Black Christmas (Kanopy/Youtube)

Dir. Bob Clark 1974); Canada, 98m
Starring: Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder
Programmed by: Genevieve Hunsaker

Aug 1st through Aug 7th

Click here to watch!

“Come on, this is a sorority house, not a convent.”

One of the earliest slasher films, Black Christmas centers on a sorority house amidst Christmas break. As all the sisters are making plans and getting ready for the holiday, an anonymous caller begins phoning and threatening the girls. Initially brushed off as some kind of prank, things become serious when one of the girls goes missing and the house begins being stalked. The anxiety and tension within the house slowly builds until reaching a terrifying crescendo. 

A mix of dark humor and overwhelming terror, Black Christmas set the precedent for many slasher films to come. Though it is lesser known than many of its counterparts, Black Christmas had enormous influence on horror films to come, like Halloween, and even Scream.