Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Black Christmas 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 12, 2022

Bob Clark's "Black Christmas" (1974) arrives on 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray courtesy of Scream Factory. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with audio restoration specialist Brett Cameron; multiple archival audio commentaries; multiple archival featurettes and cast and crew interviews; vintage publicity materials; and a lot more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Note: The text below was initially used in our review of the first Blu-ray release of Black Christmas, which Somerville House produced in 2008.

A film that has had a profound effect on John Carpenter’s future work, Black Christmas (1974) is considered one of the key entries in the slasher genre. Violent and claustrophobic, Black Christmas tells a familiar story while producing a tremendous atmosphere and boasting a moody soundtrack with frequently spine-chilling tunes.

Christmas time. A group of sorority girls is getting ready for a much-anticipated vacation. The girls talk about the future, their sweethearts, and gift-swapping. An anonymous caller then begins harassing them and they become concerned, but it takes some time before the local police are made aware of the caller's activities.

Shortly after, a string of killings throws the campus into a state of hysteria. To track down the killer, the police decide to tap the phone lines in the sorority house. But will the killer make a mistake and reveal itself?

Black Christmas is a film that could force many of you who have never seen it before to conclude that it is irreparably damaged by a number of genre clichés. And if you do, you will be dead wrong. Why? Because Bob Clark mainstreamed a lot of what nowadays is considered to be genre clichés -- killers phoning their unsuspecting victim, extreme close-ups capturing the panic replaced by horror in the victim’s eyes, the hugely atmospheric soundtracks used to enhance the moody environment slashers necessitate.

But I don't feel comfortable stating that Black Christmas is a genre classic. Such a description carries too much weight. Usually, it invites criticism toward films that may be representative of the genre they belong to but aren’t necessarily groundbreaking. I feel more comfortable stating that Black Christmas was simply a trendsetter, a film that influenced countless copycats.

There are two reasons Bob Clark’s Black Christmas resonated so incredibly well with viewers and soon-to-be important directors some thirty-four years ago. First, it produces a very special environment that could easily be seen as more effective than its story. This special environment then does a lot to shape the personalities of the main protagonists and their behavior in ways that may not have appeared as campy in the past as they do now. Second, the direction is quite unusual for a low-budget '70s film that would 'only' want to produce a few generic scary moments. In other words, Black Christmas takes itself and its horror very seriously and does not disappoint.

Carl Zittrer’s soundtrack is a perfect match as well. It does numerous big and small things that dramatically enhance a lot of the genuinely spooky material in Black Christmas. Some of the soundtracks that were created for Dario Argento's famous films, like Suspiria, accomplish the same, but their harmonic stylization is almost always easily recognizable. Zittrer's soundtrack is different. In an odd sort of way, it creates the impression that it came straight out of the deranged killer's head. It is genuinely disturbing.

Black Christmas 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Scream Factory's release of Black Christmas is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. The Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including its actual color values.

Screencaptures #1-19 are from Black Christmas Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #23-30 are from Black Chrismats 4K Blu-ray.

The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray are sourced from an exclusive new 4K master that was struck from the original 35mm camera negative. The native 4K presentation can be viewed with Dolby Vision/HDR. I viewed the entire film in native 4K and then tested numerous sections from the 1080p presentation.

I have only one other very old Blu-ray release of Black Christmas that Somerville House produced way back in 2010, so it is the only one I can reference in this article. Fortunately, I don't have to do any specific comparisons because the upgrade in quality that the new 4K and 1080p presentations offer are so dramatic that they would be pointless. The new 4K makeover reveals plenty of new details, but I was particularly impressed by the vastly superior indoor and darker footage where various new ranges of shadow nuances change the perception of depth as well. Simply put, now this footage has filmic qualities that are very attractive. Some were detectable on the old Blu-ray release that I have, but virtually all struggled with plenty of noise. Also, the Dolby Vision grade does a lot to further strengthen and enhance these visuals, so on a larger screen, the superiority of the new 4K makeover becomes even more impressive. There are no traces of any problematic digital adjustments. The original cinematography does introduce various density fluctuations, but they are very easy to identify as native fluctuations. Also, the Dolby Vision grade is quite gentle, so even though the discrepancy in the dynamic range of the visuals in 4K and 1080p is instantly recognizable, it does not feel like the visuals are struggling to appear more impressive than they should be. This is something that I liked a lot. What happens in the more subtle darker areas in 1080p? I think that some blacks and black nuances merge and produce slightly thicker visuals, while in native 4K there are expanded ranges s blacks and black nuances. On my system, the difference was obvious. In native 4K, fluidity is better too, and because of the manner in which this film was shot, I think that the improvement is substantial. For reference, on the old Blu-ray release, when the camera zooms or pans, often you will notice a borderline stuttering effect because the visuals are too 'loose' and the fluidity isn't as good as it can be. This effect is completely eliminated in native 4K. The color grade is outstanding. The entire film boasts wonderfully rich but not boosted primaries and supporting nuances that accurately reproduce the native color temperature of the original cinematography. Image stability is excellent. All in all, the native 4K and 1080p presentations make it possible to experience the film as best as you can without attending a theatrical screening of it. Very, very impressive.

