Well, now it’s time to bring the marathon to a close. I didn’t watch as many movies as I would’ve liked this year, but then, I never do. In the past ten years of doing this marathon, I’ve watched so many horror films — good and bad — and every year I come out of it feeling like I have an even better appreciation and understanding of the genre. I’m not sure if I’ll do this again next year — I feel like ten years is enough, really. Regardless, it’s been a lot of fun and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about it.
To end my tenth, and probably final, marathon, I thought it was fitting that I watch my favorite horror film for the eleventy billionth time.
Black Christmas (1974). Directed by Bob Clark. Starring Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, Andrea Martin, John Saxon, Marian Waldman, James Edmond.
In an interview she gave Bravo during their 100 Scariest Movie Moments series, Olivia Hussey said that when she met Steve Martin for the first time, he told her she starred in his favorite movie of all time. Naturally, she thought he was referring to the Zefferelli version of Romeo and Juliet, the film that she is most known for. She was shocked when he then said it was Black Christmas and that he had seen it 27 times. Reason number 8,123 to love Steve Martin.
I saw Black Christmas for the first time ten years ago, during my first month-long horror film marathon and it’s been my favorite ever since . Not only is it my favorite horror movie, it’s also one of my favorite Christmas movies. Yes, I know what that probably says about me.
There are many things I love about this movie — its incredible cast, its unique (for the time) story, its innovation in how the killer operates, its ominous score, the fact that it was directed by the man who would go on to direct one of the most beloved family Christmas movies of all time. But what I love about it the most is the fact that, even though I’ve seen it many, many times, I’m always discovering something new about it that makes it even creepier, even scarier, than the last time I watched it. And after every viewing, I’m unsettled and really don’t want to be alone in my apartment. There aren’t many horror movies that have that effect on me after one viewing, let alone more than 20.
So, if there is one movie I’ve included in this marathon that I would have to demand you see immediately if you haven’t yet (or, see it again, if you have), it’s this one. I promise you won’t regret it.
Oh, and PS: do not even consider seeing that shitty remake that came out a few years ago. I like to pretend it doesn’t even exist.
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