12-05-2011, 10:17 AM
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Confirmed User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 4,204
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^^^ Love that movie. Very controversial when it came out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night,_Deadly_Night
Quote:
Controversy and reception
Silent Night, Deadly Night was one of the most controversial films of the 1980s because the killer is dressed as Santa Claus. The PTA fought to have this film removed from theaters due to its subject matter and the fact that it was shown around Christmas, although an earlier film with a similar premise had gone unnoticed.
Upon its original release in 1984, the film created serious controversy. Siskel and Ebert condemned the film and went so far as to read the film's production credits on air, saying "shame, shame" after each one. Siskel also said that all the money the filmmakers were making off of this film was blood money. Leonard Maltin also condemned the film, calling it a "...worthless splatter film", giving it zero stars and asking: "What's next, the Easter Bunny as a child molester?" Large crowds (mostly angry families) formed at theaters and malls around the nation to protest the film. TriStar Pictures, its original distributor, pulled all ads for the film six days after its release (November 15). The film itself was also withdrawn shortly thereafter due to the controversy.
It was later re-released by an independent distributor, Aquarius Films, beginning in spring 1986, with an ad campaign which replaced the original "Twas the night before Christmas" audio track with a new one that centered on the controversy surrounding the film and edited out all close-up shots of Billy, in the Santa suit, with weapons. The print ad material also replaced the original 'Chimney' picture with one that talked about the controversy.
In United Kingdom, the movie was never submitted for certification by the BBFC. As such, although it had never been actually classified as a Video Nasty, its distribution was prohibited in the UK. However, in 2009, Arrow Films submitted the film to the BBFC for classification, who passed the film uncut with an 18 certificate. The UK DVD was released on 23rd November, 2009.
Its sequel was denied a BBFC certificate in 1987.
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Also liked the movie mentioned in the above quote as the "earlier film with a similar premise that had gone unnoticed."
^^ John Waters is quoted as saying Christmas Evil is "greatest Christmas movie ever made." |
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