Blu Release – 3.5/5
Silent Night Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out
Director – Monte Hellman (Back Door to Hell, Beast from Haunted Cave)
Starring – Samantha Scully (Bloodsuckers), Bill Moseley (House of 1000 Corpses, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), and Richard C. Adams (The Fall Guy)
Release Date – 1989
Rating – 2.5/5
Tagline – “When your nightmare ends, the real terror begins”
One of my favorite holiday slashers is the classic Silent Night, Deadly Night. The film is a shining example of what it meant to be a slasher in the sub-genre’s golden age. The film has a emotionless killer, the great slasher kills featuring sharp objects, and nameless bodies that deserve to be butchered. The slasher is far from perfect but no one can deny the fun the film has to offer.
The film has went on to spawn four sequels with Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 being one of a hand full of films considered to be the worst movies ever made and the “garbage day” segment becoming an inside joke among horror fans. The film used very little new material and mostly consisted of footage from the first film. The third in the series takes place not long after the 2nd and featured a whole new cast. I had never seen the film before but when I found 3, 4, and 5 in a set at FYE for just a few dollars I had to have it.
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows a blind girl with psychic powers who is the subject of a doctor’s experiment. The doctor is trying to reach Ricky who is now comatose after what happened to him in SNDN 2. During their sessions, the young lady and Ricky’s minds start to blend together and they can see each other’s memories. This awakens Ricky and he follows the young girl and her brother home where he kills everyone she ever loved in order to get to her.**Spoiler Alert**
Studios love a franchise and will stop at nothing to follow up a hit with a sequel, and if possible, follow that sequel up with another sequel. SNDN2 was not a hit among fans of the first but the studio was banking on fans of the first film to give it a shot…and they did. The film was a huge step above part 2 but nowhere near as good as the first film.
The acting in this one is typical of the early 90s direct to video VHS boom. The cast tries their best with characters that were poorly written. The story for this one feels like it was once bigger than the final product and was possibly condensed once they realized the budget wasn’t there. I loved the concept the story started out with the psychic ability and brain dead patients but that quickly went south when the film turned into a slow paced slasher with no on screen kills and no real action.
Finally, the film has no real on screen kills and bloodshed and forgets that it is a slasher film at heart. With that being said, the film does have some pretty decent practical effects. These come in the form of a brain under a glass sitting on horror icon Bill Moseley. It looked amazing and really impressed me. Overall, Silent Night, Deadly Night 3 is better than part 2 but far from an entertaining slasher. The film still deserves to be seen especially if you have watched the first film.
Silent Night Deadly Night 4: Initiation
Director – Brian Yuzna (Society, Bride of Re-Animator)
Starring – Clint Howard (The Lords of Salem, Ice Cream Man), Neith Hunter (Fright Night Part 2, Near Dark), and Tommy Hinkley (The Cable Guy, The Little Vampire)
Release Date – 1990
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “And if I die before I wake…thank you!”
Director Brian Yuzna is one outstanding filmmaker that rarely gets the credit that he deserves. This man has had one hell of a career whether it was producing or directing. This man produced The Guyver, Warlock, Ticks, Return of the Living Dead III, Bride andBeyond Re-Animator, and so many more. On top of producing, he has directed several outstanding horror films like Bride of Re-Animator, Society, andThe Dentist.
In 1990 Yuzna directed the film Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation. The year before he had released Society which was one hell of a horror film that showcased some amazing practical effects from Screaming Mad George.
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows the beautiful Kim (Hunter) who works for the local paper and is often given meaningless tasks that her editor deems fit for a woman. A burned woman was recently found and it was believed that she spontaneously combusted and this inspires her to investigate but her editor refuses to give her the assignment. She sneaks behind his back and starts looking into the matter when she meets a librarian that owns the building the body was found at.
