Black Christmas in July - Tribute to John Saxon

 Unfortunately because 2020 is such a fucking toxic clownshow and headlines are consumed by cities protesting and burning, politics causing people to attack each other ad infinitum, social media and mainstream media dividing us resulting in the citizenry going insane, and the pandemic pushing folks to the brink and beyond; Saxon's death went barely reported. It also didn't help that Regis Philbin died gobbling up even more of the attention, not to mention, death claiming another member of Fleetwood Mac. But to the horror community, we felt we lost a beloved figure much respected and admired. He was obviously perhaps best remembered for his two appearances in the Elm Street series and as a fighter who surprisingly walloped Bolo Yeung in "Enter the Dragon". And his appearance in a very important B&W giallo directed by Mario Bava early in his career, too. He was a journeyman actor, with handsome face and great screen presence. He didn't dismissively evaluate the genre harshly, and he never disavowed the fans who love their many horror subgenres, plenty with films he starred in.

But to me, despite the iconic Craven film in 1984 definitely in the conversation for his most popular, "Black Christmas" is maybe the front-runner for Saxon's best. He had the features and authority of a detective/cop like character, but in "Black Christmas" he had humor, approachability, leadership qualities, and this stick-to-it-ive-ness, not taking the missing girl case and obscene phone calls lightly unlike some police agencies might. In his college  town of BC he's typically not entangled with a lot of crime or potential serial murders. But he takes as much necessary precautions as he can and Director Bob Clark really gets the camera on him close when he gets those serious expressions on pointe. 

There is much needed humor at times when Saxon is involved, particularly when he's at the office frustrated with one of his desk clerks, Nash (played by clueless and often naive and dunderheaded, but innocently amusing Douglas McGrath) and his oft-chuckling detective partner, Buchanan (John Rutter), who can't help but break out in laughter when Barb (Margot Kidder) left behind a "new exchange" number FELLATIO and one of the cops out searching for missing Claire gets hit with an ass full of birdshot by a local reacting to his trespass. Levity, at times, helps considering there are some intense scenes and moments parsed throughout by Clark and his filmmaking crew. At his desk or out on patrol, leading search parties or awaiting at phones or in squad cars, Saxon on this Christmas Eve, cold and grey, breath visible from mouths, freeze covered windows, is active and alert. But not only does he not catch the killer, he leaves behind Jess (Olivia Hussey) in the house with the "moaner", unbeknownst to him. Clark leaves us with that shocker.

Watching this in July was surreal as it is essential seasonal horror in December but thanks to 2020 and the loss of a horror legend, it had to be one of the film's watched in memory of Saxon. May this little blog never forget his contributions to genre.