellows life. Dec 15, 2017 not only had there been an abundance of christmas themed horror films coming at us from every different angle, but classic film of the same vein started popping up as well having been either released in a new formats such as blu ray and 4k presentations or they would begin to make their way to a variety of streaming platforms the likes of. Now, i can barely get through silent night, and i love christmas evil because it actually has substance and is more than topless girls being hacked to bits. Christmas evil 1980 like eve, this american film, is known as the first of many films where a guy dresses up as santa claus and kills the locals christmas evil starts with the origin of main character harrys.
Christmas evil is sad, touching, startling, and heartwarming all at once. This a film that some may consider to be the definitive christmas slasher, next to silent night, deadly night, of course. The legendary finale is as wondrous as the holiday itself. Christmas evil is not at all a good title, for the reasons ive just mentioned, especially since theres no one in the film thats evil in the capitalised sense of the word. Nov 09, 2012 christmas evil, 1980 a psycho in a santa suit gets to decide whos been naughty and whos been nice.
During the film he pulls out the sewing machine and an old fur wrap. Given that the movie was made in the 1980s, the hair isnt quite so big. Not a slasher film, but a taxi driveresque character study and one damn fine performance from fiona apples father, brandon maggart, as he slips into madness. Christmas evil originally titled you better watch out, also known as terror in toyland is a 1980 american psychological slasher film written and directed by lewis jackson and starring brandon maggart. Death waltz recording company are overjoyed to bring you a bit of early christmas spirit in the form of the score to the classic 1980 yuletide slasher movie christmas evil. It seems wrong to criticize a childs acting abilities but in a film that puts child actors in front of the camera as much as christmas evil does, a critique must be made because the end product noticeably suffers. Christmas evil 1980 stream and watch online moviefone. Its less a bloodsoaked parade of slaughtered teenagers than a character study about a man of principle who is pushed past the breaking point. After witnessing unacceptable christmas cynicism among his coworkers he dons a. May 27, 2016 the gore is stupid and the villain is creepy in christmas evil. Christmas evil 1980 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
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