Rare trailer for 1980 slasher christmas evil under its original title of you better watch out a strange kinetic mix of character study and slasher movie with blackly comic overtone. You better watch out ist ein usamerikanischer horrorfilm mit thrillerelementen aus dem jahre 1980. Christmas evil 1980 cast and crew eavesdropping on mother turns a boy into a killer brandon maggart who roams the streets dressed as santa claus. Christmas evil also known as you better watch out and terror in toyland is a 1980 psychological slasher film, directed by lewis jackson and. But by the time christmas evil has finished, youd be wishing that youd put that one instead to get your fill of foolish festive frights. With brandon maggart, jeffrey demunn, dianne hull, andy fenwick. Dec 25, 2016 rare trailer for 1980 slasher christmas evil under its original title of you better watch out a strange kinetic mix of character study and slasher movie with blackly comic overtone. Christmas evil is a 1980 american psychological slasher film written and directed by lewis jackson and starring brandon maggart. Christmas evil 1980 eavesdropping on mother turns a boy into a killer brandon maggart who roams the streets dressed as santa claus. Christmas evil 1980 if youre bad, then your name goes in the bad boys and girls book, and then ill bring you something horrible. A misunderstood gem from the very beginning, christmas evil was largely panned by critics for its slow pace, and the fact that it was billed as a slasher film but quite frankly was anything but hell, its barely even a horror film. In each scene where harry interacts with one child or a group of children, there is a noticeable lack of conviction in the child. Its much more of a character piece than a body count movie as you watch a man slip into insanity after becoming sick of it all and its really lead actor brandon maggarts. Christmas evil aka you better watch out 1980 full movie youtube.
Lewis jackson writerdirector, john waters connoisseur of all things different. He has a genuine, though insane in a world like ours, moral sense. Time to hang those stockings from the fireplace and get ready. Christmas evil you better watch out 1980 soundtrack. For the times, this cult classic and the few titles that came before, risked being perceived as taboo. Dec 16, 2017 check out to get sweet christmas swag like we have in this video. Harry catches his mother being sexually groped by his father, who is dressed up as santa. Sep 04, 2010 this a film that some may consider to be the definitive christmas slasher, next to silent night, deadly night, of course.
The legendary finale is as wondrous as the holiday itself. Dec 22, 2016 as far as christmas horror movies are concerned, i think the best and most frightening is 1980s christmas evil. If you want that movie, there is a bluraydvd combo available under the name christmas evil here on amazon. Accordingly, lewis jackson does not consider this film to be a slasher film, but rather a film that has more in common with frankenstein 1931. Though it is often lumped in with the santa slasher movies that popped up in the 1980s, christmas evil deserves better than that label. Synapse films presents christmas evil 1980 if youre bad, then your name goes in the bad boys and girls book, and then ill bring you something horrible. Christmas evil also known as you better watch out and terror in toyland is a 1980 psychological slasher film, directed by lewis jackson and starring brandon maggart.
The story is also titled christmas evil and terror in toyland. Christmasevil1980 scanner internet archive html5 uploader 1. Join us on patreon so we can make more content and get the wwam up in everybody michael. Both this movie and that one are indeed are great examples of the christmas horror sub genres incredible evolution over the years in closing, after 35 years, i feel that this movie still has undebatable significance in both christmas horror and 80s. Keep reading to see what i heard on the commentary track for christmas evil. Terror in toyland, 1980s christmas evil amounts to little more than a crass attempt to hitch onto the holidayhorror gravy train initiated by john carpenters universally better halloween in 1978. In december 2006, synapse films released a special edition dvd of christmas evil. Lewis jackson writerdirector, john waters connoisseur of. The film had previously been released by troma in december 2000. Christmas evil centres on harry stadling maggart, a man who works at the jolly dream toy factory and takes his job very seriously. Its less a bloodsoaked parade of slaughtered teenagers than a character study about a man of principle who is pushed past the breaking point. This a film that some may consider to be the definitive christmas slasher, next to silent night, deadly night, of course. In fact, its much more a dark satire than it is a horror film.
