3.6 | / 10 |
Users | 1.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 2.7 |
A group of students are stalked by a stranger during their Christmas break. A remake of the 1974 horror film 'Black Christmas'.
Starring: Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O'Grady, Caleb EberhardtHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 28% |
Mystery | 15% |
Holiday | 5% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
French (Canada): DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Black Christmas is a remake of 1974's Black Christmas (later also released on Blu-ray by Shout! Factory), which was previously remade in 2006 under the title, yes, Black Christmas. Hollywood, of course, cannot leave well enough alone, and 2019's take on the sorority sisters Slasher is the worst one yet. The film wants in just about every category conceivable, collapsing quickly under the burdens of a rote script, generic characters, bland social commentary, too little terror, and too much predictability. The film is more concerned with messaging than it is massacre, yielding a laborious experience that will leave audiences wishing they had just selected the original instead, again, or revisited similar genre classics like Scream or even superior schlock like The Slumber Party Massacre.
Black Christmas' 1080p presentation is sturdy overall if not a bit visually bland. The picture's technical merits are generally fine. Noise spikes are not uncommon but it is also not overwhelming beyond a few shots and scenes. The picture is fairly flat as a rule, certainly not helped by a color spectrum that is not particularly vibrant and that in fact appears a little subdued. A few colors, like natural greens, offer some impressive pop but don't expect much in the way of aggressive, bold, boisterous colors. Black levels are generally good but do appear raised, a bit, here and there, while flesh tones usually just take on shading as influenced by any given light source. The movie appears to be trying to skirt the line between a vintage 70s styling and contemporary photography and production values, which it does fairly well in sum but there are certainly some moments that can't seem to capture a basic visual rhythm. Textures are fine. There's nothing exciting here, and the many lower light and warmly lit shots, where much of the noise is evident, do not exactly offer treasure trove levels of detail. But essential skin elements, clothing lines, and odds and ends around various frat and sorority houses offer details that are sharp and revealing enough. A strange vertical line runs across the screen at the 33:00 mark, a shot of Riley sitting in front of a window. Overall, this is a solid image but certainly not one for the record books, thanks largely to photographic composition and less so any issues with the Blu-ray.
Black Christmas features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Like the video it's sort of vanilla, capable in all areas but offering nothing of sonic interest, again due largely to a fairly inconsequential sound design rather than any Blu-ray encode shortcomings. Essentials are in fine working order, with dialogue clear, center positioned, and well prioritized. Music presents with pleasing front end width and modest back channel and subwoofer integration. Mild atmospherics draw listeners into various frat house or lecture hall interiors and college campus exteriors. Highlights include some quality reverb in a hallucinatory style scene late in the film, followed by nicely spacious, immersive, deep, and detailed thumps. There's just not much here of interest, but the track certainly carries the material well enough from start to finish.
Black Christmas includes deleted and extended scenes, an alternate ending, three featurettes, and an audio commentary track. A DVD copy of
the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with an
embossed slipcover.
Black Christmas leaves a few characters black-and-blue but it doesn't go for the jugular. It's a play-it-safe Slasher with no creativity, no compelling content, no characters worthy of connection. Never mind misogyny; this one just misses the mark. Universal's Blu-ray delivers competent video and audio and a smattering of extras highlighted by an audio commentary track. Rent it.
2019
2016
25th Anniversary Edition
1997
2020
2018
2012
2014
2002
2019
2019
Director's Cut
1963
2015
Limited Edition
1980
Unrated Director's Cut
2009
Collector's Edition | Uncut Version 4K + BD / Theatrical Version BD
1981
2015
Collector's Edition
2001
2008
2010
Director's Cut
2005