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Black Christmas (Special Edition) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Les Carlson, Marcia Diamond, Keir Dullea, Lynne Griffin, Robert Hawkins
Studio: Somerville House
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $6.24
You Save: $8.74 (58%)
New (32) Used (12) Collectible (1) from $6.07
Rating:  278 reviews
Sales Rank: 12955
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Special Edition, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 98 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: KCHDSOM2419D
UPC: 880934124191
EAN: 0880934124191
ASIN: B000IMUYJM
Theatrical Release Date: December 20, 1974
Release Date: December 5, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: ******BRAND NEW****** ** Over 1.5 million orders shipped worldwide and more than 500 000 items in stock, BUY FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE, ESTABLISHED SINCE 1998 - INETVIDEO ~~~
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Product Description
An ill-fated houseful of sorority sisters are stalked by a psychopath during the christmas season. Studio: Koch International Release Date: 12/05/2006 Starring: Olivia Hussey Margot Kidder Run time: 98 minutes
Amazon.com
You may never have heard of this neglected 1974 gem, but you've probably seen one of its many imitators. Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder (also look for Andrea Martin of SCTV fame) star as two residents of a sorority house that is emptying out as Christmas approaches. The atmosphere is jolly and carefree, except for an ongoing series of menacing telephone calls, and, oh yes, we've just seen someone climb into the attic with apparent ill intent. Kidder does some scene-stealing as the bad girl, Hussey illustrates one of the downsides to having beautiful long '70s hair, and Keir Dullea does a nice turn as the creepy boyfriend. Director Robert Clark knows that the unseen is far scarier than what can be seen and he ratchets up the tension beautifully, making good use of ominous shadows, and putting in nice touches like replacing the sound of a distraught woman's scream with the piercing ring of yet another ominous phone call. This is a terrific, well-made little movie that is genuinely sleep-with-the-lights-on scary. Don't miss it. --Ali Davis
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| Customer Reviews: Read 273 more reviews...
 And all through the house, not a creature was stirring... except maybe Billy December 29, 2008
James Seger (The Woodlands, TX United States)
Black Christmas is a fun, old slasher pic. One that eschews most of the slasher film formulas for the better (not surprising since this was done before there was a 'slasher film' genre). The characters behave realisticly and they respond to threats in ways that won't make you angry.
The movie has a nicely creepy opening and a terrific half hour of an ending. The problem is that there's forty minutes or so in the middle that is sorta draggy. It isn't wasted time or anything, but maybe shoul have been paced better.
Still, 'Billy' is genuinely scary. The obscene calls will make your flesh crawl and that 'eye behind the door' shot really haunts me. Easily worth watching (and the remake isn't as bad as you've heard either).
 Merry Christmas Billy (It's Been 34 Years Since You Terrorized The Sisters of Pi Kappa Sig on Christmas Eve) December 25, 2008
J. B. Hoyos (Chesapeake, VA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Black Christmas" is an original, innovative holiday slasher flick that influenced countless imitations, including John Carpenter and Debra Hill's highly successful "Halloween." Directed by the versatile Bob Clark (director of the zombie horror hit "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things" as well as the heartwarming family comedy "A Christmas Story"), "Black Christmas" is a Canadian horror gem that has its own cult following and a website: ItsMeBilly.com. Though it never spawned a sequel, a successful remake was released in 2006.
The plot is chilling, suspenseful, and realistic. A few days before Christmas, an unknown psychopath sneaks into the attic of a sorority house. He makes obscene phone calls that terrify the residents. One girl (Claire Harrison played by Lynne Griffin of "Curtains") is suffocated with a dry cleaning bag and her corpse seated in a rocking chair in the attic. She remains there throughout the storyline, unknown to those below.
The viewer never sees the killer's face. All we learn about him is that his name is Billy and he had a sister named Agnes. He may have killed her. Before killing a victim, he refers to her as "Agnes."
