‘Silent Night, Deadly Night’ Review: Santa Slays in 4K


Over 40 years on from the release of Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), audiences have more options than ever when it comes to holiday horrors, but that notorious “naughty” video nasty was still somewhat novel and came steeped in controversy before it hit theaters. Parent groups latched onto the “evil Santa” marketing campaign and publicly blasted the film…providing press coverage that no doubt helped propel its box office before it was unceremoniously pulled from release.
Since that time, and with thanks to home video and its many releases, the seasonal slasher has become a holiday staple. It also spawned an entire series of holiday horrors decent enough to watch in December, even though the only truly memorable moment from all of them is “Garbage day!” There’s even talk of another remake. But one thing the original got right is a surprising amount of character development before the film devolves into a slashfest. It isn’t much deeper than a kiddie pool, but by the time Billy starts swinging his axe, you’ll better understand his motivation and how the system failed him.
Silent Night, Deadly Night starts as a decent study of abuse, with young Billy (Danny Wagner) sent to a strict orphanage after seeing his parents murdered by a man dressed as Santa. Billy is punished often by Mother Superior (Lilyan Chauvin), who seems to enjoy doling out beatings to him in particular. She even forces him into a mental meltdown by insisting he sit on Santa’s lap during the annual visit. Ten years go by before Billy (Robert Brian Wilson), now a strapping 18-year-old young man, is able to get out on his own, securing a job at the local toy store. Through the magic of an ‘80s montage, we see Billy making friends and finding his place at the store… But Christmas is right around the corner, and Billy’s Santa Claus nightmare scenario is about to put everyone on his naughty list.
Right up to that point, Silent Night, Deadly Night does an admirable job of developing Billy’s character. We spend time with him at five and eight years old, then another good chunk once he’s grown up. Every step of the way, we see how punishment was a daily way of life, how he never properly dealt with the trauma of seeing Santa kill his folks, how even people sympathetic to his situation were unable to help him—all of these things created a ticking time bomb. Once Billy is set off, it’s like he’s in a murder trance until the end, all those pent-up years trickling out over the course of the night as he repeats one word: “Punish!”
There is no other characterization outside of Billy, leaving the rest of the heavy lifting for the film’s kills—and they’re pretty rad…if you’re watching the unrated cut. Unfortunately, back in 1984, when movies had to make cuts, the trimmed footage was often discarded, leaving only tape-quality workprint footage available, if you’re lucky. It couldn’t be more obvious when the video switches to the uncut tape footage, but even with a vast difference in quality, the extra violence and practical gore FX are exactly what fans want to see.
So then, knowing that, is the 4K disc worth it? As usual, that depends on your wants as a fan. The fresh 1.85:1 2160p 4K image is a nice step up from the previous Blu-ray, with punchier colors and a richness to the image it hasn’t ever really provided. Yet, on the other hand, the uncut version is exclusively on Blu-ray—though I will say the source for that Blu-ray is this new 4K restoration.
Inserts are in the same old SD. That actually makes the transition from new image to old more jarring, but you’re at least getting the majority of the feature in better quality. There isn’t an upgrade provided to the audio, with the same English DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track provided here. It’s a good track, with clear dialogue, no hissing, and enough of a soundscape for composer Perry Botkin’s creepy main theme and score to sound fuller. Subtitles are available in English SDH.
The 4K disc contains only one extra: a new audio commentary with author Amanda Reyes and The Hysteria Continues podcast.
On the theatrical cut Blu-ray is where most of the new extras can be found, including the audio commentary. “The Night He Came Home…For Christmas: Creating Silent Night, Deadly Night” (HD, 16:47) is an interview with producer Scott Schneid, who covers everything from script to shooting to controversy, release, and more. “In Search of Charles Sellier Jr.: Remembering the Director” (HD, 10:32) is an interview with editor Michael Spence, who recounts his time working on the film and with its director. “Naughty or Nice: 40 Years of Silent Night, Deadly Night” (HD, 11:32) features Schneid and producer Dennis Whitehead, with the two discussing the film’s lifespan, sequels, future plans, etc.
Disc three contains the unrated version of the film along with returning legacy extras. The audio commentary tracks are different for the unrated cut: one is with actor Brian Wilson and co-executive producer Scott Schneid; the other is with writer Michael Hickey, composer Perry Botkin, producer Schneid, and unit director Michael Spence.
“Slay Bells Ring – The Story of Silent Night, Deadly Night” (HD, 45:51) is a retrospective doc that looks back on the production and release. “Christmas in July – Silent Night, Deadly Night Locations” (HD, 10:00) shows off some of the film’s locations as seen today. A length audio interview with director Charles E. Sellier Jr. is included (58:03). “Santa’s Stocking of Outrage” (SD, 4:31) takes a look back at the film’s controversy and its various vocal opponents. “Poster & Still Gallery” (0:58), three trailers (2:20), two TV spots (1:10), radio spots, and “Oh Deer! – Interview with actor Linnea Quigley” (SD, 21:50) finish off the impressive array of extras.
Special Features:
DISC ONE – 4K BLU-RAY: THEATRICAL VERSION
- NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
- DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
- Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
- NEW Audio Commentary With Author Amanda Reyes And The Hysteria Continues Podcast
- Optional English subtitles for the main feature
DISC TWO – BLU-RAY: THEATRICAL VERSION
- NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
- NEW Audio Commentary With Author Amanda Reyes And The Hysteria Continues Podcast
- NEW “The Night He Came Home… For Christmas: Creating Silent Night, Deadly Night” – An Interview With Producer Scott Schneid
- NEW “In Search of Charles Sellier Jr: Remembering the Director” – An Interview With Editor Michael Spence
- NEW “Naughty or Nice: 40 Years Of Silent Night, Deadly Night” – An Interview The Producers Scott Schneid And Dennis Whitehead About The Longevity Of The Film
- Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
- Optional English subtitles for the main feature
DISC THREE – BLU-RAY: UNRATED VERSION
- NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE, with high-definition inserts
- Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
- Audio Commentary With Actor Robert Brian Wilson And Co-Executive Producer Scott J. Schneid
- Audio Commentary With Writer Michael Hickey, Composer Perry Boykin, Producer Scott J. Schneid, and Unit Director Michael Spence
- “Slay Bells Ring: The Story Of Silent Night, Deadly Night” – Featuring Interviews With Writer Michael Hickey, Co-Executive Producers Scott J. Schneid And Dennis Whitehead, Editor/Second Unit Director Michael Spence, Composer Perry Botkin, And Actor Robert Brian Wilson
- “Oh Deer!” – An Interview With Actor Linnea Quigley
- Christmas In July – Silent Night, Deadly Night Locations – Then And Now
- Audio Interview With Director Charles E. Sellier, Jr. From Deadpit Radio (Extended Version)
- “Santa’s Stocking Of Outrage”
- Poster And Still Gallery
- R-Rated Theatrical Trailer & Japanese VHS Trailer
- TV Spots
- Radio Spot
- Optional English subtitles for the main feature
Summary
This feature-packed 4K release is the best home video edition yet, but with the unrated cut bits still stuck in SD upgrading will depend entirely on how much you like the theatrical version.