Rating: 
Summary: "Christmas Evil" -a rare, artistic gem!
Review: A.K.A. "Terror in Toyland", "You Better Watch Out!"Other reviews have already covered the main lines of the story, so I will focus a bit on the dvd releases. In addition to the Troma dvd release, I had also previewed the Diamond Entertainment release, paired with "Silent Night Bloody Night". The same print transfer was used for both releases, as evidenced by the same digital artifacts which appear at the same point near the beginning of the movie.
Compared to previous, poor quality, chopped-up videotape releases of this title over the past few years, both the Troma and Diamond dvds are a vast improvement! One cannot go wrong with either edition. Despite some slight flaws and scratches in the print, it was like experiencing this film for the first time. I may be mistaken (I had long since given away my Diamond copy), but the Troma release seems to provide a better audio track.
The commentary and interviews on the Troma edition (another advantage of that disc) were quite enjoyable as well. It's good to see these type of films receive this kind of five-star treatment. As evidenced from the informative audio commentary, director Lewis Jackson had done considerable research into the various legends pertaining to the Santa Clause figure, of which Santa as an Old Testament Yahweh-like "judge" is perhaps the least known or regarded. The music and audio soundscapes were strikingly, hauntingly well-done in the sequences of Harry/Santa driving his sleigh-van to bring gifts to the "Willow" childrens hospital, up through the scenes of the massacre upon the church steps and following.
What superb music and sound editing that went into that sequence of scenes!
As previous reviews have stated, this is not typical film representative of the "slasher" genre,- and will perhaps disappoint those expecting such - but a more artistic and psychological realization and handling of a disturbed man who undergoes a gradual transformation into becoming "Santa Clause", in both the mythical figure's attribute of "goodness" (e.g., the magical scene that transpires at the Willow hospital) and that of harsh "judgement" (that transpires upon the church steps). Lewis Jackson laments the fact in his commentary that he handled certain material of the film too subtly - unlike the later Santa slasher flicks done by others.
Yet this is precisely why I enjoy and appreciate this film and regard it a rare, artistic gem.
Rating: 
Summary: Christmas Evil (1980)
Review: CHRISTMAS EVIL is a surprisingly chilling, effective and well-made horror film that rubs off as more of a character study than a true slasher film. As a boy, Harry saw his mother making love with Santa Claus, and in his adulthood, he owns a toy store called 'Jolly Dream'. Little do the townspeople and the employees know that Harry is now a crazed killer - Santa's number one fan - and he'll do anything to keep the tradition going by keeping track of who has been naughty and who has been nice. Brandon Maggart is exceptional as the psycho Santa in this atmospheric and frightening tale that mixes in some humour as well. The music and sound is equally great, combining the superb effects of orchestral pieces to synth to make the ultimate in terror soundtrack. This horror movie, though a little slow-moving at times, is a little gem that has finally been rewarded with a DVD release, and rightfully so. This could obviously be the (ahem) second best Christmas horror film, falling right under the place of BLACK CHRISTMAS. CHRISTMAS EVIL was released under two alternate titles - TERROR IN TOYLAND, YOU BETTER WATCH OUT.
Rating:
Summary: CLASSIC HOLIDAY THRILLER IS VERY EFFECTIVE
Review: CHRISTMAS EVIL is one of those little classics that has gained a cult following and has managed to keep a low profile through the years. Sometimes confused with other movies like BLACK CHRISTMAS or SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT (and for the record all 3 movies are very different) CHRISTMAS EVIL is not so much a horror movie as it is a dark comedy about a man's journey into insanity. I don't want you to get the wrong impression since CHRSITMAS EVIL isn't a comedy, but it is light hearted in the way it shows and depicts the main character believing he is Santa Clause. Which brings us to the story. A man, who was traumatized as a boy by seeing his mother getting laid by old st. Nick, grows up into believing he is the real, better Santa Clause and can bring good to the world. Its almost hard to describe exactly what makes this movie so good or what makes this movie so scary. You really have to see it to believe it. It takes you on a journey into the mind of a mentally disturbed individual while showing us violence and comedy all in the happy holiday setting. And as for the ending which many people say is confusing.....it's not confusing if you think it over and have a little faith. CHRISTMAS EVIL is a christmas classic indeed.
Rating:
Summary: X-mass Murder
Review: Harry has a problem. He's an adult with the mind of a child. Due to a childhood trauma, Harry is obsessed with all things christmas. He works in a toy factory and finds the cheaply constructed toys to be an abomination. He goes to a company christmas party, only to find his boss and a new executive discussing how best to squeeze every last cent out of the yuletide season. Harry snaps. He goes on a murderous rampage, while at the same time delivering a vanload of quality toys to a children's home. See, Harry's not just some ordinary psychopath. He's a fairly complex guy. He means well, he's just mad as hell and he can't take it anymore! Most "slashers" are mindless killing machines with no depth. Harry is more human. I enjoyed this movie and recommend it to those who like dark films with humor and limited gore...
Rating: 
Summary: Not one the best TROMA movies but definatly worth your money
Review: I found this movie a little slow for most troma movies. however it is a pretty cool movie. Its wierd but was awesome! if you are into most troma movies you will probably like this one!
Rating:
Summary: Good idea, just needs more spice
Review: I recently watched Christmas Evil for the first time, and I didn't love it, but didn't hate it either. I thought it was a really good idea, but there just wasn't enough happening. Nobody is murdered until the 2nd half of the movie, and even after that, I can only remember one other killing. For a slasher movie, I think more action & violence would have been in order. But still, the acting was pretty solid for a "b" movie, and the killer's dimentia was well done. I liked the film well enough to watch it again at some point. I bought this movie as part of a Horror Classics set at Best buy for $6, you get several other movies with it, so if you want to watch it for cheap, that is the way to go.
