Black Christmas

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Black Christmas

R

Released Dec 20, 1974

1h 38m

Holiday

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder), begin to receive anonymous, lascivious phone calls. Initially, Barb eggs the caller on, but stops when he responds threateningly. Soon, Barb's friend Clare (Lynne Griffin) goes missing from the sorority house, and a local adolescent girl is murdered, leading the girls to suspect a serial killer is on the loose. But no one realizes just how near the culprit is.

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Critics Consensus

The rare slasher with enough intelligence to wind up the tension between bloody outbursts, Black Christmas offers fiendishly enjoyable holiday viewing for genre fans.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

Made at a time when there were as yet no fixed rules for the slasher subgenre, here anything goes, and the survival of neither virgin nor even final girl comes guaranteed.

Nov 13, 2017

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Variety Staff

Variety

Only Marian Waldman as the house-mother comes across with any life.

Dec 27, 2006

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Time Out

The film still manages a good slice of old-fashioned suspense.

Jun 24, 2006

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Scores thanks to its stylish visuals, fiendishly inventive slaughter and unexpected twists.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 31, 2024

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Preston Barta

Denton Record-Chronicle

For those in search of more “slay” than “sleigh,” 'Black Christmas' offers a chilling experience.

Oct 25, 2024

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Bob Clark's Black Christmas is a masterful exercise in tension. That it happens to be one of the most progressive horror films of the '70s is just an added bonus.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 21, 2024

Full Review

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Audience Member

I been wanting to see this movie for a long time did not disappoint me the score i really liked it. It felt scary i haven't really been on edge in a slasher in a while the main character got better overtime the house is very iconic and how it's filmed just felt like actual filmmaker made the movie and editing is what i really liked the ending i liked how the villan won even tho not really because jess is still alive

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

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Mark J

Such a strong film. Really set the slasher genre going and the structure and scenes from the killers perspective are a good way to get multiple view points in the film. The ending with everyone realising the killer is in the house is now popular everywhere showing how much of an impact this film has had.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

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Maka H

Really scary movie, good classic slasher with an interesting story, characters are loveable and interesting and the whole movie gives you a really homely feel

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/03/24

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Alec B

What's really interesting is that while the movie may have started a number of tropes, just about everything still feels fresh and terrifying. There are so many odd little quirks here (the filmmakers were unafraid of humor) that makes the movie feel anything but ordinary.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/01/24

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Audience Member

This Movie never gets enough credit for its role in helping to create the slasher genre, as it came out even before Halloween. It has a lot of the elements that would later become prominent in slashers and it executes them all fairly well. For being one of the first in its field, its not bad at all.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/26/24

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adsadsad d

Incredible performances all around, the cast all keep themselves grounded in reality while also delivering the films more comedic lines with great effect. Overall ground breaking for the horror genre as a whole and a must see holiday cult classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/24/24

Full Review

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Bob Clark

Director

Olivia Hussey

Jessica Bradford

Margot Kidder

Barbie Coard

Keir Dullea

Peter Smythe

John Saxon

Lt. Ken Fuller

Marian Waldman

Mrs. Mac

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Synopsis

As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder), begin to receive anonymous, lascivious phone calls. Initially, Barb eggs the caller on, but stops when he responds threateningly. Soon, Barb's friend Clare (Lynne Griffin) goes missing from the sorority house, and a local adolescent girl is murdered, leading the girls to suspect a serial killer is on the loose. But no one realizes just how near the culprit is.

Director: Bob Clark
Producer: Bob Clark
Screenwriter: Roy Moore
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Eclectic DVD Distribution, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Film Funding Ltd. of Canada, Famous Players, August Films, Vision IV, Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
Rating: R
Genre: Holiday, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 1974, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 13, 2016
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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