Black Xmas falls into the same pitholes that it's remake predecessors have found themselves in. In trying to create an updated version of a film that has been a guiding influence for slashers proceeding it, the makers of Black Xmas have followed the same formula that has failed numerous times before: trying to spice up a poorly written script and flavorless acting with more gore and sex.
The story of Black Xmas is essentially the same as the original. A group of sorority sisters, who live in the house where a series of murders were committed and where a psychopathic murderer lived, are terrorized by the same psycho. Billy is his name, killing is his game. But the difference between the original and the remake that makes Xmas stand out is the fact that we get to see the backstory of Billy that was never provided in Bob Clark's original. Yet the secrets divulged aren't enough to bring the film back from the Christmas massacre.
The good thing about Black Xmas is its scenery - decorations are literally scattered throughout the entire film, and colored lights are used to great effect in casting an eerie glow on the surroundings. These sorority sisters know how to plan for Christmas, I'll give them that much. There's also an attempt to smarten the girls up, to give them a bit of character substance besides the generic bimbo or the dumb texting girl. And I say attempt, because it doesn't necessarily work. Only in the beginning do we see intelligence in the women of the sorority; a heated discussion over the practice of Christmas and its symbols places an emphasis on knowledge for the group, but shortly after we find that the girls are exactly the same stereotypes we thought they were, just equipped with facades.
I think this effectively sums up much of the entirety of the movie, as well. Trying to spice up the intensity, Black Xmas tries a whole bunch of tricks we've seen before, adding an extremity to the violence that does nothing for the plot and twisting the story up into entirely foreseeable "surprises." This isn't new, folks. We shouldn't be swayed.
But the film should be applauded for its attempt at breaking free from the original. There's a reason why Black Xmas is not named directly after the original. It's trying for more of a reboot than a shot-for-shot remake, which is an acceptable risk. But Black Xmas tries to dabble into too much intensity; it loses any tension that the original created in its slow (for some, unbearably slow) creep towards the climax by going over-the-top the whole way.
Yet over-the-top can sometimes be a boon, and I think that for Black Xmas, it really depends on the mood you're in. Looking for an inane but fun slasher, especially around the holidays? Probably can't go wrong here. But if it's more serious, "tradition"-al fare you're after, it's best to stick to the original. Still better than that atrocious Prom Night remake, though.
Black Xmas on Rotten Tomatoes
Hmmm...Do I need to see this? I've heard all about what a desecration of the original it is. Seems to be the classic example of why horror remakes are a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteI agree. About the only positive is that it is a better remake than the Prom Night remake. But even that isn't much praise. See the original again instead.
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