Rating: 
Summary: Should Be Titled 'Christmas Awful'
Review: I've seen a whole lot of 'bad' horror movies but this one is pretty bad. The original box description made it sound like it might be worth watching but save your money/time and try something else. There is virtually no action until about 50 minutes into the movie. Even then, it is fairly mild and there is really not much in the way of F/X to speak of.
The 'story' is weak and quite frankly I just wanted to turn it off more than anything else but kept hoping that it would get better. Well, it did not, ( hence the 1 star ).
Rating:
Summary: CHRISTMAS EVIL: Naughty or Nice?
Review: Originally titled YOU BETTER WATCH OUT (and a.k.a. TERROR IN TOYLAND), 1980's CHRISTMAS EVIL amounts to little more than a crass attempt to hitch onto the holiday-horror gravy train initiated by John Carpenter's universally better HALLOWEEN in 1978. It's only notable for the fact that it was the first of the HALLOWEEN rip-offs to feature a Killer Kris Kringle. (Unfortunately, it wasn't the last!) Character actor Brandon Maggart--who, by the way, was a member of the original cast of TV's SESAME STREET and is the father of pop singer Fiona Apple--portrays Harry Stadling, a sexually repressed middle-manager at the Jolly Dream Toy Factory who is haunted by a childhood incident in which he saw Ol' Saint Nick joyfully boffing mommy amidst the presents under the tree on Christmas Eve. One nasty Noël, the blatant commercialistic attitudes exuded by his family and coworkers burns at his psyche until his subconscious finally boils over, and Harry then blithely dons the red and white and hunts down both the naughty and the nice to mete out their just deserts. To the innocents and the kiddies, he delivers dreamy delights; to the cruel and calloused, he doles out death! Now, a story with a serial-killer Santa is a delightfully twisted concept that offers lots of opportunity for dark humor and satirical subtext. Alas, CHRISTMAS EVIL simply falls flat. The ineptly handled schizophrenic shifting between chills and chuckles makes for confusing viewing, leaving one tempted to conclude that the screenwriter is just as loony as Harry Standling himself. And to top it all off, the film's feel-good surprise-ending is glaringly out of sync with the overall tone of the rest of the film. To be fair, it must be said that CHRISTMAS EVIL does contain a few items of merit. In spite of the mediocre material he has to work with, Brandon Maggart does a great job as psychotic Harry Stadling. Maggart is an offbeat but interesting actor who adds a little consistency to an otherwise arrhythmic flick. And one of the few really good scenes in CHRISTMAS EVIL is a delightful homage to James Whale's FRANKENSTEIN (1931) in which Harry--in full Santa regalia--is chased through the streets by angry citizens carrying fiery torches. For genre fans with a good sense of humor, this scene is a real knee-slapper that just begs to have a better movie built around it. And the DVD from Troma? Well, the digital transfer isn't of the greatest quality, sometimes displaying the type of jittery edges and ghost-like artifacts that leaves one wondering if the much-lauded re-mastering of CHRISTMAS EVIL was done on VHS video tape. However, the extras on the disc are actually better than the movie itself. There is an optional feature commentary with star Brandon Maggart and director Lewis Jackson, as well as individual video interviews with each. A nifty storyboard-to-film utility allows you to first view the director's hand-drawn concept for each scene, then it lets you jump over to view the scene as filmed. Another cool feature allows you to "flip" through the comment cards that members of the audience filled out after a test-screening of the flick. And best of all, each time you select an option at the main menu, a close-up of Santa's face fills the screen as he wickedly utters "Ho-Ho-Ho" before engaging your selection. Fun stuff! CHRISTMAS EVIL review in short: Frankly, the film itself deserves only two stars, while the fun-packed Troma DVD is a four-star product. The average score, then, is three stars.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best!!!
Review: The greatest of all Christmas themed horror movies, Christmas Evil is about one man's descent into madness. What really sets this movie apart from other similiar ventures is its intelligence and genuinely disturbing elements that may be a bit to "real" for some to handle. It is the films realism that gives it power. As hard as it may be to believe, this movie is actually packed Christmas spirit! It is a true holiday movie, albeit a holiday film for those that enjoy anything but conventional. This is not a slasher movie though, it is a psychological thriller. The emphasis is not on killing and gore (there is actually very little), but loneliness, childhood trauma, and the commercialization of Christmas. There is plenty of "evil" in Christmas Evil, but not what you would think. A true cinematic masterpeice of the highest order that deserves to be seen by any true movie fan! Thank Troma for having the guts to give this wide distribution. The DVD has several extras of merit, and the menus are a joy to look at. The film transfer is rough at times, but this only adds to the tension of the film. Great movie, great DVD! From Troma...of course!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Christmas Evil disturbing yes good horror film no
Review: The movie is somewhat entertaining at times. The killings in the film were gorey enough, but a little dissapointing. The first killing was pretty unexpected "the church step killing" But the way it was shot was really choppy and I think that took away from the scene a bit. A good thing about it was it was pretty original: a sharp toy through the eye followed by a stabbing (I think the people were stabbed?) There are a couple of more deaths in the film but none as original as the first except for the Christmas tree star throat cutting that is. The music in the film was creepy at times but mostly annoying. The particulary annoying sounds were the ones that seemed to be heard at innapropriate times. For instance the scene were "Santa" is hidding from the townspeople. There was some sort of cymbil sound there and my question is why. I was like it belonged in a different scene. I think the lead role was performed well by the lead actor but the writing of the film was lacking. Although the beggining of the film was somewhat shocking and original alot of the film is not and the ending definatly leaves something to be desired. I will say this. This is the best horror film about a killer santa and only because its the only one I have seen.
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