Story: There’s something creepy going on at the sorority house of Pi Kappa Sig. The girls are getting a series of scary, obscene phone calls by an obviously disturbed individual. What they don’t realize is that the prank caller is actually in the house, stalking and waiting to strike. This is THE film that started it all!

The Film Itself: Forget that f-ing remake that just came out. Or even the slew of imitators that came in the middle of the “slasher” craze of the 80’s. THIS is the film that started it all. And it was from the director who would one day make Porky’s, Murder By Decree and A Christmas Story! I hosted a screening of this DVD with a few friends that had never seen it. It’d been a few years since I’ve taken a good look at Black Christmas, so I thought it’d be neat to revisit it. And sure enough, the take on this little horror film (which was made in 1974) from our group was unanimous. ‘Black Christmas’ is STILL an effective and scary movie, all these years later. Part of it has to do with Bob’s direction. And some of it with the general tone of the flick. This is the first movie to use the infamous POV shot of the killer. This is the first movie to use the plot device of the caller being in the house. And speaking of those phone calls, even to this day it bothers me to hear “Billy” screaming in multiple voices to a beautiful, sweet and innocent looking Olivia Hussey. That one shot of Billy’s eye, peering between the crack of the door still gets me every time! And of course, John Saxon adds that extra bit of cool to an already frighteningly cool movie. If you’re a horror fan, then this is a MUST SEE!

Special Features: Black Christmas has been available in a number of editions thru-out the years. This current one boast a newly digitally re-mastered print and 5.1 surround sound. While I don’t have the original DVD’s to compare this to, the picture and sound are only OK. Then again, perhaps because of the age of the film it’s not as great as we’re used to. Still, the movie itself is strong enough and still effective in this format. There’s a new documentary segment called “The 12 Days of Black Christmas” which offers new, comfortable interviews with various members of the cast & crew. Now, when I say “comfortable”, I mean (for example) the interview with John Saxon is of him sitting on the couch in his living room and telling stories as if we were friends visiting his home. There are extended separate interview segments with Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder. And a fun Q & A session from a late night anniversary screening with Bob Clark, John Saxon and Carl Zittrer. There are also 2 scenes with newly discovered audio elements, which are cool to see (and hear), but not anything fantastic. Either way, this is a solid, good DVD package of this horror classic. –Robg.