------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall Rating : 5/10
Directed By : Glen Morgan
Katie Cassidy (When A Stranger Calls (2005) )
Michelle Trachtenberg (Eurotrip)
Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Final Destination 3)
Supplied By : Dimension Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Mar. 29, 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| PLOT A group of sorority sisters, snowed in over the holiday break, tries desperately to survive the night as a relentless killer terrorizes and murders them, one by one. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| THE REVIEW First things first, I guess it should be mentioned that I am a huge fan of the original BLACK CHRISTMAS I believe Bob Clark's 1974 BLACK CHRISTMAS, to be one of the best Horror films of all time, and arguably the one film that spawned the idea of the slasher film. four years later HALLOWEEN was released and rose to popularity amongst fans, but few know that HALLOWEEN took a cue from BLACK CHRISTMAS and the suspense it created years prior. So being the fan of the original that I am, I really didn't think that BLACK CHRISTMAS needed to be touched, much the way I feel about most remakes in general. Perhaps the only reason I feel positive about a remake is when a film wasn't that great and left room for improvement, but this is not one of those cases. Just how would you improve a film that was clever and innovative in it's own time, and one whose suspense was so key to the film that in the end, not only was it a Horror movie, but sort of a mystery as well? One of the things I liked most about the original BLACK CHRISTMAS is that the killer Billy is not seen to the eye of the viewer - yes you may see his hands or what have you, but a face you would not....virtually making him a killer with no identity, So imagine what I thought when I saw that instead of Billy being concealed....for this remake he will be seen out in the open, ala a Michael Myers. In mentioning Michael Myers, it is kind of ironic that this BLACK CHRISTMAS remake is in essence nothing more than the type of film that the original movie inspired.....a slasher. FINAL DESTINATION co-writer, the film's Director Glen Morgan, instead of pulling a "Gus Van Zant" so to speak, and shooting a shot for shot remake, obviously took the liberty to make it his own. One of the most up front changes that long time fans of the original are likely to raise and eyebrow to is that here, It is explained that Billy is Born with a rare liver disease that turned his skin yellow, called "jondus". Now I don't how everyone has reacted or are going to react to this, but as soon as this was brought to light, some of the hope I had for this film, died right along with some of the film's victims - this idea seems a little too far-fetched, almost like a desperate ploy to try to make this film more original and different. Also another important aspect changed is that Billy's Sister/Daughter was supposedly aborted, but here the character plays a more noticeable role, and later we find out that Agnes is much more important than we would've expected. And like sequels to other popular films in which they take a gore less film(like Halloween) and essentially turn it into a bloody spectacle, the same has been done in the remake to a gore less BLACK CHRISTMAS. The original BLACK CHRISTMAS, relied on practical suspense and suggestive violence to get it's point across and along with the creepy claustrophobic-like atmosphere and sharp camera angles, it was able to accomplish what it set out to do. The remake turns out to be far more violent(at least in the unrated cut), Billy's main style of attack is the plastic bag over the face, something that was only used once in the original and proved to be it's most defining scene...his other plan of attack? extracting the eyes of victims. Believe me when I say that I loved the gore, as it is quite violent, but just how many eyeballs can you rip out in one movie? This act eventually wears on you and grows tired after awhile. I also feel that the plastic bag killings are over done, I mean just because the plastic bag scene stands out, and is well known among fans, doesn't mean you should beat a proverbial dead horse. The acting is just ok as no one really stands out. We have a cast that is for the most part young, with no one from it being really well known, except for some medium success (Lacey Chabert from MEAN GIRLS and Michelle Trachtenberg from the BUFFY Television show), along with Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Crystal Lowe (who both worked with Glen Morgan on FINAL DESTINATION 3) Katie Cassidy, whom had a small role in the WHEN A STRANGER CALLS REMAKE, the role in that was small, so at least here she gets more screen time as Kelli. Playing Kelli's boyfriend, whom's sole purpose is really just to be on hand as someone the girls suspect to be the killer, is played by Oliver Hudson. Oliver, the son of Goldie Hawn and older Brother of Kate, to me is a great actor, but never gets the right roles to display that - I can't say that this is such a role, but at least he got a film that was wide released. Also worth noting, Andrea Martin who played Sorority Sister Phyllis in the original is the only returning cast member as she returns to play the house Mother, Ms. MacHenry. All in all, when it comes to the BLACK CHRISTMAS remake, I find myself let down for the most part. The original film was something special, in that it was original and inspired so many films that proceeded it, that I just didn't see this film getting any better than it already was, so I guess I expected too much. With today's films I guess I should've known better, because it's not necessarily about what's original and not seen anymore as many filmmakers, now recycle the same old plot again and again as long as it sells. This notion is even validated by Director Glen Morgan in the Special Features, whom seemed to want to stick to the original's roots but was forced to add in gore and scares that sell in today's market. So in the end, gone is the plot that kept you guessing until the very end, and in it's place, a plot that is self explained for the non-thinking crowd, with a story that plays out like a SCREAM film, or any of the equivalent late 80's or 90's slasher flick. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| GORE
METER 5.5/10 The gore is greatly stylized and over the top. As I mentioned we have various eye extractions, and multiple impalements with different objects, including an ice-sickle. The list could go on. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| MUSICAL
SCORE 5/10 Various takes on many Christmas themes are used, with suspenseful tunes, it's what you'd expect to hear in a Christmas themed film. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM Although i've said it enough already, Bob Clark's original was a brilliant film. Instead of capitalizing on the 1974 version's brilliance, the filmmaker's have turned their version into "just another slasher film", that really no different than the countless others that continue to be released. But never the less as much as I am disappointed in this film, I will probably find myself putting this is the "guilty pleasures" pile and watching it more than once(as I do many other films), but this film really is pale in comparison to the original. This DVD will be available on April 3, 2007 |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| STILLS | ||||
|
