Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night’

Written by Scott Edwards

One of the most traumatizing times of the year is Christmas, especially for the young ones. If Santa does not bring them that one gift they really, really wanted, their year and in that moment, their lives, will be ruined. We all know that is not the truth, but at that time in our lives, it sure felt that way.

Young Billy and his family are up at the retirement home visiting his grandfather on Christmas Eve. This is something the family has done for a couple years, but grandpa does not seem to notice them, being in a catatonic state and all. This year, grandpa wakes up and tells young Billy that ‘Christmas Eve is the scariest damn night of the year.’ Listening to every word, Billy waits for his grandfather to finish, then tells his parents it is time to go, because grandpa said so. No one believes Billy that grandpa woke up, much less delivered a warning about the Eve, but they leave just the same.

On the other side of town a small-town gas station is getting ready to shut down when a man dressed up in a Santa outfit comes in to pick up some items for his Christmas joy. The clerk starts to give the man a hard time, until he sees a gun pointed at his chest. He is being held up by Santa on Christmas Eve. Santa escapes with his liquor, along with a tank of gas and starts his trek out of town until his car breaks down. An unsuspecting family, Billy’s in fact, pulls up next to the stranded Santa and offers their assistance, it being Christmas Eve and all. Santa says he will take anything they would be willing to give him, then pulls the gun out once again. Shooting Billy’s father in the head and slitting his mother’s throat, Billy will never be able to ask Santa for anything, for the rest of his life. 

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Two years later, Billy and his little brother Ricky are at the St. Mary’s Orphanage trying to grow up and forget what has happened in their past. Billy would do anything not to be naughty at this point, but Mother Superior is not willing to let anything slide when it comes to this troubled youth and she punishes the young man constantly, event for things that are out of Billy’s control, and this gives Billy a very strict set of morals that he will live by for the rest of his life.

Silent Night, Deadly Night follows young Billy as he grows into a man. Trying as hard as he can not to be naughty, as Mother Superior has taught him, Billy makes the best of working in a local toy shop without one complaint. Being one of the best employees in this shop is great, but on Christmas Eve, the regular Santa breaks his leg and Billy volunteers to take his spot for the night.  Having flashbacks to his youth, Billy knows what is done to the naughty and that is what Santa must do on this Eve of Eves. After dispatching the staff at the toy shop, Billy focuses on his old home, the orphanage to take care of the naughty that live inside of its walls. 

Christmas Horror movies would never be the same again after Silent Night, Deadly Night hit the screens. Having an axe wielding Santa running around town screaming ‘Naughty’ and ridding the world of those who he was taught were bad people certainly makes for a unique horror film. Making sure that you are not on the naughty list seemed to be very hard for everyone in the toy shop, but being taught at a very extreme level by a hard nosed nun, Billy would never know the difference, he only knows of how to inflict the punishment. Not even Frosty is safe in this flick as his lifeless head is chopped off by the vicious Santa killer. Try to stay off the naughty list, and if you can’t, make sure if you see Santa with an axe on Christmas Eve…RUN! Happy Holidays and Stay Scared!

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