Black Christmas

(aka 'Silent Night, Evil Night' or 'Stranger in the House')

directed by Bob Clark
USA 1974

This truly is a classic horror film that acts as a bridge of sorts between the horror movies of old and what was to come in the more modern ones. It is a throwback in that it never reveals many things, such as the killer’s past, their motives, or even shows the killings themselves. It’s all left to you to decipher. But while its means are of the old school, the story is all too modern – a male killer stalking young women, a loved holiday turned violent, and a heroine who must overcome her own fear to survive a madman who seems inhuman. Director Bob Clark creates a feeling of dread that begins as soon as you see the killer ascend the trellis and that lasts well past the film has ended. And as cut and dry as the film could be, as easy as having just a mysterious murderer chasing down nubile teens, Clark complicates things by creating a madman that seems to be living and re-living a secret past which we can only dreadfully imagine, adding a layer to the film that keeps you unnerved. This is a film about the hidden horrors of childhood and the horrors in becoming an adult, never finding a safe place in either world and always on the verge of becoming a victim. Black Christmas is as much a film about the horrors of what a before you as it is about the horror laying within us all, hidden from view but there just the same.

Excerpt from Jackass Critics located HERE

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Theatrical Release: October 11th, 19741

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DVD Comparison:

Eclectic DVD Dist. (25th Anniversary) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Somerville House (Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC

(Eclectic DVD Dist. (25th Anniversary) - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Somerville House (Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	Eclectic DVD Dist. (25th Anniversary) Region 0 - NTSC	Somerville House (Special Edition) Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:37:33	1:37:39
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.83 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.19 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate : Eclectic - 25th Anniversay
Bitrate: Somerville (Special Edition)
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital Mono), DUB: French (Dolby Digital Mono)
Subtitles	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Eclectic DVD Dist. Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Edition Details: • 2 interviews with John Saxon • Text filmographies • Theatrical Trailer (2:10 / 4:3) DVD Release Date: November 6th, 2001 Keep case Chapters 14	Release Information: Studio: Somerville House (Special Edition) Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Two newly-discovered original scenes with a new vocal soundtrack • "The 12 Days of Black Christmas" featurette • Interview segments with Olivia Hussey, Art Hindle and Margot Kidder • Midnight screening Q&A with John Saxon, Bob Clark, and Carl Zittrer DVD Release Date: December 5th, 2006 Keep Case Chapters 36

Comments:

The Eclectic DVD release from 2001 used the 'negative' ratio where the new Somerville House Special Edition uses the intended theatrical ratio of 1.85 (cropped slightly for anamorphicity at 1.78). You can see how much information you were missing with the Eclectic edition (and its not much) but more importantly the new Special Edition offers us the film in its intended theatrical ratio - certainly an important benefit. The new release is also brighter, but I suspect it has been artificially induced. Hence you can see some differences in the colors. Neither are progressively transferred (see last capture) but the 'combing' on the SE is finer and less intrusive - still this is a black mark on the DVD image quality. Artifacts are visible on both and I wouldn't say the newer release is extensively sharper at all. The older release is on a single layered disc and the new is dual layered.

The new SE offers far more supplements and they are fairly interesting for this campy cult favorite. I saw it fairly close to the time it was originally released and it's a film that definitely stays with you. Its reputation is deserved and it's is worth a spin when you are in the mood.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Eclectic DVD Dist. (25th Anniversary) - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Somerville House (Special Edition) - Region 0 - NTSC RIGHT)

Screen Captures