Christmas Evil (1980) is John Waters’ favourite Christmas movie. It’s easy to see why, as the film’s New Jersey suburban setting is not far away from the Baltimore depicted in Waters’ films: there’s something miserable mixed within the campiness. Christmas Evil is less of a slasher than Silent Night Deadly Night, more of a cross between Frankenstein, Psycho and Taxi Driver.
A portrait of a sad sack, Harry (played memorably by Brandon Maggart who is – fun fact – Fiona Apple’s dad) who was traumatised as a child by staying up late, sneaking downstairs and witnessing his Mum having sex with Santa Claus (actually his father dressed up) in their living room while the kids were supposed to be asleep. As an adult, Harry is obsessed with Christmas and Santa, to the point of monitoring the kids in his neighbourhood and taking copious notes of who’s been Good and who’s been Bad, which is creepy enough. Working as a toy factory pencil pusher who is taken advantage of by his coworkers, the film accumulates an uncomfortable and eerie tone with by proliferating and repeating Christmas music, and Norman Rockwell apparel and imagery. Harry is eventually driven to madness, gluing on a white beard and dressing up like Santa to spread joy in the world by sneaking into people’s homes with Christmas gifts, and also lashing out at anyone who’s on the Naughty list.
Even with the high concept angle of a murderous Santa Claus, and some of the kills depicted, Christmas Evil sits in the awkwardness and bizarreness of the situations. Particularly how playing Santa Claus gives Harry a feeling of identity, that finds him celebrated and appreciated at moments, but ultimately rejected and pursued. Jeffery DeMunn (younger than I’ve ever seen him) plays his brother, who seemingly has the family, wife and sex life that the protagonist desires. There’s a sense of humour to the film, like the funny editing of the work christmas party, continually cutting to booze being poured into cups, splashing messily on the table. Though this is also meshed with memorably surreal imagery like Harry walking up to a suburb at night, surrounded by lit up reindeer sculptures, almost sci-fi how they intensely glow in the night. Also small supporting roles for character actors like Raymond J Barry, Mark Margolis and Frank Pierce. A dank electronic score adds to the uneasiness. Great remastered version available to stream on Tubi that has the alternate title in its credits, “You Better Watch Out.” Directed by Lewis Jackson. Recommended.
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