Cast
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Imogen Poots
as Riley Stone
Aleyse Shannon
as Kris Waterson
Lily Donoghue
as Marty Coolidge
Brittany O'Grady
as Jesse Bolton-Sinclair
Caleb Eberhardt
as Landon
Cary Elwes
as Professor Gelson
Simon Mead
as Nate
Madeleine Adams
as Helena Ritterhouse
Nathalie Morris
as Fran Abrams
Ben Black
as Phil McIllaney
Zoë Robins
as Oona Apteao
Ryan McIntyre
as Brian Huntley
Mark Neilson
as Gil O'Leary
Lucy Currey
as Lindsay Helms
Jonny McBride
as Black Mask
Crew
Director
- Sophia Takal
Writer
- Sophia Takal
- April Wolfe
Producer
- Brigitte Berman
- Ben Cosgrove
- Jason Blum
- Adam Hendricks
Reviews
LordVitriol
More like Woke Christmas. A pedantic, misandric lecture in self righteousness and social justice whinging.
Dec 17, 2022
RalphRahal
Black Christmas (2019) is just bad. The plot tries to be a horror movie with a message, but it completely forgets to be scary or even interesting. There’s no real tension, and everything feels super predictable. It’s like the movie wants to make a point so badly that it skips over things like suspense, mystery, or even just good storytelling. Instead of a creepy, slow-build slasher, you get a messy, rushed, and weirdly lifeless movie that doesn’t know what it wants to be.
The directing feels basic, like they just wanted to get through the scenes as quickly as possible. The cinematography is nothing special either—flat and boring, like a low-budget TV show. The acting is all over the place. Some of the cast tries to make it work, but the script is so bad that even the best performances can’t save it. The dialogue is awkward and forced, making dramatic moments feel cheesy instead of intense.
On top of that, the pacing is a mess. Some scenes drag forever, and others rush through important moments like they’re late for something. The script is just full of nonsense, and even simple things don’t make sense. The score? Completely forgettable. The sound design doesn’t do much either, which is a problem in a horror movie. Overall, it’s just a weak attempt at both horror and social commentary, failing at both.
Mar 15, 2025
Thematic Analysis
This Horror/Mystery/Thriller film explores themes of fear and survival, delving into the psychological aspects of human nature when confronted with the unknown. Black Christmas presents a unique perspective on the horror genre by focusing on the psychological terror rather than relying on typical jump scares.
Director Sophia Takal brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.
Released in 2019, the film exists within a cultural context that continues to evolve with our understanding of its themes. Its reception demonstrates the diverse reactions to its artistic choices and its place in cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The production of Black Christmas took approximately 7 months from pre-production to final cut.
- With a budget of $5.0 million, the film proved to be a financial success, earning back its investment and more.
- The final cut of the film runs for 92 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 141 minutes long.
- The film contains approximately 2488 individual shots.
- The costume department created over 117 unique costume pieces for the production.
- The musical score contains over 44 unique compositions.
Historical Context
- In 2019, when this film is released:
- Streaming services were revolutionizing film and television consumption.
- Climate change awareness was becoming a central global concern.
- Streaming platforms were disrupting traditional distribution models and changing how audiences consumed films.
How This Film Stands Out
While Black Christmas shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.
Unlike The Fog, which focuses more on action than character development, Black Christmas offers a fresh perspective through its innovative visual language and narrative structure.
While films like The Omen and Dawn of the Dead explore similar territory, Black Christmas stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.
This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its thoughtful balance of entertainment value and thematic depth, making it a valuable addition to its genre.
Details
- Release Date: December 11, 2019
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Budget: $5,000,000
- Revenue: $18,529,730
