Halloween (1978) VS Black Christmas (1974) Round 4

[Paff]

Yeah, I don't think Halloween having more influence than Black Christmas is due to it being American at all. I think it's simpler; it's much easier to sell a horror film with a Halloween theme than a Christmas theme. EVERYONE sees horror films around Halloween, it's not a new thing (obviously, as even in Carpenter's film there's a horror marathon on the local TV station).

Clark's film (like almost all of his movies) is a lot more subversive and snarky, and that goes over most peoples' heads. Halloween has some commentary too (the safe suburbs aren't so safe after all), but you can totally tune it out and still enjoy the movie. With Black Christmas, you really have to appreciate the non-horror parts of it (and a lot of people here clearly don't) to like it. Carpenter asks less of his audience, which will almost always help at the box office.

There's also the matter of Black Christmas being a little ahead of it's time. Four years may not seem like much, but it was a pretty tumultous time back then. It's entirely possible that 1974 audiences just weren't ready to watch a young woman get violently stabbed to death while a children's chorus sings O Come All Ye Faithful outside. Oops. Spoiler alert.

[Ash28M]

I actually didn't even hear about Black Christmas till about 1999. I grew up on Halloween and I still think Black Christmas is a more effective film. There are many classics that I loved growing up that I feel still hold up great and retain the ability to frighten. For example I can still get a ton of reply value out of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Carrie, The Exorcist, Jaws, Alien etc. Halloween although I can still admire it on it's technical merits and it's influence. I just find it repetitive and lacking in the substance I require for a film to reach that highest tier of horror Classics. On the other hand I watch Black Christmas at least once a year so I've seen it at least 12 - 15 times and It still gets better ever time I see it.

[Copyboy]

Originally Posted by Paff

With Black Christmas, you really have to appreciate the non-horror parts of it (and a lot of people here clearly don't) to like it.

I can't speak for anyone else who voted for Halloween, but despite my disdain toward the fellatio scene, I LOVE Black Christmas. As a horror movie, I think it's brilliant. I just think that one scene runs on too long and would have worked much better as a quick one-liner rather than being as drawn out as it is.