Black Christmas
Cinema SHock Christmas Spectacular
Every year, audiences are bombarded with wholesome holiday classics and warm-and-fuzzy nostalgia. But here at Cinema Shock, we like our holiday movies a little darker, a little more deranged, and a lot more murder-y. This week, we are digging into one of the nastiest movies to ever slip under the Christmas tree: Bob Clark’s 1974 Canadian horror classic BLACK CHRISTMAS.
Long before the slasher boom of the 1980s, BLACK CHRISTMAS was perfecting the art of the "calls coming from inside the house" panic. In this extended holiday special, we explore how a simple urban legend and a real-life Canadian murder evolved into a foundational text of modern horror. We dive into the film’s unique production, from the star-studded cast including Olivia Hussey and John Saxon to the bizarre methods used to create the fractured, inhuman voice of the killer.
We also discuss why BLACK CHRISTMAS remains more modern and relevant than the countless "body count" films that followed. From its brush with the infamous Ted Bundy to its direct influence on John Carpenter, we’re breaking down why this movie is still the ultimate holiday chiller fifty years later.
Grab a drink, check the attic, and join us for the Cinema Shock Christmas Spectacular.
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Credits
Directed by Bob Clark
Written by Roy Moore
Starring Olivia Hussey | Keir Dullea | Margot Kidder | John Saxon
Music by Carl Zittrer
Cinematography by Reginald H. Morris
Edited by Stan Cole
CINEMA SHOCK ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andy Lancaster, asotirov, Benjamin Yates, courtland ashley, curtcake5k, Elton Novara, Interzone78, Jackson_Baker, Jvance325, KDurden, LillymckY, Lucy Lawson, MagicBloat, mcdudely, Nate Izod, Nathan Kelley, Robert, Robert Stinson, Spacemonkey73
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne & Justin Bishop.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net