Christmas evil 1980 stream and watch online moviefone. The movie really isnt all that bad, but then it isnt all that good either, especially with that sillyass ending. He is obsessed with the quality of the toys that the company produces and finds himself continuously belittled and frustrated by the company management who are more interested in the bottom line. Released 1980, christmas evil stars brandon maggart, dianne hull, scott mckay, joe jamrog the r movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 40 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic. May 27, 2016 the gore is stupid and the villain is creepy in christmas evil. Heartbroken, the child then rushes up to the attic and cuts his hand with a shard of glass from a shattered snow globe fastforward to thirtythree years later, the year is 1980, an adult harry now works in a lousy position at the jolly dreams toy. After witnessing unacceptable christmas cynicism among his coworkers he dons a. After he dons the santa costume, harry takes an extreme approach to the role, as he rewards the nice and punishes those who mock the spirit of christmas.
Though it was the success of halloween 1978 that ultimately allowed this film to be made, it was actually written earlier. As of december 2014, a bluray copy of christmas evil has been released, now restored to 4k quality. It features audio commentary from the director and cult filmmaker john waters, who is quoted as saying it is the greatest christmas movie ever made. Dec 04, 2014 keep reading to see what i heard on the commentary track for christmas evil. Not good creepy mind you, but creepy like that guy in your office with dandruff that doesnt seem to bathe. Repent at leisure 1941 kent taylor, wendy barrie, george barbier. Feb 18, 2017 best jerry lewis dean martin movies 721,3 views. Christmas evil on dvd 7903579022 from troma team video. Dec 24, 2007 it seems wrong to criticize a childs acting abilities but in a film that puts child actors in front of the camera as much as christmas evil does, a critique must be made because the end product noticeably suffers. John waters says that this is the best seasonal film of all timetrue cinematic masterpiece. The music is composed by the trio of don christenson, joel harris, and julia heywood, who created a score both menacing and upbeat, with tunes in the christmas tradition. Christmas evil 1980 watch on shudder, fubotv, vudu, and. Christmas evil 1980 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Not a slasher film, but a taxi driveresque character study and one damn fine performance from fiona apples father, brandon maggart, as he slips into madness. Terror in toyland, 1980 s christmas evil amounts to little more than a crass attempt to hitch onto the holidayhorror gravy train initiated by john carpenters universally better halloween in 1978. Christmas evil featuring brandon maggart and jeffrey demunn is free on vudu, streaming with subscription on shudder, streaming with subscription on fubotv. A deranged departmentstore santa becomes a coldblooded killer in this taut psychothriller that spends time looking back at the poor fellows life.
This version is presented in its matted widescreen ratio of 1. So what really happened at the end of christmas evil. Check out to get sweet christmas swag like we have in this video. Christmas evil 1980 like eve, this american film, is known as the first of many films where a guy dresses up as santa claus and kills the locals christmas evil starts with the origin of main character harrys homicidal insanity. Its only notable for the fact that it was the first of the halloween ripoffs to feature a. Like many horror soundtracks of the era, synthesisers. It seems wrong to criticize a childs acting abilities but in a film that puts child actors in front of the camera as much as christmas evil does, a critique must be made because the end product noticeably suffers. For the love of christ, buddah, zeus and every deity in between, do not see this movie. Dcp projection writerdirector lewis jacksons 1980 film is different.
Rent christmas evil 1980 starring brandon maggart and dianne hull on dvd and bluray. Transferred from the directors own personal film elements, this version of christmas evil is the original first cut of the film containing even more scenes and neverbeforeseen footage. Oct 11, 2019 christmas evil 1980 full movie duration. Personally i dont like either films, but i can see how some may consider this to be a cult classic. As far as christmas horror movies are concerned, i think the best and most frightening is 1980s christmas evil. During the film he pulls out the sewing machine and an old fur wrap. Christmas evil is sad, touching, startling, and heartwarming all at once. Its much more of a character piece than a body count movie as you watch a man slip into insanity after becoming sick of it all. Death waltz recording company are overjoyed to bring you a bit of early christmas spirit in the form of the score to the classic 1980 yuletide slasher movie christmas evil. One dvd release of the film has a commentary track by john waters who claims the film to be the greatest christmas movie ever made. Rent christmas evil 1980 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. Both this movie and that one are indeed are great examples of the christmas horror sub genres incredible evolution over the years in closing, after 35 years, i feel that this movie still has undebatable significance in both christmas horror and 80s horror as well as being quite influential towards both. A toy factory worker, mentally scarred as a child upon learning santa claus is not real, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a yuletide killing spree. I made the mistake of thinking it was christmas evil, whose alternate title was you better watch out, and was sorely mistaken.
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