Silent Night, Deadly Night Review: A Beautifully Wrapped Lump of Coal

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For years, the horror genre has thrived on remakes and sequels to classic slasher films. The 2018 reboot of Halloween kicked off a trend, leading to new installments in franchises like Candyman (2021) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022). When it seemed that wave had passed, fresh slasher movies like Thanksgiving and Heart Eyes emerged—until a surprising return revitalized the scene.

Featuring Rohan Campbell from Halloween Ends, this new film offers a fresh take on the often-debated 1984 movie. While it mostly works as a clever twist on a well-known story, its originality also brings up a common issue found in many recent horror films and true crime narratives.

Silent Night, Deadly Night Reimagines the Original, and It Works (Sort Of)

The movie centers around Billy, a violent criminal whose troubled childhood began when he witnessed a man in a Santa Claus suit murder his parents. As an adult, Billy adopts a Santa Claus disguise to exact revenge on those he deems deserving of punishment.

This updated version follows the same basic story as before, but it gives Billy more depth and makes him a more relatable character, even letting him experience romance. This creates a playful relationship between him and Mrs. Claus – a ‘killer Santa and Mrs. Claus’ pairing – that felt like it could have been explored further.

I have to say, the original Billy was creepy, but this new take on the character is so much more complex. Campbell really brings it to life – he’s scary, but also surprisingly kind and you can see he’s struggling with a lot. Honestly, people criticized him for that previous role, but it’s clear to me now that his acting talent was never the problem!

However, this new version doesn’t explore the same dark, psychological themes as the first film. What was once subtly unsettling – the meaning of ‘naughty’ as seen through Billy’s eyes – is now presented much more directly. Plus, despite being set at Christmas, the holiday aspect feels unnecessary. The story could happen at any time of year, and the Christmas setting doesn’t really impact the plot. The movie might have been better if it hadn’t tried to connect to the original series at all.

The filmmakers bring a refreshing and charming perspective to this film. It’s bold and original, featuring strong acting and unexpected turns. However, the title itself unfortunately restricts the movie’s potential and prevents it from reaching its full promise.

Silent Night, Deadly Night’s Kills are Bloody, But the Message is Murky

Slasher villains are famous for racking up a high number of victims – think of characters like Jason Voorhees or Ghostface. Unfortunately, this remake doesn’t quite reach that level of intensity.

The film does have some truly memorable moments, like a particularly striking scene where Billy transforms from a typical serial killer into a master of mayhem while surrounded by people dressed as Santa Claus. However, the movie often tries to excuse each killing by portraying the victims as deserving of their fate, which unintentionally leads the audience to start supporting Billy. This creates a confusing and problematic message.

Recent films and shows, such as the debated Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, have been criticized for portraying serial killers in a way that evokes sympathy. The original Silent Night, Deadly Night was similarly groundbreaking and controversial, offering a unique and daring exploration of a killer’s psychology for its time.

This new version portrays Billy less as a random killer and more as someone taking the law into their own hands. Given the current trend of glorifying killers, it would have been a bold move to explore how audiences would react to him having a complete breakdown and, for example, attacking a group of Santas, or taking the idea of ‘naughty’ to a disturbing extreme by harming someone innocent.

Silent Night, Deadly Night Deserves More Than to Be a Remake

Stories about people who take the law into their own hands aren’t original, but they can still be scary – particularly when the audience finds themselves secretly supporting the villain.

Look, I really wanted to love this new take, especially knowing how much the original defied expectations. But honestly, it just doesn’t quite land. It feels like a chance to do something truly special was, unfortunately, missed. It feels like it should have been more daring, more unexpected – a little like its predecessor.

Given what worked well in previous installments, this new version could have been more realistic while still feeling original and avoiding direct comparisons. Instead, it relies too heavily on past films, constantly reminding the audience of what they already know, and ultimately loses sight of the story’s core message. This isn’t just a disservice to the people who made the original, but also a missed opportunity for the story to truly shine.

Horror movie remakes are often inconsistent in quality. Some are great, while others fall flat, and many just end up being mediocre. A key challenge is balancing faithfulness to the original with the need to create something new. Often, complex characters are simplified into typical villains. Silent Night, Deadly Night tried to do a lot, but ultimately needed to move beyond simply being a remake and establish its own unique identity.

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2025-12-09 07:44