8¼ Pies

Reviewed by Limey

Plot Summary

The holiday season is disrupted for a sorority house when they start receiving obscene phone calls and one of their numbers goes missing.

Review

In a previous review I stated that ‘Psycho’ is considered to be the mother of the slasher genre – and it is. It was one of the earliest horror movies to focus on a very human villain rather than the elaborately dressed creatures of the night and was easily the most influential of the batch.

However, the award for being the first film to contain all the ingredients now considered standard for any self respecting slasher goes not the Hitchcock classic or even the equally influential ‘Halloween’, but instead to this movie, ‘Black Christmas’.

It is a travesty that such a historic production is so little known and that many think only of its rather dreadful remake when they hear the title, but perhaps there is more to this than meets the eye. Perhaps there is a deliberate plot to keep modern audiences from finding ‘Black Christmas’. Perhaps the remake was nothing more than a cold calculated attempt at cinematic assassination when the original was seen to be reaching a larger contingent of the movie going public with each passing year.

But who could be orchestrating such a conspiracy and, more importantly, why? My own theory is that the culprits are any number of studio executives who, desperate to protect their investment in the assembly line slashers of today, have decided to bury the movie from which they have stolen all but the most vital ingredient – a soul.

Quotes:

Barbie Coard: Why don't you go find a wall socket and stick your tongue in it; that will give you a charge!

Mrs MacHenry: These broads would hump the Leaning Tower of Pisa if they could get up there!

Spook Factor: 1 Pie

At first I was watching with my usual jaded 21st century attitude, accustomed to taking in almost anything without batting an eyelid, but once I let myself go and became absorbed in the events of the movie, I started to realise just how truly terrifying the situation would be.

Antagonist: 1 Pie

Not only is this guy completely loopy, but he is also one of the most brazen of screen killers, sneaking around just beyond the peripheral of his potential victims. I will be honest, watching – or rather, hearing and walking alongside (more on that later) – a man so totally insane in such a grounded film scared me.

Story: ¾ Pie

The screenplay is creative and intelligent, delivering a tension filled world inhabited by developed characters. The only reason it doesn’t score top marks is that there were a few contrivances that stood out to me whilst I was watching – such as one character suddenly announcing out of no where that she is about to pack up and go on holiday, completely telegraphing that she is about to die and that no one will notice for a while.

Acting: ¾ Pie

The entire cast does what is necessary, with some putting in stronger performances than others. I tell you what; it is very strange to see Margot Kidder in the role of a chain smoking drunk when I grew up thinking of her as Lois Lane and the narrator of my favourite cartoon. She was excellent.

The only one I struggled to warm to was Olivia Hussey, the lead actress. I grew to like her towards the end but earlier on I felt her delivery was off and I didn’t realise she was doing a British accent until I read about it afterwards, which is very strange considering I later read she was raised here. Who knows what happened there.

Directing: 1 Pie

Bob Clark knew what he was doing when he made this movie. A personal highlight are the scenes in which we are put inside the killers shoes, the first time being just a few short frames into the movie. Of course, the most well known moment in the film is the ‘Eye Scene’, which is still fantastic despite being repeated in tribute or simply ripped off by numerous movies since then. Who could have predicted that this man would go on to direct ‘Baby Geniuses’?

Soundtrack: ¾ Pie

In an era where seemingly every movie deems it necessary to have a grand orchestral score, it is refreshing to watch a movie that keeps it primal, by which I mean basic but effective. I just wish I could remember it once I leave the room.

Special Effects: ½ Pie

This is another movie that was never really about special effects. I will instead use the space to say that I thought the scene in which we are in the killers shoes and are climbing up the side of the building was really cool.

Gore: ¾ Pie

If by gore we just mean blood or graphic deaths, then there is not much to talk about. However, if we can include the level of implied violence involved in the deaths of characters that we have grown to care about, then this one does the job.

Replay, Rewatch, Rewind: ¾ Pie

I have watched it several times in the last few years but I have never felt an urgency to watch it again as soon as possible; it is better to leave it alone for a while.

Pros

A strong script, a strong cast and a strong director unite to produce a seminal movie.

Cons

I was distracted by a few contrivances here and there which let the film down.

Final Word

If you consider yourself to be a either

a) a fan of slashers
b) a fan of horror movies or
c) a fan of movies in general

then you need to watch ‘Black Christmas’. Honestly, treat yourself and take a break from the drivel currently being produced and watch this film. It is that simple.

But don’t tell what we did.