Rating: 
Summary: Okay, but not a CLASSIC.
Review: Black Christmas is another one of those movies that seems to have gained a reputation of being better than it actually is.At a certain holiday (I won't spoil it for you) a group of sorority sisters is killed off one-by-one by a maniac who calls and breaths heavily into the phone. Both Halloween and When a Stranger Calls took elements from this movie. I'd rank this movie somewhere above Stranger and well below Halloween. The one thing that separates Black Christmas from all the slashers that followed Halloween is the fact that these girls have a lot of depth. They are not just given problems for the sake of having something to talk about. The problems actually build character and figure into the main story. The murders (the benchmark of all slasher movies) are creative if not suspenseful. And the killer has as good a reason as any other I've heard for killing in these movies. The Canadian DVD apparently has some things that the U.S. DVD doesn't, so if you really like the movie and want to make the extra effort try to find it instead. Mildly recommended for historical value and Margot Kidder's performance.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best horror movies
Review: I got this video a week ago and this is the best horror movie I have seen in a while. The bizarre telefone calls are frightening. There is great acting especially by Olivia Hussey as the heroine and a great performance by Margot Kidder. The movie is about a sorority house that is getting chilling phone calls from a crazy psycho. The killer goes bolistic and kills sorority sisters one by one. The prime suspect is Jesse's (Olivia Hussey)boyfriend Peter. Is Peter the killer? Little do the sorority sisters know that the killer is right above them in their attic. The movie might drag the plot a little but that will be made up for its great and creepy ending. This movie came out before Halloween by 4 years. This is a movie that will make you stay up all night. This maybe a hard movie to get, but when you finally get it, it was worth the wait. Bob Clark did a great job setting the frightning mood in the story. Black Christmas is one of the best horror films in a while and they don't seem to make them like this anymore.
Rating: 
Summary: This is the real grandfather of the Modern slasher pic
Review: I've been watching horror flicks since I could form whole sentences, so nothing really surprises me anymore. Where others are cowering behind couches and covering their eyes, I'm like, "Please, that isn't even remotely scary." Well, if I were to show "Black Christmas" to those fools, they'd probably die outright of fright. I finally saw it last year, and let me tell you, that was the first time in my life I actually looked into the closet to make sure no one was hiding behind the door. The plot in a nutshell goes like this: a sorority house is emptying as Christmas break approaches. A few sisters are staying a few extra days. Little do they know, someone has climbed into the attic (someone clearly warped and insane), and begins to pick them off one by one. Oh, and he makes threatening phone class (scary as heck) to them before he kills them. Not until there's only one girl left are the calls traced to the room upstairs. If you're thinking this is all pretty standard so far, remember this: BLACK CHRISTMAS was made a full four years before HALLOWEEN and WHEN A STRANGER CALLS. While HALLOWEEN is probably the more exciting of the two, BLACK CHRISTMAS is the scarier one, and pretty much set the stage and the standard for the all the clones that would follow. It's chills and frights are not based on BOO! moments but escalating dread and and oppressive atmosphere. The cast does pretty well: Olivia Hussey as the kind but tough heroine, Margot Kidder as the foulmouthed alcoholic in the house, Andrea Martin as the wry but vulnerable sister. And you just don't find endings like this one in recent slasher pics. SCREAM, while entertaining, is not about true fear. BLACK CHRISTMAS is. Bottom line: This movie isn't perfect, but it comes close. It knows exactly how to scare: by focusing on what we don't see, by imagining what is happening just beyond our line of sight. And that's a hundred times scarier than a lame killer in a ghostface mask and a cell phone who trips every time he chases someone. There's no "cutesy" horror in BLACK CHRISTMAS. See SCREAM/URBAN LEGEND/I KNOW WHAT YOU DID/etc. for that vapid stuff.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST HORROR EVER!!!!!!
Review: I am an extreme horror collector. I have been viewing, collecting, and building my 20 best horror films of all time. Well, after finally locating this masterpiece after many years I have finally found my number one. To all of you doubters, understand what this first and best slasher move has to offer... 1. The all-time scariest maniac, "Billy" -- Just because he is so freaky and unpredictable. He runs instead of walking, knocks stuff over, uses several weapons, talks to his prey, plays with his dead prey, tells his prey what he is going to do to them, has at least three personalities, goes into rages, and sings songs. Top that Jason or Freddy. 2. Now familiar settings that just seem fresh. I know that its hard to believe that a frat house could ever be fresh, but it is in this movie. Amazing! 3. Comedy! Yes, all great horror movies need to have at least a little comedy in them. And B.C. has it fair share. Not too much but enough for you to let your guard down. 4. Intensity. When the killer "Billy" stalks a victim, you feel like you are being chased also. You can see kills coming but they still make you jump. 5. Last but not least - One killer eye scene that will make you scream like a little girl! I just can't go on enough about this film. It has everything. You have to see this movie to understand how many other films have ripped it off. It is so great that this masterpiece is finally getting some of the credit it deserves. Buy it Now!!!
