Before Christmas Evil I was really only aware of two kinds of bad films: those that are bad because they are just plain terrible, and those that are so ironically bad you basically just need to laugh your way through them. Then one night I caught a double feature on 35mm of Christmas Evil and Silent Night Deadly Night hosted by Lewis Jackson, the director of Christmas Evil. That screening, thanks to Exhumed Films, forever changed my outlook on bad movies — a genre for which I have a new appreciation thanks to that screening.
What I saw on screen that night was clearly a far from a perfect film, but you could tell every flawed frame was filled with both love and care that was also completely evident when it came time for the Q&A. That still to this day remains one of my all time favorite Q&As, because deep in Jackson’s heart he believed he made the best movie he possibly could; he had a definitive vision and that resonated in not only the film we had just witnessed, but also his Q&A.
Christmas Evil or You Better Watch Out was released last week, just in time for the holiday season, thanks to Vinegar Syndrome, in a feature-packed restored Director’s Cut 2-disc special edition (DVD/Blu-ray). Vinegar Syndrome is quickly becoming one of the more exciting indie distros out there by not only releasing gems like this, but also giving them the care and respect they deserve in their home presentations. Think of them as the Scream Factory for vintage porn and exploitation films.
Christmas Evil, if you’ve never gazed upon this holiday masterpiece, is a sort of slasher that follows Harry, a lowly toy factory supervisor, who when he was younger walked in on his dad groping his mom dressed as Santa. Thanks to that traumatic childhood episode, Harry has always wanted to become come Santa. From working in a toy factory to spying on and documenting when the neighborhood kids have been naughty or nice, you get the idea poor Harry could break at any time, and of course it happens just in time for the holiday season.
After being constantly mistreated at his day job and by those around him, Harry finally snaps and begins to believe he actually is Santa. But Harry’s idea of Santa is a Santa that kills anyone who mocks him or gets in his way while trying to deliver toys to the good boys and girls. I think for me there is an almost childlike innocence to Harry’s character, so that when it’s broken and he goes on the rampage it’s less horrifying and more heartbreaking to watch, which is only cemented by the film’s bizarre ending.
The set, which carries over the extras from the Troma release, comes with the film on both DVD and Blu-ray with a plethora of great special features scattered throughout both discs, including: deleted scenes, the original theatrical trailer, two commentary tracks, and screen tests. My personal highlights of the set are the comment cards from the original test screenings, which are at times brutal, and the director’s commentary with Christmas Evil super fan and legendary director John Waters. As far as filmmakers talking about their craft and inspiration you don’t get any better than a John Waters commentary, and John is definitely in rare form during the chat with the director.
Hearing John give his personal interpretations of Christmas Evil while Lewis Jackson interjects with factoids and anecdotes has to be quite honestly one of the most entertaining commentaries I have heard all year. The banter between the two while Waters compares Harry’s slow transformation into Santa to someone having a sex change is damn right priceless and introspective in the way only John Waters can be.
The film has also has never looked or sounded better, having been restored in 4k from 35mm archival elements with a brand new DTS-HD Master Audio track. This is definitely the best this film has probably ever looked on any release to date and the best I have seen it look since seeing the director’s personal print screened some time ago. Like all Vinegar Syndrome releases, there is good grain and contrast on the image that preserves the film look with no DNR, giving a very film-like experience.
As far as the holidays go, thanks to the recent release of Silent Night Deadly Night and now Christmas Evil, my hi-def holiday viewing is now all set. With plenty of extras, a great presentation, and one of the most entertaining commentaries you will hear all year, Christmas Evil is is definitely another great release from Vinegar Syndrome and worth picking up this holiday for the horror fan in your family.