Lots of familiar faces appear here. Our protagonist Jess is played by Olivia Hussey of Romeo and Juliet fame. She was quite charming. Her sisters include Margot Kidder and someone who looked like a young Andrea Martin, who turned out to be a young Andrea Martin! Jess’ boyfriend is played by Keir Dullea, from 2001. I'm sorry, Dave, but dating a college girl when pushing 40 is more than a little creepy.
Credited as the first slasher film, it actually has very little on-screen violence. What it does have is some excellent cinematography that effectively builds tension. The unseen killer is revealed only by quips said on his calls and from his POV shots. Little character scenes, like Kidder's foul mouth and Mrs. Mac's antics, give the impression of a fuller, lived-in world.
Respected by people beyond gore-heads, Black Christmas has been on my radar for quite a while. It sets some of the tropes of the genre that would be codified in later films, but strays significantly. Only tangentially a Christmas movie, it is set during the Christmas break and has holiday lights in just about every scene. But it does not disappoint as a horror flick or a film in general. AMRU 4.
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