Rating:
Summary: Agnes? It's Me, Billy!
Review: These ordinary mundane words will chill your blood after one viewing of "Black Christmas", certainly among the finest horror films ever made. Starring Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder and Andrea Martin,
the film begins as an urban legend come to life: the old standby of the psycho stalking the college sorority house. The thing about urban legends though is that they usually stem from a grain of truth. While this film was released way back in 1974, I believe it's still as timely as ever in our violent and repressive society. Inspiring a host of imitators, including horror standards such as Halloween & When a Stranger Calls, as well as lesser knowns like Don't Answer the Phone & Don't Look in the Basement, Black Christmas was one of the first to bring the terror home. The villain stalks his prey in the one place where they feel safest - their own home. Many viewers of my generation still shudder upon hearing that famous quote, "He's calling from inside of the house - get out of the house!" (When a Stranger Calls) But BC had already been there and done that in a big way. While the film works famously on all levels for any horror audience, I think it resonates most deeply with young women who will soon be facing adulthood, and moving away from home and familiarity. This is the *ideal* horror movie for a slumber or Halloween party. The best recommendation I can give the film is this: It's been almost 20 years since I've set eyes on it and I'm giddy with the anticipation of seeing it again. I could go on and on but I need to log off and clear the line - I'm expecting a phone call...
Rating:
Summary: Great mid-70's Horror Flick
Review: I just received my copy of this movie today and I really liked it. It has a very spooky atmosphere and the Soriority house is the perfect place for the murders. The movie has u guessing to the end and unfortunately, it never properly reveal the killer but the killer's harassing phone calls are so chilling that it makes "When A Stranger Calls" look amateurish. To sum it up, this movie ranks up there with "Dawn Of The Dead" and "Texas Chainsaw Masacre". Definately paved the way for other less than stellar horror movies and even though it was made in 1974, it still can give u chills. A Killer on Christmas, what can be better!!!
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent movie
Review: This movie scared me to death when I first saw it. Of course, I always knew it as Stranger in the House when I first saw it during its many cable runs in the early 80's. One other thing that amazes me is that none of the reviews here has mentioned the history of this film and probably one of the the reasons why this film is so underrated. At the same time when this movie was released in 1975, a serial killer struck at a the University of Florida by bludgeoning a couple of female nursing students with a baseball bat. That killer was none other than Ted Bundy, thus this movie was pulled from circulation for a while because the murders made shocking national headlines, and probably ( though I can't confirm, is why it was changed to Stranger in the House). Overall, a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: Great scary movie
Review: I saw this movie in the early 80's on TV as "Stranger in the House". It was so scary and well done, I remembered it well but could never find it on video. I did some research and found it had been released under "Black Christmas". It is definitely a classic and is still as scary as ever. Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder are just right for the parts they play. I didn't remember them looking that young though. One of the best scary movies ever made and one you won't forget.
Rating:
Summary: Creepy expose' on repressed emotion
Review: Although the film looks dated,"Black Christmas",is easily one of the most unnerving,chilling,and horrific cinematic experiences ever created.It strikes at the core of what terrifies us the most,being terrorized in our own homes or dwellings,our last refuge from the evils of the world.To add to the terror and intensity,the homicidal maniac stalking the young ladies in the sorrority has multiple personality disorder,shifting abruptly between sorrow,anger,hatred,sexual excitement,fear,and pure rage.The phone calls he makes illustrate how deep his psychosis is,it's obvious he's not recovering anytime soon,and the only way he feels he can relieve the pain is to destroy the hate object,which in this film is Women.This is the rare film that gets under your skin and stays there long after it's conclusion.I saw this on television in 1976,and it still gives me chills,i still have this intense feeling of dread with regards to attics,and i'm sure you will too after seeing this.Much has been said about Margot Kidder's performance,and although it is effective,Olivia Hussey is the real foundation to the film.As the independent,intelligent,courageous,mature young woman she's the xcellent counterpoint to the sexual repressed,immature,childlike,developmentally disabled homicidal maniac.I highly recommend this classic of the Horror/Suspense/Thriller genre,but i would also suggest waiting to see if Anchor Bay will be releasing this in a special edition with extras.From the edition details it seems the DVD only consists of the film itself.
Rating:
Summary: This is the scariest slasher movie of all time !
Review: I started watching this movie by chance when it came on TV and by the end i was so shaken up i turned the TV off and ran upstairs to the safe confines of my room...and I`m almost 30! Everything about this movie makes for a great horror film from the inspired casting of a leading lady you actually care about and the spine-tingling direction to a genuinely chilling finale. Trust me..this is the scariest slasher movie of all time and in my opinion will and can never be bettered-what more can i say-just buy the DVD!
| 
