Movie Review: 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' Delivers Chaotic Horror Worthy Of The Holiday Season

9/12 ForReel Score | 4/5 Stars

It was pretty likely that I was going to be pleased by Silent Night, Deadly Night no matter what it did. The 1984 original is a chaotic riot. A product of a simpler, less polished era of indie horror that I’ve hoped to harken back to for some time. The success of Cineverse’s Terrifier franchise began this mission to de-elevate horror, but given the disturbing scandals that have befallen Damien Leone and company, it is time to move on. Thankfully, this yuletide slasher delivers both the cheap thrills I was hoping for and a surprisingly compelling central conceit that keeps things fun instead of calloused and exploitative. 

We meet Billy Chapman (Rohan Campbell) in the midst of his yearly December killing spree. Each night of the advent calendar, he dresses up as Santa Claus and takes out at least one person. These slayings aren’t entirely random. Charlie (Mark Acheson), a snarling but sympathetic voice in Billy’s head, guides him towards “naughty” people who have committed acts worthy of being taken out. Billy starts to have doubts about carrying these murders out when he takes a job at a holiday store in the town he’s currently hiding out in. He starts crushing on Pam (Ruby Modine), the daughter of the store’s owner (David Lawrence Brown), especially after she violently defends her nephew from a pair of bullies. Unfortunately, there are plenty of unsavory folks in this town, including a child kidnapper who wears a less festive Santa costume. Essentially, this is a Christmas-y Dexter with a dash of Venom thrown in. 

Usually this type of film cheaps out on the cast, but this ensemble is surprisingly strong. Campbell, who I personally enjoyed in the controversial Halloween Ends, delivers another solid take on a horror icon. We genuinely believe that Billy wants to change his ways. He even has odd rules, particularly an aversion to guns that leads him to use an ax even in the most impractical scenarios. When Charlie takes over, his body language is on autopilot. The killing is learned but not necessarily enjoyed. Ruby Modine is both lovely and fiery as Billy’s true crime obsessed love interest. He worries that she’ll shun him once she learns about his true nature, but there’s a lingering sense that she may not. Mark Acheson does terrific voicework as Charlie. The “voice in my head” gag has been done to death but Acheson turns it into a caring best friend with a sadistic side. A cuddlier Captain Spaulding. 

Since this is releasing Unrated, one might expect a level of gore and torture akin to Terrifier. This doesn’t hit that level. Yes there are some beheadings and disembowelings but they’re quick. They’re usually part of larger action sequences, particularly a riotous confrontation Billy has with a cavalcade of Neo-Nazis that quickly fall to his blade. Director Mike P Nelson doesn’t have the most spectacular eye for fighting and slashing but he gets the job done and the gore we do see is executed with delightful practical effects. The cinematography is perhaps a bit too polished for my taste. I would've preferred a gritter, grainer 80s grindhouse look, but that’s a nitpick. 

I cannot imagine how a Silent Night, Deadly Night remake could’ve gone any better than this. It deviates from the premise of the first film enough to feel original while still entirely capturing the charm and spirit of it. It even partakes in a tiny bit of fan service without being cringy. I could absolutely see this becoming a yearly holiday watch for horror fans, especially if it ends up spawning a franchise. I hope it does, because the ending foreshadows a sequel that could get even wilder. I hope that like the original Silent Night, Deadly Night 2, it begins with a recap of the original that takes up a huge chunk of the runtime. Tradition must be honored.