Black Christmas 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit) and English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit). Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the entire film with the new restored Mono track. It is immediately very easy to tell that the audio is a lot healthier than the lossy 2.0 track from my old Blu-ray release of Black Christmas. I think that clarity and the upper register are also substantially improved, so the effects and music interact a lot better. I think that in terms of balance there is a lot to like as well. I did not encounter any technical anomalies to report in our review.

Black Christmas 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director Bob Clark. The comments address in great detail how various sequences were shot and specifically how the camera movement was managed, the lighting choices that were made, the tone and atmosphere of the film, some interesting criticisms Mr. Clark encountered, the unique 'visualization' and sound profile of the killer, etc. This is a casual but very technical and ultimately wonderfully illuminating commentary that should not be ignored by fans of Mr. Clark's film.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by actors John Saxon and Keir Dullea. Mr. Saxon explains how he was offered a part in Black Christmas and a terrible mix-up that made him lose it, though eventually he was invited to join the cast again; Mr. Saxon also discusses the candid dialog and how Bob Clark perfected its kind in other genre films as well as the nature of the horror that gives Black Christmas its identity. Mr. Dullea discusses his contribution as well, with some quite interesting observations about his interactions with the rest of the cast.

• Commentary Three - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Nick Mancuso, though he is credited only as "Billy". It is pretty, well, loose and exotic, so I would not recommend it to anyone that actually expects to learn anything meaningful or interesting about the conception and production of Black Christmas. To be perfectly honest, most of the time Mr. Mancuso sounds slightly inebriated.

• Audio Interview with Director Bob Clark - in this archival audio interview, Bob Clark discusses the genesis of Black Christmas, the idea of using the camera as the killer, the casting process, the film's period appearance and specifically the fact that it does not look dated. Mr. Clark also comments on the remakes of some of his biggest hits. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Black Christmas - Restoring the Sound - in this exclusive new program, audio restoration specialist Brett Cameron discusses the work that was done during the recent restoration of the original Mono track of Black Christmas. Also included in the program are before-and-after comparisons. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Newsprint Ad Gallery - presented here is a collection of original news ads for Black Christmas from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. (4 min).

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director Bob Clark. The comments address in great detail how various sequences were shot and specifically how the camera movement was managed, the lighting choices that were made, the tone and atmosphere of the film, some interesting criticisms Mr. Clark encountered, the unique 'visualization' and sound profile of the killer, etc. This is a casual but very technical and ultimately wonderfully illuminating commentary that should not be ignored by fans of Mr. Clark's film.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by actors John Saxon and Keir Dullea. Mr. Saxon explains how he was offered a part in Black Christmas and a terrible mix-up that made him lose it, though eventually he was invited to join the cast again; Mr. Saxon also discusses the candid dialog and how Bob Clark perfected its kind in other genre films as well as the nature of the horror that gives Black Christmas its identity. Mr. Dullea discusses his contribution as well, with some quite interesting observations about his interactions with the rest of the cast.

• Commentary Three - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Nick Mancuso, though he is credited only as "Billy". It is pretty, well, loose and exotic, so I would not recommend it to anyone that actually expects to learn anything meaningful or interesting about the conception and production of Black Christmas. To be perfectly honest, most of the time Mr. Mancuso sounds slightly inebriated.

