User Reviews

The biggest offender of the latest incarnation of 'Black Christmas' is its lack of imagination. There's no mystique. There's no mystery. Considering its namesake, it doesn't even seem to attempt to try and retain any of the key components that makes the original film such a classic.

For starters, the film is incredibly flat. The direction and cinematography is dull and uninspired, and the film feels completely lifeless as a result, lacking in any mood and suspense almost entirely, and substituting with way too many cheap jump scares.

The script is just as awkward, with unbelievably cringeworthy dialogue, unlikeable characters, with them making too many questionable decisions, and frankly, it asks a little too much for suspension of disbelief.

As a remake, it misses the mark horrendously. As a horror film, it leaves a lot to be desired. It may not be a bad film, but it's an incredibly boring one.

No one was expecting a remake of Black Christmas, nor was anyone asking for it. And its sudden announcement in June was like snow on one's head. What kind of interest can there be in the cult proto-slasher of 1974? Especially after the notorious 2006s remake, which many still either recall as a nightmare or consider it a comedy because of its torture, plot holes, and the ridiculous killer's background? These two Black Christmases would remain a typical tandem of the "80s original / XXI century studio alteration", but...

The rights to the concept were bought by Blumhouse with director Sophia Takal and screenwriter April Wolfe to lead the newest incarnation. Takal had previously shot some lazy indie thriller about mean female friendship and a full-length episode of the anthology series "Into the Dark" ...also about mean female friendship. And with New Year's entourage. Obviously, everything starts there. These two saw the opportunity to depict all of their modern ideas, only with some snow and toothless scrimers.

Don't try to find any tribute to the original (kitty Claudette instead of 1974s cat Claude) and an attempt to strangle one of the villains with polyethylene. Instead, there's a bunch of blank college girls, one of whom, Riley (Imogen Poots), suffers from emotional trauma after being raped by one of the frat bros (Ryan McIntire), who escaped punishment and even dared to return to college. But the girls have worse problems: the tough student Chris (Aleyse Shannon) demands the dismissal of one of the old-school professor for his boomer-ish way of teaching. While Professor Gelson (Cary Elwes) is trolling the suffragists of the 21st century by quoting the well-known anti-feminist Camille Paglia, female students begin to disappear. And if nobody gave a crap about the horribly acting blonde girl from literally every BC trailer (Lucy Curry), the further disappearances begin to slowly alarm. The police shrugs and isn't eager to do anything (by the way, another curtsy to the original), so Riley begins her own investigation.

Takal and Wolfe are as humble as a jackhammer when it's about the man which are either evil or stupid. An malicious cultist professor with his toxic bloodhound on a chain, annoying boyfriends who can either start a fight out of nothing or stutter while talking to a girl. The authors' ideas ends so quickly that they even use supernatural power, led by the late founder of the college - a white privileged slaver man of his 1800s, who was sure that women would occupy his stronghold of knowledge one day, and then the males must be able to defend... defend what? Oh, sorry, they never explain it anyway. They just hate women, that's all, bite it. No Billy, no Agnes, no real freedom from male opinion. Somewhere in 1974, Jess Bradford sighs heavily while firmly announcing to her boyfriend the decision to have an abortion. Turns out that women's rights aren't about freedom of choice, but about driving away the "white men science" from universities.

Black Christmas doesn't want to be a horror movie. In fact, it doesn't want to be a film. But it wants to be an essay, which for whatever reason was wrapped in Christmas light. An essay, albeit with a budget of $ 5,000,000, is not capable of being exciting and thrilling. Even in others negative reviews, only Imogen Poots can be praised for the role of the emotionally injured, but strong by her spirit, but she is underestimated by the scriptwriters that did not want to give her character some decent development. Cary Elves wasn't told this isn't another "Saw", and therefore something like "game over" is about to burst from his terribly taut smile. The rest of the cast is a typical cannon fodder, as one of the characters (Lily Donoghue, who deserves more screen time tbh) behaves so cringy while interacting with the intruder as if she wanted to end all of this as soon as possible. It's also hilarious that there are two sorority houses, and the second one is shown briefly in the midst of their own attack. All for the sake of the final fight, so that there could me more female combat extras.