The cast is great. John Saxon ("A Nightmare on Elm Street") is Lieutenant Kenneth Fuller who is investigating Claire's disappearance. Olivia Hussey ("Psycho IV") is the pregnant heroine, Jessica Bradford, who is terrorized by her angry boyfriend, Peter Smythe (Keir Dullea). Seventies scream queen Margot Kidder ("Sisters" and "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud") is the depressed alcoholic student, Barb Coard. Art Hindle (of David Cronenberg`s "The Brood") is Claire's worried boyfriend, Chris Hayden. Andrea Martin ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") is the only actor to star in the 2006 remake. Playing a student, Phyllis Carlson, in the original, Martin returns in the remake as the sorority housemother.
"Black Christmas" is a creepy, atmospheric horror slasher with a downbeat, open ending; it reminded me of the ending in "The House on Sorority Row." "Black Christmas" is a must see for fans of holiday slasher fare and slasher flicks in general. It is definitely a holiday horror classic. Watch it back to back with the remake for an interesting perspective on how horror films have evolved over the past thirty years.
Merry Christmas! And may all your Christmases be black!!!
Much Better Than The Recent Version December 23, 2008
L. Williams (illinois)
I first saw Black Christmas many years ago when I rented it on VHS at Blockbuster; so you know it was awhile back. I love 70's & 80's horror movies. I don't know if its' the creepy atmospheric scenery or what, but I love old horror movies from this time period. I like Black Christmas for the most part because you never get to see the killer; you only hear his creepy, crackling, high pitched screams on the other end of the telephone. I also love Margo Kidders' character, as a crass talking, booze drinking, bitchy housemate. I will say to anyone who loves horror movies; get Black Christmas and add it to your collection, you won't be disappointed.
An Underrated and Overlooked Christmas Horror Classic December 19, 2008
Kasey Driscoll (Raynham, MA United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have to say, the original Black Christmas is a film that I only saw in bits and pieces until recently. I hate admitting it, but I also saw the remake in its entirety first. I even made the mistake of thinking When a Stranger Calls was made first. Black Christmas is the first movie to use the old "The calls are coming from inside the house" cliché. This oversight is also consistent with my overlooking Black Christmas as creating the template for slasher movies, and instead giving sole credit to the classic Halloween, which was made years later. So, Black Christmas was unquestionably crucial in the development of horror films in the years to come. It is monumental in that sense several times over, but it also happens to be a film that possesses both schocking and creepy moments, and an outstanding horror atmosphere that is strongly assisted by unique camerawork and a great score. This really is a hugely significant movie for those of us who care about horror films.
Black Christmas is directed by Bob Clark, who, ironically perhaps, directed the Christmas movie standard, A Christmas Story. It stars John Saxson and Olivia Hussey. I remember Hussey fondly from seeing her as Juliet in the 1968 film version of Romeo & Juliet. I've always thought that she could very well be one of the most attractive women to ever exist. It also stars Margot Kidder and Andrea Martin before anyone knew who they were.
The story is supposedly based on some real-life events that took place in Montreal around Christmas. A sorority house begins getting random obscene calls that get more and more obscene, and eventually descend to bizarre madness and threats of murder. People go missing and the calls continue. This is paralleled with a side story of Jessica's (Hussey) relationship with Peter (Keir Dullea) that eventually works effectively toward the movie's climax.
The film ends mysteriously and with subtle despair. It was more than appropriate and actually quite terrifying. This is an important movie that will scare you. It is also a welcome change of pace from the many sappy holiday films we might see this time of year. I highly recommend this classic.
 A holiday classic with real suspense November 8, 2008
Robin Solsjö Höglund (Skellefteå, Sweden)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Finally seeing it after all too long, I was glad to see that Black Christmas really holds up. The story of a regular group of sorority girls stalked and murdered by a madman is very much a chilling, suspenseful and engrossing tale. What really works best is how the killer, who is perhaps called Billy, is kept entirely a mystery. We don't know where he comes from, why he does what he does, and often see things from his perspective up in the dark attic. His rants, screams, whispers, glances and shadow is what makes for a really frightening film to this very day.
There are weaker parts to the film though. Margot Kidder is at the forefront of weak sex jokes, and there's also a lot of goofing off with police detectives trying to crack the case.
Overall, I can highly recommend Black Christmas. But this is a case where the original and remake is night and day, so make sure you see the original film. It will give you shivers just in time for a cozy Christmas night, when you're not sure who is coming to visit at night..
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