Silent Night, Deadly Night

I didn't go in expecting much. I was expecting just another bad remake. Was I ever delighted to see that the film had an interesting plot and tried to do some character building and camp (LOTS of it) done really well. It had everything a good bad horror film needed and was tremendously entertaining while being simultaneously interesting and somehow even touching. All while serving up the guts and gore too!

Billy witnesses his parents being murdered by a man in a Santa Claus suit. Years later, that man, Charlie shows Billy the "way".

Billy takes care of the "trash" with the help of Charlie. Charlie shows him who is truly evil and together they murder evil people during Advent.

Billy takes a liking to a gal, Pam in his most recent community so he decides to stay awhile. Lucky for him Pam's a bit crazy too!

This isn't too bad. There's still plenty of gore for the horror hounds.

What an unusual little movie this turned out to be. First of all, I'm not sure if the IMDb synopsis is entirely accurate. That wasn't really what the film was about. Secondly, most people aren't going to realise that because the film waits until damn near the end to actually explain what is happening and why. It's all very odd.

Putting "From the studio that brought you Terrifier 2 & 3" on your movie poster is an odd choice to me for this film. Maybe it will get some bums on seats, but it sort of misleads you into thinking there will be some creativity with the kills, which there is certainly not. You can only see so many people chopped by an axe before it becomes very mundane. There was even a scene where it's discussed if he should use a gun instead, and I thought to myself that at this point that may be a more interesting option.

A horror film based around bad people getting their justice in a brutal way is almost certainly a film that can be made to work, but 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' went about it all the wrong way I think. It needed to make clearer earlier on exactly what was happening and why. It needed more tension and more adversity for the lead character. And it needed more creativity with the kills. Get those right and this could've been something special. Maybe they will the next time this is remade. 5/10.

No pun intended - full disclosure: I have never watched the other slasher movies ... this being a remake! A friend of mine was with me and he has seen the first two (with him telling me that he loathed the second one) ... and generally he confirmed that this is the best version of the .. well "story" of them all (I doubt the other Silent Nights were better than the original, let alone this one).

It starts off slow and feels a bit ... off, but it is here to stay ... and character build ... and consume (or merge if you will). There is supernatural in this - it has to be. But the movie works because of the actors and the gore ... so if you like your blood stained (splattered) movie to have some weight and gravitas ... this is one of those cases! It is a bit predictable ... and you may hear voices (no pun intended), but they know best ... well almost all of the time! Now be nice ... or else ...

Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025) is a remake of the original film, and going into it, I genuinely had no idea that was the case. I walked into this thinking I was about to watch a brand-new horror movie, not a reimagining of something that already existed. Because of that, the first portion of the film left me confused. I honestly thought I was in for a stupid, throwaway horror experience that would be over-the-top in all the wrong ways. Sitting there early on, I fully expected this to be one of those movies you regret watching five minutes in.

But surprisingly, something clicked. Once the film settled into its rhythm, it completely pulled me in. Instead of feeling disjointed or pointless, it became engaging, focused, and oddly gripping. The story started to generate momentum, and before I realized it, I was locked in. That alone caught me off guard because I had written this movie off almost immediately.

The violence is heavy, brutal, and unapologetic, but it is not as extreme as you would expect, especially considering the people behind Terrifier are involved. It walks a very fine line between disturbing and restrained, and that balance actually works in the film's favor. It never feels like violence for shock value alone. Instead, it feels intentional, controlled, and used to serve the narrative rather than overpower it.

The performances were another major surprise. I didn't recognize the actors, but that honestly worked to the film's advantage. The lead performances felt grounded and committed, especially considering the subject matter. The actress in particular felt familiar even if I couldn't place her, and she carried herself in a way that kept me emotionally invested. The voice work was strong, and the characters felt present rather than disposable, which is rare in holiday horror.

The direction is where the film truly shines. The director absolutely knew what they were doing here. The pacing is tight, the tension builds naturally, and the December setting is used effectively rather than as a cheap gimmick. The screenplay is solid, giving the story room to breathe while still keeping things intense. The concept of being forced to kill throughout December, tied to an advent calendar and a curse, adds a unique layer of dread that separates this from standard slasher territory.

What really hits is the emotional weight behind the story once the twist is revealed. Understanding why Billy is doing what he's doing reframes the entire film. It's not just about violence anymore, it's about inevitability, trauma, and survival. The inclusion of the child abductor element brings an unsettling realism that echoes films like The Black Phone, making the experience even more uncomfortable in the best way.

I did everything I could to discuss this film without spoiling it, because it deserves to be experienced fresh. I was completely wrong about this movie. I expected something awful, something forgettable, something I'd only watch to check off my 2025 list. Instead, I got a genuinely strong horror film with a story that actually mattered. It kept me focused, invested, and surprised me from start to finish. Silent Night, Deadly Night is violent, intense, and emotionally grounded, and it's absolutely one of the better horror experiences of the year.