Black Christmas (1974)
 
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Black Christmas (1974) (1974)

Olivia Hussey (Actor), Keir Dullea (Actor), Bob Clark (Director) | Rated: R | Format: DVD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (303 customer reviews) |

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Other Formats & Versions

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Blu-ray 1-Disc Version $14.93   -- --
DVD Special Edition $12.99   -- --
  1-Disc Version --   -- --

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Product Details

  • Actors: Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon, Marian Waldman
  • Directors: Bob Clark
  • Writers: Roy Moore
  • Format: Collector's Edition, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Silent, NTSC
  • Language: English, French
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: R (Restricted)
  • Studio: Eclectic DVD Dist.
  • DVD Release Date: December 3, 2002
  • Run Time: 98 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (303 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00006RJHG
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,877 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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  • Learn more about "Black Christmas (1974)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

You may never have heard of this neglected 1974 gem, but you've probably seen one of its many imitators. Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder (also look for Andrea Martin of SCTV fame) star as two residents of a sorority house that is emptying out as Christmas approaches. The atmosphere is jolly and carefree, except for an ongoing series of menacing telephone calls, and, oh yes, we've just seen someone climb into the attic with apparent ill intent. Kidder does some scene-stealing as the bad girl, Hussey illustrates one of the downsides to having beautiful long '70s hair, and Keir Dullea does a nice turn as the creepy boyfriend. Director Robert Clark knows that the unseen is far scarier than what can be seen and he ratchets up the tension beautifully, making good use of ominous shadows, and putting in nice touches like replacing the sound of a distraught woman's scream with the piercing ring of yet another ominous phone call. This is a terrific, well-made little movie that is genuinely sleep-with-the-lights-on scary. Don't miss it. --Ali Davis

Product Description

This Collector's Edition features the 98 minute stark and stylish horror/thriller movie! Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder star among an ill-fated houseful of sorority sisters celebrating the holiday season. But the festivities turn fatal when obscene phone calls break the serenity and it becomes clear that a psychopath is stalking the house. Includes over 2 hours of additional extras. Dolby Digital, documentaries, special feature gallery, commentary, and a reversible cover with the original 1974 artwork!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
There is no need to discuss what a classic the original Black Christmas is. That has been done at length by reviewers for other releases. This review is specifically for the Black Christmas [Blu-ray] edition.

The transfer and sound are great. There are still some traces of foreign matter visible from the print used, but this is the nicest copy you'll probably ever see on a home edition. I believe it is the same transfer used for the Special Edition in 2006.

The features are identical to the Special Edition release:
- 12 Days of Black Christmas featurette
- Midniht Q&A
- Interviews ( Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, and Art Hindle)
- 'Uncovered' Sound scenes

My only complaint is the lack of subtitles or commentaries, and for that reason I only give 4 stars. Apparently space limitations were the problem on the Special Edition. That would not be a problem on blu ray. It seems the rights to the commentaries from the 2002 Collector's Edition are owned by another company so those were not available, but it seems that new actor commentaries might have been obtained for this edition.

Sadly, Bob Clark was killed by a drunk driver in 2007. For fans wanting the director's commentary, the collector's edition is the only option and will become increasingly harder to obtain.

If you have the Special Edition and an upconvert dvd player you might give this one a miss, as there are no new features to speak of. If you have a blu ray player and don't already own the special edition, the Blu-ray edition is the way to go. Of course, you can hold out for a "Definitive Edition". There's always next Christmas...
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56 of 66 people found the following review helpful
My Poor Mother ... October 2, 2004
Format:DVD
We talked her into taking us to see this when it came out and she has never let us forget it. At the time, they even gave out little badges to the audience that said: It's Going to be a Black Christmas this Year. Wish I still had that!

Anyway one of the first, best slasher horror films ever. Halloween can say thanks. When a Stranger Calls can say thanks ... This is one scary flick. Sorority girls on campus over Christmas are, unknowingly, being slaughtered one at a time by a menancing stranger who will not stop calling their house.

Cast is fine re: suspects and gals in peril. Margot Kidder is very funny as the bad girl and the ending is, well, great! A classic.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By John
Format:DVD
I am 35 years old and I remember when this first came out on HBO back in the early 80's. I believe I was either ten or eleven when I first saw it. My parents went to sleep right before it came on and I stayed up to watch it (which they wouldn't have let me in any way if they knew this movie!). This was the movie that put a deep dread AND fascination in me for horror movies and suspense/thrillers. It terrified me beyond words, yet as good horror movies do they take you for a ride that thrills you to your core. Man, I remember the unbelievable dread at the end of the movie and after it was over I remember saying to myself "That was the most scared I've ever been".