The film is mostly praised for showing certain socially disturbing topics familiar to many... well, feminists. Campus abuse and rapes were described in the great "The Hunting Ground", and the pointless gory gender violence was shown in epic "Assassination Nation". What do we get in "Black Christmas" for millennials? The fear of walking down the street alone at night, the keys compressed in a shaking fist, and the unexplained progressive ladies' annoyance with the "not all men".

Black Christmas is a boring, bloodless thriller that is radical in its beliefs and incapable of accepting a bit of a different opinion, shot for the fun of snowflakes and all kinds of warriors for the rights of all disenfranchised. Fortunately, this movie ceases to be associated with its predecessors as soon as it changes its name.

If you know someone in your life who you hate then buy them a ticket to see this. Then sit back and laugh like Mr Burns knowing they are watching this awful movie.

And I thought the 2006 remake was bad? HA. This one makes it look like a great movie! Seriously guys, this movie had no quality plot, writing, thought, or direction. The characters were exceptionally bad and unlikable and had no depth. The scares were cliché and very unoriginal. It's a total introvert to the 1974 cult classic. The original actually had suspense, a creepy atmosphere, scary scenes, and an effective direction. This one had none of those things... I'm very surprised because Blumhouse usually makes quality films, from my experience. Very disappointed.

DO NOT ruin your holidays and see Black Christmas! The original is great, but not this one!

This is the lowest mark I have ever given a film, but it's well deserved. It was poorly written badly acted, and the whole thing was a mess from start to finish. Some films are so bad that they are funny, this couldn't even manage that, made lesbian vampire killers look like a masterpiece

Not only do you make a garbage remake of a horror classic but you make it a PG-13 version? Absolute trash. Someone should be arrested for this dribble.

This is horrible!!! The worst remake ever!!! 2006 version way more better!!! What happened to Blumhouse???

Ok, so I was really looking forward to this one, but it was a complete disappointment. I think it's time to stop making remakes of this, you can not recapture the spirit of the original 1974 classic, ever!. I do give this version some credit though, in changing up the story. Not the worst movie I've ever seen but it was a tough watch. Watch the 1974 classic rather.

2019's Black Christmas is, arguably, a reimagining of the original. A remake? Certainly not. But it's clever in the way it plays off certain elements from the first one - kills, corpse staging, etc. It's far from perfect, but it's fun and entertaining. A little heavy-handed at times, but be honest with yourself - first-wave slashers like the original weren't exactly bastions of subtlety. It's got a nice colour palette, well-staged shots, and some clever if pulpy plot devices. Characters range from sympathetic to one-note, which is probably better than most college-kid-horror films.

What is probably most striking about the film is the reaction it's solicited from audiences. For many of the negative reviews read as though they were written by the villains of the film itself. Something to think about, hmm?

How is this rating so low. I know this is not the best movie but it was really not that bad and definitely entertaining. There were some unique aspects which is rare for horror movies like this. I wouldn't tell a friend about it but if you want a simple and entertaining horror flick you can definitely watch this.

The original Black Christmas is a cult favorite, if only because of Olivia Hussey and the little well-known anecdote that it inspired John Carpenter to write Halloween. Sadly, since the 70's the "teen slasher" genre has been done to death (no pun intended), and whilst films like You're Next and Happy Death Day attempt to breathe life into a stale formula, we haven't really seen a great slasher film this side of the noughties.

This brings us to 2019 and the latest Black Christmas remake, which desperately wants you to take notice of its existence. It wants you to know that it's sincere, and hip and "cool" because it taps into the feminist movement. The first remake of Black Christmas was torn apart by critics in 2006 for its gratuitous violence and paper-thin female characters. The latest remake, helmed by Sophia Takal (who also contributed to the screenplay) fixes that by giving the female characters empowerment and an agenda. Think Charlies Angels with a bit of When a Stranger Calls and half a dozen fairy lights thrown into a slop bucket and you sort of get the idea. I am all for strong female characters. Laurie Rhodes from the aforementioned Halloween and Ripley from Alien are just two classic examples of empowered female leads in a horror franchise. Both of these characters are constantly one step ahead of the (usually male) antagonist and it reminds us that female characters are not only equal to their counterparts, but they often become a force to be reckoned with.

