"Christmas Evil" is a semi-obscure holiday horror treat that emerged in 1980 during the slasher film boom, although it isn't really isn't a typical slasher movie— in fact, I'm not sure you could call it a slasher movie at all. The movie focuses on Harry, a middle-aged worker at a Christmas-themed toy factory who has an unhealthy obsession over the Christmas holiday and Santa Claus, stemming from a traumatic childhood event. On Christmas Eve, Harry sets out to deliver toys to all the good boys and girls. His good deed, however, is disrupted, and an ensuing psychotic break has him slashing instead of spreading holiday cheer.One of the better (and earlier) holiday horror excursions, "Christmas Evil" is an interesting film and probably isn't what you'd expect. Many people seem to get the film confused with the 1984 slasher film, "Silent Night, Deadly Night", but in fact, these two movies are actually quite different aside from the "murderer in the Santa Claus attire" plot device. "Christmas Evil" is less a slasher, and more a character study, where the reverse is arguably true of the latter.Although the root of the main character's (effectively played by Brandon Maggart) mental disruption is addressed early on in the film, it does require some suspension of disbelief, as Harry's unhealthy obsession with Christmas leads him to assuming the identity of Santa Claus. His innocent intentions to deliver toys to the good boys and girls is actually rather heartwarming, but the narrative takes a sinister turn that has the film shift from what could have been a weird Hallmark movie to a demented slasher. In addition to the character study element, the film has some great spooky scenes and a heavy holiday atmosphere. The conclusion is rife with metaphor and is darkly appropriate and imaginative.Overall, "Christmas Evil" is a strangely thoughtful holiday horror film that probably won't please the masses, but it is a weird and memorable entry in the genre. As a character study, it's flawed, and as a slasher movie, it doesn't really register entirely, but it is a true one-of-a-kind. Worth a watch for anyone who can appreciate a little imagination (and suspension of disbelief) when it comes to yuletide terror. 7/10.

A young boy loves Christmas so much, he is scarred for life when he learns that Santa is not real. Throughout the rest of his life, the toy-maker tries to make the Christmas spirit a reality. He becomes obsessed with the behaviour of children and the quality of the toys he makes. When he is met with hypocrisy and cynicism, the resulting snap causes him to go on a yuletide killing spree.............but you'll get a gift if you've been good.....After seeing this, supposedly one of the best efforts of a Christmas horror movie, I can wholeheartedly disagree with that statement.The film is well acted, but my gosh, is it boring and bland.But the most infuriating thing about the whole film is the fact that it has so much potential. A man trying to keep the Christmas spirit raised so much, that people are literally mocking him, so he goes on a killing spree........but the fact is, he doesn't go on said spree, he drives around town giving out presents for the majority of the film, pokes someone in the eye, strangles someone else, and then flies off.But he doesn't fly off in reality, you hear the van crash, it's just his deluded mind thinking he is the real Santa.If your looking for an exploitative Christmas horror, go for something like Santa's Slay, it's silly and bad for all the right reasons.If this was addressed as a thriller, and not described as all out horror, you may get something out of it.I didn't, except extreme boredom....,

This 1980 horror film stars Brandon Maggart, Jeffrey DeMunn and Dianne Hull. This focuses on mild-mannered yet disturbed guy, Harry Stadling (Maggart) who works for a toy company. He loves Christmas and wants to help bring toys to some of the children in the neighborhood. He's been traumatized since he was a kid learning that Santa Claus isn't real. He's also been taken advantage of by some of his co-workers and they don't believe in their company's products as much as he does. On Christmas Eve, he decides to dress up as Santa bringing joy to the nice and terror to the naughty. DeMunn (The Hitcher) plays his brother, Philip and Hull plays Philip's wife, Jackie who are both concerned about him. This isn't a bad film that's also known as "You Better Watch Out" with a decent cast as well as some dark humor. I recommend this for horror/slasher fans.

All-Star Video | BlogspotChristmas Evil is such a strange, hybrid-genre film, I can see why the marketing is so terrible. All the posters, descriptions, and trailers are misleading. It gets lumped in with Silent Night, Deadly Night and Black Christmas, but I think that's a problem. Those are both great films, but this is not really a slasher film. This is not a horror film. This is a genuinely original psychological film more in the vein of George Romero's Martin or Taxi Driver than Halloween. That being said, it's got some genuinely crazy awesome gore sequences and is extremely entertaining. Harry Stadling (brilliantly played by Brandon Maggert) is forever scarred when he decides to go downstairs on Christmas Eve to see the real Santa Claus and instead sees, what we presume is his dad, getting physical with his mom. Not surprisingly, the kid is disturbed. To be fair, that's pretty messed up. As a result Harry grows up overly obsessed with Christmas. He keeps tabs on the neighborhood kids, spying on them with binoculars and writing them down in the good boys and girls book or the bad boys and girls book.Harry works at a toy manufacturing shop, Jolly Dream, and has recently been promoted to manager, where he is horribly sad that he no longer works directly with the toys. His coworkers are douchebags and one of them fools Harry into working one of his shifts so that he can go out with his wife, but in reality he is going to the bar with his friends, which Harry sees in a later scene. Harry's bosses laugh at him for wanting to donate a lot of toys to the children at Willowy Springs (the horrible State Hospital). Harry becomes more and more agitated as he sees all these people not having the Christmas spirit. On Christmas Eve, Harry has finally had enough. He paints a sweet Santa sleigh on the side of his van and glues a white beard to his face, but then seems to immediately regret it, trying his best to tear it off. Maggert here takes over the role completely with his eyes and shows the mad desperation growing within Harry. He embraces the becoming of Santa.From here, Harry steals toys from Jolly Dream to bring to the Hospital. It's really quite amazing how the tone of this movie continues to shift. Harry's generosity is genuinely touching. This is the moment that every great Christmas movie is able to capture, the idea that the Christmas spirit is all about generosity. And yet, it then changes quickly again as he parks his sleigh van outside his bosses' church as they attend Midnight Mass. As the parishioners exit the church, some yuppie bastards in their 20s notice Santa outside standing by his van. They immediately approach him. One of them says to him:"Well, Santa, are you ready for a busy night?"Harry responds, "I have something for you." The smarmy bastard replies, "Oh, what is it? I have superlative taste." (how outstanding is that?Harry then stabs the yuppy in the eye with the gun of a toy soldier. It's super grotesque and incredible. He sinks a hatchet into the other yuppie's head and then runs to his sleigh van to escape. The gore effects are cheesy but awesome. But, Jackson lets the camera linger on the leftover chaos. What could just be a really sweet, and super funny, moment suddenly turns very dark. I found myself laughing and then immediately getting quiet. Harry comes across a Christmas party and stops to watch through the window. Harry's sad eyes linger on the happy group, and then two men inside notice Harry and bring him inside. Awkwardly, Harry enters the group, but is soon caught up in the excitement and after much merriment, Harry delivers an amazing monologue to the children at the party:"And, I'll bring you something... horrible."Harry is chased by mobs of people searching for the killer Santa Claus. From there, Harry gets stuck in a chimney, has his revenge on his co- worker, gets choked out by his brother, and then punches his brother in the face. With a great surprise ending, Jackson has provided us with what is fast becoming my favorite Christmas movie.-J. Moret, allstarvideo.blogspot.com