There have been times as an adult that took me back to the horror that this movie implanted in me as a child....One night, sleeping in my apartment alone, I was suddenly awoken by my door opening. I slept in almost complete darkness at the time. I jumped into the "fight or flight" mode and the flight took control...I screamed and screamed like a little girl throwing my pillow at the unseen attacker! I was able to turn on the lights and I came to find out that the wind (during the summer with windows open) was responsible for pushing my door open when it wasn't shut all the way. I woke up my neighbors with the screams and commotion I made and they called the cops thinking I was being murdered! LOL Man was I embarrassed! But after it was over I remembered that that fear I felt was so similar to the fear I first felt when I watched Black Christmas all those years before.

Another instance when, I was a teen, I remember watching a news broadcast which told of a stranger living in the basement of a family's house for several months before the family found out. I believe the man was insane and would come upstairs in the dead of night to sneak food and use the bathroom. Apparently he would go upstairs while everyone slept and watch them. He didn't hurt them, but MAN! That gave me the same creeps that this movie did. It made me search every square inch of my house, during the day with a shotgun! I guess it just goes to show that a truly good scary movie like this one can really get under your skin!

Some folks give this movie a four, three and even two star rating, which amazes me. There really is no film that compares with this one for the creepiness and dread. I think that the younger folks who are more used to the modern horror movies just can't appreciate, I believe, the genius of the suspense, dread and insane-ness of this movie. We will see the same reaction with the new re-make of this movie coming out in theaters this Christmas (2006). I've seen the few teasers and trailers for the new movie and it looks awful compared to the original. They have to include such gore and what I call "flesh shock" to try to make something out of the new movie which tells me that the terror isn't there. Movies like Black Christmas, Halloween and TCM never relied on blood or gore for its horror, and I believe movies that do, generally speaking, just aren't good horror movies. Its the psychological horror that counts, not the blood or gore.

If you are twenty five and younger, try watching this movie by yourself, alone in the dark of night. You'll then understand that feeling of deep dread and "creepiness" that will make you stop the movie, turn on all the lights and re-check the windows and doors and the closets and under the bed...and maybe even the attic if you have the strength to do so!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Black Christmas
wasn't as scary as I remember it being all those years ago but still LOVE seeing Olivia Hussey!!! Glad it's part of my collection.
Published 1 month ago by Wendy Orr
good christmas movie
This is an overall creepy movie. way better than the remake, but not as gory. This movie that is based off a crazy man who is killing girls in their sorority house is quite... Read more
Published 4 months ago by batman_chef
3 stars for the HD transfer, 4 for the movie itself
To be clear, the audio is ok, but the actual image quality is like a dirty, grainy DVD, there's nothing blu ray about this one. Read more
Published 5 months ago by jsl2h90
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... and multiple homicide!
Although its debatable what was truly the first ever slasher film (1960's "Peeping Tom" gave the perspective of the murderer, and 1963's "Blood Feast" had the gory serial... Read more
Published 7 months ago by William Dorfer
One of the best early Horror films I have ever seen!
This is one of the best of the early Horror films ive ever seen, id defanitly recommend you see this. Read more
Published 10 months ago by J. Abrams
Several Plot Problems, Crap Commentary
I fail to see WHY so many people see this movie as a CLASSIC and a TRUE GEM??? It plods along at times, needs more dialogue or explanation most of the time, the killers menacing... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Michael T. Starnes
Fav scary movie
This is my favorite horror film! Its somewhat humorous, and terrifying, with suspense, not alot of blood but enough for it to be one of the original slashers, AND some interesting... Read more
Published 11 months ago by antmlover96
Christmas can be a scary holiday
Really, it can be. Think about it. People act really crazy around the holidays. They camp outside of stores in the freezing cold hours before the store opens so they can buy the... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Joker
Rocking Chair Blues
It's Christmas time, and the sorority sisters of an unnamed college (re: filmed in Canada) are partying before they return home for the holidays. Read more
Published 15 months ago by N. P. Stathoulopoulos
WATCH IT AGAIN
When I first purchased "Black Christmas", I did not immediately watch it. I was intrigued from reviews and have been a consistent fan of the horror genre. Read more
Published 17 months ago by cinnamonsimian
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