• Audio Interview with Director Bob Clark - in this archival audio interview, Bob Clark discusses the genesis of Black Christmas, the idea of using the camera as the killer, the casting process, the film's period appearance and specifically the fact that it does not look dated. Mr. Clark also comments on the remakes of some of his biggest hits. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Critical Mass Version (2006) - presented here is the 2006 remastered version of Black Christmas. This version of the film is framed in 1:78:1 and has not undergone a full-scale digital restoration. In English, not subtitled. Dolby Digital 5.1. (98 min).

• Film and Furs Remembering Black Christmas - in this archival program, actor Art Hindle recalls how he was offered the part of Chris Hayden in Black Christmas and what it was like to work with Bob Clark and the rest of the cast during the shooting of the film in Canada. There are some interesting observations about the reception of the film as well as the state of the Canadian film industry during the 1970s. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).

• Victims and Virgins Remembering Black Christmas - in this archival program, actress Lynne Griffin explains how she entered the film business and discusses her involvement with Black Christmas. Also, there are some interesting observations about the nature of the horror that flourishes in the film. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).

• Black Christmas Legacy - in this archival program, actors Lynne Griffin, Nick Mancuso, Margot Kidder, Olivia Hussey, composer Carl Zittrer, and journalist Bruce Kirkland (Toronto Star), amongst others, discuss the timeless appeal of Black Christmas and how it may have impacted the creative concept of 'modern horror'. Also included is footage from an archival interview with Bob Clark discussing a fictional sequel to Black Christmas. In English, not subtitled. (41 min).

• 40th Anniversary Panel at FanExpo 2014 - presented here is footage from the 40th anniversary union panel at FanExpo in Canada, 2014. Actors Lyynne Griffin, John Saxon, and Art Hindle, and Nick Manuso recall their involvement with Black Christmas and discuss Bob Clark's working methods. The discussion is moderated by Paul Corupe (critic/writer from Canuxploitation.com). In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• On Screen!: Black Christmas - this archival program examines the conception and unique qualities of Black Christmas as well as its impact on the evolution of horror cinema. Included in it are clips from interviews with critic Paul Corupe, critic/author Calum Waddel, Bob Clark, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, and producer/distributor William Alexander, among others. In English, not subtitled. (49 min).

• 12 Days of Black Christmas - this archival program examines the production or Black Christmas and the qualities of its key characters. There are some interesting observations about Bob Clark's techniques and the film's stylistic appearance as well. Included in it are clips from interviews with Art Hindle, Olivia Hussey, Lynn Griffin, John Saxon, and Doug McGrath, among others. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Black Christmas Revisited - this archival program focuses on the production of Black Christmas as well. Included in it are clips from interviews with Bob Clark, co-producer Gerry Arbeid, Vision 4 executive Victor Solnicki, Keir Dullea, Lynne Griffin, John Saxon, and Art Hindle, among others. In English, not subtitled. (37 min).

• Archival Interviews - the following actors and Bob Clark recall their collaboration on Black Christmas. In English, not subtitled. (102 min).
  
  1. Olivia Hussey
  2. Art Hindle
  3. Margot Kidder
  4. John Saxon
  5. Bob Clark

• Midnight Screening Q&A - presented here is footage from a Q&A session that was held after a screening of Black Christmas in Santa Monica, California, in December 2004. Audience questions are answered by Bob Clark, John Saxon, and composer Carl Zittrer. In English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• Two Scenes with a New Soundtrack - presented here are two scenes with alternate audio/sounds that were discovered during the 5.1 mixing session for the DVD release of Black Christmas. The alternate audio/sounds are not present in the final version of the film. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Trailers -
  
  1. Original English language trailer
  2. Original French language trailer.
  

• Original TV and Radio Spots - in English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Alternate Title Sequences - with music. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Black Christmas from around the world. (5 min).

Black Christmas 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Two of the best 4K Blu-ray releases that I have seen this year, 'imports' from other markets included, have come from Shout Factory/Scream Factory. The first is Alligator, the second is this three-disc set of Black Christmas. Bob Clark shot Black Christmas in a way that makes it quite difficult to shine on Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray, but now his film looks astonishing. Its original audio has been fully restored as well. On top of this, this release offers many hours of exclusive new and archival bonus features that cover absolutely everything that might be of interest to a fan of Black Christmas. An incredible release. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.