Christmas Evil poster has an image of a man dressed as Santa holding an axe. Above him the words: “1st came ‘Halloween’… then “Friday 13th’… and NOW this Christmas you better believe in Santa…or he’ll slay you.
Silent Night, Deadly Night poster has an arm holding an axe sticking out a chimney. Above are the words: “You made it through Halloween, now try and survive Christmas.”
Red Christmas poster shows a cloaked figure holding a present. Above the present where the figure’s face would be are the words: “Dee Wallace. This Christmas, the only thing under the tree is terror.”
AnDread and Dark Mark (creator of the show’s theme music!) dive into disability in Christmas horror. We discuss obsession, PTSD, and Down syndrome in Christmas Evil, Silent Night, Deadly Night, and Red Christmas. Also reviews of the Faculty of Horror Podcast and John Ajvide Lindqvist’s Let the Old Dreams Die. Show Notes available at freaksandpsychospodcast.com/episode007
WARNING: Major plot spoilers for the films discussed. Also potentially triggering discussions of abuse, rape, and abortion.
Show Notes:
- Intro
- Christmas Horror Overview 10:15
- Why so much Christmas horror?
- Misconceptions about mental health and the Christmas season: suicide rates do NOT go up on Christmas; mood disorders are exacerbated, and alcohol-related deaths do increase
- Favorite Christmas horror movies
- Dark Mark: Krampus, Black Christmas, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Curse of the Cat People, Anna and the Apocalypse, Gremlins, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, and the movies discussed on this episode
- AnDread: Black Christmas, Krampus, Gremlins, Better Watch Out
- Christmas Evil (1980) Discussion 27:48
- Streaming on Shudder and YouTube
- Overall thoughts
- Reflection of mental institution de-funding
- More psychological/dramatic approach to killer Santa
- Representation of obsession and mental disability
- Characters – Harry’s idealization of Christmas, social ostracism, and troubled relationship with brother Phil
- Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) Discussion 1:05:34
- Controversial killer Santa movie – more of a straightforward slasher
- Clip of Gene Siskel commenting on the protests surrounding the movie and denouncing the film
- Overall thoughts
- Representation of trauma and PTSD – somewhat accurate but also contrived, unfortunate connection between PTSD and violence
- Disability throughout the film: we also get depictions of dementia, deafness, and paralysis
- Red Christmas (2017) Discussion 1:39:54
- Streaming on Amazon Prime and Shudder
- Directed and written by Craig Anderson
- Overall thoughts
- Straightforward slasher with comedic elements
- Representation of Down syndrome
- Cletus – killer who has Down syndrome and other unspecified deformities (?)
- Jerry – brother set up as contrast (played by an actor with Down syndrome, Gerard O’Dwyer)
- Tonal confusion
- Limitations of low budget filmmaking
- Horror Movie: A Low Budget Nightmare (documentary about the making-of Red Christmas that details the struggles of making a truly independent low-budget film)
- Complicated thoughts on abortion and disability
- Psycho Sounds 2:17:05
- Faculty of Horror Podcast, Podcasting from the Horrored Halls of Academia.
- DESCRIPTION: Every month, hosts Andrea Subissati and Alexandra West, journalists and occasional academics, analyze classic and contemporary horror movies through a feminist, research-based look at their themes and social and political contexts.
- Episode on Hereditary: Episode 87
- Episode length: typically 1 to 1.5 hours
- Spoilers: yes
- Website: facultyofhorror.com
- Twitter: @FacultyofHorror
- Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/TheFacultyOfHorror
- Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Facultyofhorror/
- Highly recommended for those interested in a thoughtful and informative approach to the horror genre.
- Freaky Fic 2:20:43
- John Ajvide Lindqvist’s short story collection Let the Old Dreams Die (2011)
- 11 stories, around 400 pages
- Favorite stories: “Border,” “Equinox,” “Majken,” and “Let the Old Dreams Die”
- A few stories didn’t work; “Final Processing” is a sequel to Lindqvist’s novel Handling the Undead (recommend reading that book first)
- Recommended if you enjoy a blend of traditional horror tropes with character studies
- Plugs and Wrap-Up 2:25:48
- Site: freaksandpsychospodcast.com. Please subscribe, rate, and review
- Email: freaksandpsychospodcast@gmail.com
- Voicemail: 614-721-1011
- Twitter: @FreaksPsychos and @AnDreadtheBlind
- Letterboxd: Andread. Disability in Horror list
- Dark Mark, creator of the show’s intro and outro music
- Twitter: @mark underscore longfield
- Letterboxd: Darkmark
- Happy Holidays! If you’re struggling this year, please reach out to someone (feel free to message me)
- Next episode: TBD
- If you find yourself wishing that you were normal, just remember: The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth.
There will be a transcript for this show in the future. Please contact freaksandpsychospodcast@gmail.com for any accessibility concerns.
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