The remake you never knew you wanted is here, and it's got a lot more Nazis in it. Forty years ago, Billy went on a rampage, murdering anyone with ungodly sexual proclivities in a trashy slasher that was clinically designed to offend Christian conservatives. In this version of 'Silent Night: Deadly Night,' Billy, played by Rowan Campbell, is a woke ally.
The film, more or less containing the same premise of its predecessor, is an interesting microcosm of its respective eras of horror. The original film begins with Billy witnessing the brutal murder of his parents by a Santa suit-clad killer. This time, there's no sex involved, just a custodian at Billy's grandfather's hospice. Charlie shoots both parents with a shotgun for reasons unknown. Twenty years later, Billy is a dark soul incessantly bothered by Charlie's voice. During the Christmas season, he murders a new soul a day, using a cursed version of an advent calendar.
Finding himself in the small town of Hacket, Billy ingratiates himself with Pamela and her father, who operates a Christmas store. Despite the ongoing murders, the film at times feels like a Hallmark romance. Billy and Pamela's romance accelerates, even as he continues his murderous routine of selecting a victim each day. The film offers a lot of unexplored lore with potential supernatural elements.
Director Mike P. Nelson is constrained by a short timeframe, complicating the plot in ways that both enrich the story and detract from the expected gore. The film abruptly transitions into an absurdly gory scene, contrasting its dark and somber tone. At its best, the remake embraces its schlocky nature, but falters when trying to add deeper meaning. Ultimately, the holidays can be rough, and sometimes you just need to blow off steam—and this film suggests doing it on some Nazis.