Black Christmas (2019) spends so much time telling us that the female characters are awesome that it forgets to develop any of their actual character. Most of the female characters might as well be referred to as "Girl 1" and "Girl 2" because their sole reason for being on screen is to be quickly bumped off in festive fashion. In a film that is clearly influenced heavily by the MeToo movement, to have such weak characters is detrimental to the whole saccharine message the film wants to convey.The male characters, most of whom are Fraternity Jocks are presented as either creepy, misogynistic or both. This film wants us to root for the female characters by forcing us to swallow the idea that the male characters are all wicked and degrading jerks. There is even a jolly festive song about sexual assault thrown in for good measure. This all makes no sense when a film about empowerment of the gender resorts to doing the very thing it is supposedly criticizing to get its point across.

Of the film itself, Black Christmas (2019) is decidedly dull. The original was a creepy little penny-dreadful type chiller. The remake was gratuitous fluff but it at least gave gore-hounds something to lap up. This one is both bloodless (physically and metaphorically) and is about as scary as a Christmas candy cane. The script feels like something out of a high school amateur production and most of the cast overact and chew the scenery. To achieve a PG-13 rating the violence was toned down so much that this feels like something off The Haunting Hour. All of the kills are off screen and so much time is spent with long and drawn out conversations between the female leads that even the short running time seems to drag on, and on and on. The film takes itself far too seriously, but then pulls the rug from under our feet right at the end when the "twist" is revealed. I won't spoil what happens, but the supernatural element that they tacked on did not make any sense and just made the whole thing even more ridiculous.

Watch the original. Heck, even go back to the 2006 remake, but skip this turkey.

This is very bad. I love the original and the first remake is a masterpiece compared to this mess. Stay away and watch Bob Clarks classic instead :).

Please do not waste your cash on this its sooo bad it makes the 2006 version look like a masterpiece.So preachy no violence no gore no plot no likeable characters...just...dont

Black Christmas title in pink letters should have been another warning to stay away from this movie. Terrible movie. Disappointed

When i first heard Black Christmas being remade had faith, it was being produced by Blumhouse and i was hoping for a modern retelling of the classic Black Christmas.

What we got strayed far from the path and i was tempted to walk out but stayed hoping it would improve.

One dimensional characters , a plot that makes little to no sense and little to no gore, which the original didn't shy away from.

Don't waste your time on this, watch the Original or failing that the remake isn't to bad either, better than this movie.

This was one of the worst movies I've seen this year.

The plot was utterly ridiculous. I only wish It was possible to get a refund

I don't hate this film because it's a tasteless remake. I hate it cause of the themes in the film are executed. It's important to talk about but not in a film like this. It's all the film is, it's a social message. Not a horror movie.

One thing I can say positively is Riley is a great chacrater. The only great character. Imogen Poots is a great actress but she needs to be in great horror films like 28 Weels Later, Green Room and Fright Night. Everyone else is just meh especially the chacrater of Kris who just makes my blood boil.

There are few good moments here and there but after the opening it just gets worse. Its rather tame. It lacks the thrills and the scares.

The director says this is a "fiercely feminist film" and that's not a bad thing but in this case it is. It should be story first, message second. There is a difference between being left-wing and being woke. I hate talking about things like that but sometimes I have to. It destroys films.

It's a bad film. It's not worth watching and makes Blumhouse look even more like a joke. Watch it for Imogen Poots and Imogen Poots only.

I'm actually surprised by how good this movie was, given the amount of bad reviews it had. Decided to give it a shot and it was actually a decent horror movie! The only reason it has received such low reviews is because it has strong female leads standing up to men who take advantage of them... who would've thought that could trigger so many people?!?

People really be out here calling this film the worst movie they've ever seen. I find this rather funny. This movie is a typical slasher movie set around Christmas, it's rather fun and enjoyable at times and the feminist aspects of the film I actually found rather refreshing and interesting. Whatever to what the majority say, I liked it.

Says it all in the title.. my review COMPLETELY disappeared. Stick to the original, or even the 2006 version. "I owe the 2006 version an apology". That was my review before, and it got deleted. So, here it is again.