I meant to pass on a comment about Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out (1989) Wednesday evening after I watched it, but I covered it rather significantly just a few years ago. I will say that Robert Culp just rescues the film from the doldrums for me. It does have this weird atmosphere that continues to be another salvageable reason I don't totally denounce it, and its opening nightmare for the blind "heroine" does involve a killer Santa one last time (although a visiting drunk in Santa costume gets killed by Ricky as well). The obviously mentioned plentifully Lynch connections I won't bother with here, but Moseley fans will no doubt be disappointed. He's literally robotic, a walking Catatonic with a violent streak to the color red as he searches for the young woman who psychically linked with him thanks to her doc. Culp's detective, a humorous and wise-cracking sort who tries to keep a good attitude despite Ricky's murder spree, often debates with the "dream psychic" doctor (Richard Beymer, who did return for Lynch's Twin Peaks: The Return) about the merits of "reawakening" a psychopath he helped to stop in the previous film. Culp and his car phone as Beymer is unamused with his efforts to convince him to get one and Culp calling Beymer, in no certain terms, stupid for allowing Ricky to escape are some of my favorite moments. It is his odd casting and charisma that seems to make spending time with this film every year palatable. Potty-mouth Samantha Scully, blind, sullen, and off-putting, is not the easiest lead to get behind, particularly with how much of an asshole she is to her brother and his girlfriend (Eric DaRe and Laura Harring). The music has been an oft-criticized aspect to the film but parts of it work for me. Especially at the beginning. And the weird close where Scully mentions in a comment to her self, Merry Christmas, Moseley's Ricky (in tuxedo, no less), with dome head intact, wishes us a Happy New Year! Monte Hellman mentioned this film being thrown together after rewrites and such in short order so perhaps that is why it doesn't quite ever work. It plods along...that it can't overcome, either. But I think, within the series, this might be considered better or worse than those before it or after it depending on the tastes of the viewer.
Tonight, though, I watched Black Christmas (1974). I picked up the Blu last year from Scream Factory. A few years ago I spent some in depth time on the blog about this film so I don't think I need to tread the same ground. I will say that seeing it with subtitles and all is a refreshing experience. I have watched several of the special features already so I'm not sure I will this year, but what struck me this go-around is the catalyst in Barb's gradual descent, stemming from an angst-ridden conversation with her mom that didn't go over well. You can tell, though, that Barb is just of the don't-give-a-shit variety who can't help herself when it comes to vocally antagonizing and foully speaking without filter or restraint. But it does appear that the estranged relationship with her mother is perhaps a source of her difficult attitude. I think you see that the other ladies in her sorority have adapted and even enjoy Barb's sense of humor and general raunchiness. Their house mother even hits the sauce on occasion when she can get some time to herself. Especially appreciated is getting subs for when "Billy" makes his twisted, obscene phone calls to the sorority, getting what appears to be a recreation of his own past. Each time he calls, more of that past is related to them and us while mixing in a bit of Clare's melodrama with Peter. I still question Clare's decision to tell Peter about aborting their child right before his major recital, as if she were sabotaging him. Peter spends most of the film with emotionally dramatic shifts in mood and emotion, from destroying property, banging piano keys with this darkly toned music piece that doesn't impress critics listening to him, threatening Clare, and a pitiable begging not to kill his baby. And at the end Peter seems fine, as if he's completely chill and cool. He's a fascinatingly volatile ("high strung") and bipolar character.
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out - * * / * * * * *
Black Christmas - * * * * * / * * * * *
Tonight, though, I watched Black Christmas (1974). I picked up the Blu last year from Scream Factory. A few years ago I spent some in depth time on the blog about this film so I don't think I need to tread the same ground. I will say that seeing it with subtitles and all is a refreshing experience. I have watched several of the special features already so I'm not sure I will this year, but what struck me this go-around is the catalyst in Barb's gradual descent, stemming from an angst-ridden conversation with her mom that didn't go over well. You can tell, though, that Barb is just of the don't-give-a-shit variety who can't help herself when it comes to vocally antagonizing and foully speaking without filter or restraint. But it does appear that the estranged relationship with her mother is perhaps a source of her difficult attitude. I think you see that the other ladies in her sorority have adapted and even enjoy Barb's sense of humor and general raunchiness. Their house mother even hits the sauce on occasion when she can get some time to herself. Especially appreciated is getting subs for when "Billy" makes his twisted, obscene phone calls to the sorority, getting what appears to be a recreation of his own past. Each time he calls, more of that past is related to them and us while mixing in a bit of Clare's melodrama with Peter. I still question Clare's decision to tell Peter about aborting their child right before his major recital, as if she were sabotaging him. Peter spends most of the film with emotionally dramatic shifts in mood and emotion, from destroying property, banging piano keys with this darkly toned music piece that doesn't impress critics listening to him, threatening Clare, and a pitiable begging not to kill his baby. And at the end Peter seems fine, as if he's completely chill and cool. He's a fascinatingly volatile ("high strung") and bipolar character.
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out - * * / * * * * *
Black Christmas - * * * * * / * * * * *
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