(1980)
Director: Lewis Jackson
Writer: Lewis Jackson
On Christmas Eve in 1947, young Harry witnesses Santa Claus' visit and is awestruck. Not believing that Santa Claus was actually his father as his brother claims, he sneaks back down only to find his mother being sexually groped by Santa. Traumatized by this, he runs up to the attic and cuts his hand on a broken snowglobe. Thirty-three years later, Harry suppresses his memories and has become obsessed with Christmas. Harry spies on neighborhood children from his Christmas decoration-laden apartment to determine whether or not they've been good and works at a toy factory that he has become disenfranchised with due to their sub-standard quality control. Embarrassed by a series of demeaning events and already on the edge of sanity, Harry finally loses it and begins to believe that he actually is Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve Harry begins his rounds delivering toys to good boys and girls and delivering punishment to those who have been bad.
Christmas Evil is one of the first movies anyone watching holiday themed horror movies should view. The character of Harry, a very lonely middle-aged man who has obviously never been very adept at life, provokes a lot of sympathy for viewers. Even as he slaughters the barely nefarious naughty, there's no brutality in it and one can't help but feel a little sorry for this sad broken man. As Harry slips deeper into insanity, the movie becomes more and more dreamlike and ultimately ends on an ambiguously fanciful note. Although the psychological drama may be taxing for gorehounds looking for the flick-knife thrill of a slasher flick, Christmas Evil is a necessity for anyone that's looking for a good Christmas horror film. 5 out of 6 beers.
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