I'm dreaming of a Black Christmas

In the mid-1970's, Bob Clark, famed director of such films as Porky's, A Christmas Story, and Baby Geniuses made this little horror film. In it's only L.A. screening in over a decade, I got a chance to see it at a midnight showing at the Nuart. Turns out, this film is one of the best of its kind. It pre-dates Halloween as being one of the first of the slasher genre, and one of the most influential (John Carpenter was reportedly a big fan of this film). It primarily takes place at sorority house on a college campus as the students are gradually leaving for their holiday break. The snow is falling outside, but inside... It begins in a similar fashion as Halloween with subjective camera and a distorting lens as the killer makes his way into the attic of the house. I guess I shouldn't give away too much because that's much of the fun of these movies. I will say, however, that this is one of the scariest movies of its kind. It's well directed and paced and has a strong cast including, Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea (Dave from 2001: A Space Odyssey), Margot "Lois Lane" Kidder, and the always great, John Saxon who was there for a Q&A after the show along with Bob Clark. The atmosphere is always tense and it never strains believability. One of the better death scenes cross cuts between someone getting killed upstairs while someone else is at the front door downstairs listening to carolers sing, "Silent Night". A death scene with a christmas classic in the background: priceless. Like Halloween, the emphasis is less on gore and more on atmosphere and suspense. In many ways it's as much a mystery as it is a horror film, because for most of the movie, no one is even aware that there is a killer in the house. People begin to mysteriously go missing, but then again, it's time for Christmas break, so why would anyone think of murder? I highly recommend this rare, little-known gem.