To say that us here at the HHDB are excited about next week's release of the new Silent Night, Deadly Night remake would be the understatement of the holiday season. I thought it might be fun to revisit the original and the first remake, Silent Night, as both should be considered required watching before December 11.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025)
Here's what we know so far about the new iteration. From IMDB: A child witnesses his parents' murder by a man in a Santa suit. Years later, as an adult, he dons a Santa costume himself and embarks on a violent quest for retribution against those responsible for the traumatic event from his childhood.
Director Mike. P Nelson doesn't have an extensive list of accolades to his name- he was responsible for the middle-of-the-road remake of Wrong Turn (2021) and a segment of V/H/S/85- but current reviews indicate that this one might be his best work to date. The trailer suggests a campier take of the story, which suggests that it might be more of a blending of both the original film and Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987).
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
The original film was not as fun. It still stands as one of the darkest stories in horror. A young boy watches his parents murdered (and his mother sexually assaulted) by Santa Claus on the road side. From there, we see his life as it unfolds into obsession and a revenge-fueled rampage.
This movie will always be close to my heart, as it's one of two movies my parents wouldn't allow me to watch when I was a kid (the other, in case you're curious, was Ghoulies (Mom was worried it would make use scared to use the toilet, which isn't unreasonable)) because it was so dark. When I close my eyes, I can see it on the coffee table now, sitting atop Demonic Toys, in the pile of rental videos. It brings me some joy to think of my parents watching those movies as I slept (apples and trees and whatnot).
I watch it (or its sequel) every year without fail. It still carries a touch of the forbidden for me.
The first remake of this story (not counting Silent Night, Deadly Night 2) is another one that I watch every year, without fail. It's not as dark as the original, what with a more palatable origin story for the killer Santa and all, but still manages to be really messed up. The camp is on display, but its of a very grisly nature, delivered with a straight face. The iconic scenes are there, twisted around and reimagined, and Santa gets a flame thrower (which was a necessary enhancement).
Jaime King does a great job as Deputy Bradimore and brings an entirely new layer to the plot. With a strong female lead, the tone of the movie shifts. It becomes less Deliverance and more Silence of the Lambs. The delightful midwestern town where the movie is set has a sort of Santa festival, so the killer is able to hide in plain sight, as he's just one of a thousand different Saint Nicks to choose from.
And the wood chipper kill is a thing of beauty.
