TV Show or Movie: Movie
Where to Watch: Theaters
Genre: Horror, Slasher, Remake, Holiday
Writer: Mike P. Nelson
Director: Mike P. Nelson
Based on: Silent Night, Deadly Night by Michael Hickey and Paul Caimi
Cast: Rohan Campbell, Ruby Modine, David Lawrence Brown, David Tomlinson, Mark Acheson
Synopsis: A child witnesses his parents’ murder by a man in a Santa suit. Years later, as an adult, he dons a Santa costume himself and embarks on a violent quest for retribution against those responsible for the traumatic event from his childhood.
Review: I am a big fan of Mike P. Nelson. He directed the 2021 reboot of Wrong Turn, which was one of my favorite movies that year. I was a massive fan of the whole franchise and looked forward to the new installment. It really took it in a different direction and I really enjoyed it.
He also wrote and directed the 2018 post-apocalyptic, horror film The Domestics. The movie is brutal and wild and features some great talent like horror icon David Dastmalchian and the late Lance Reddick.
Mike also had not one, but two shorts in the 2023 anthology, found-footage film, V/H/S/85. I believe he is the first and only to have two in one of the films.
I went into Silent Night, Deadly Night not knowing much. I haven’t seen the originals. I knew it would be a good holiday slasher and I really enjoyed Ruby Modine in Shameless and the Happy Death Day films.
A lot of this movie pays homage to the horror movies of the 80s. The camera work, the music, the campiness.
The trophy that the serial killer collects from their victims is just as disgusting as it is original and fun.
There are some really gory kills throughout the movie, including one all-out massacre that will, surprisingly, have you cheering in your seat.
The movie is like a mix of Dexter meets Venom meets Friday the 13th.
I really, really love how the movie ended and I hope we see more from it.
Go see it in theaters. Make it a new Christmas movie for the whole family. You will be surprised at how much you will be cheering throughout this slasher film!