She is a strange woman that shows Kim a lot of attention and eventually invites her for a drink. However, something strange is going on when Kim’s sex drive takes over and soon she finds herself ill. She confronts the strange woman and discovers that she is a member of a secret group of woman and they are putting her through an initiation to join their sect.**Spoiler Alert**
Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation is a solid film from a horror stand point but is a horrible sequel for the SNDN franchise. The film has nothing to do with the three previous films and has none of the characters or cast members returning.
The acting in this one is actually pretty well done. We get a small role from horror vet Reggie Bannister who fans may remember from the classic Phantasm. The film’s star, Neith Hunter is fantastic in her role and extremely hot. She is truly a babe with an amazing talent in front of the camera. We also have a small role from Clint Howard who is just as creepy in this film as he is in almost every other horror flick he is in. The remainder of the cast does a solid job but they do not stick out.
The story for this one is great as a stand alone film but horrible as a sequel to SNDN. The story is the return of Yuzna to body horror similar to Society and a secret organization. However, it has nothing to do with Christmas and Silent Night, Deadly Night. The film was clearly re-titled to cash in on the success of the first film. This was a big let down.
Finally, the film has a few deaths but they are nothing that great or memorable. However, the film has some great creatures that look fantastic and some great practical effects and twisted body horror. The practical effects are once again done by Screaming Mad George so you know they are top notch. Overall, Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation is a solid film. It has a great cast and some amazing practical effects. The film is essentially a body horror flick with small creatures but lacks any connection to the previous Silent Night, Deadly Night films. This one is well worth a shot.
Silent Night Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
Director – Martin Kitrosser (Living in Fear, Daddy’s Girl)
Starring – William Thorne (Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, Demonic Toys), Jane Higginson (Slaughterhouse, The Devil Wears White), and Van Quattro (Fight Club, Biohazard: Patient Zero)
Release Date – 1991
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Hes home…but hes not alone”
Well, here I set about to call it a night and finish up the last film in theSilent Night, Deadly Night series. A few years back I reviewed the first twoSilent Night, Deadly Night films along with the remake Silent Night. Since then I was unable to finish the series because I did not have them on DVD.
Three was a huge let down but had a clever story that was unable to fully flower as the film progresses. The fourth film was a huge improvement but had nothing in common with the previous films and had no connection to the series. It was time to finish the series off with the 5th and final film. This one was produced by Brian Yuzna who directed part 4 so I still had hope for the series.
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows a young boy who receives a present late at night on his door step. He brings it inside and his father catches him and sends him back to bed. He opens the present himself and discovers a small Santa toy inside. However, this is no ordinary Santa toy. The toy comes to life and kills the father while the boy watches from the stairs. Some time passes and the boy refuses to talk so his mother takes him to a local toy store where they meet the lovable owner and his mischievous son.
They leave but soon things take a terrifying turn when the toy maker’s son is caught inside of their home. It is soon discovered that his son is actually a robot who has fallen in love with the boys mother and is trying to remove everyone from her family so he can live with her alone.**Spoiler Alert**
It’s hard for sequels to capture what makes the first film so fun. Some are just movies tossed together to profit from fans with no redeeming qualities what so ever just like Silent Night, Deadly Night 2. Others are movies that are re-titled at the last minute to profit just like Silent Night, Deadly Night 4. However, it is rare that a sequel surpasses the first film. Silent Night, Deadly Night 5 is not a sequel to Silent Night, Deadly Night but a sequel toSilent Night, Deadly Night 4. The film is actually better than the 4th and offers up some great moments on screen.
The acting in this one is phenomenal. We have a very brief appearance from the star of part 4, Neith Hunter. She reprises her role even though it is brief. She does an outstanding job which is a shame that her role was so small. We get a great performance from the legendary Mickey Rooney who was known for voicing his disapproval of the first film in the series. The film’s two stars, the young William Thorne and Jane Higginson are great. The two work very well together and you honestly believe that Williams is Jane’s son. This is tremendous dedication to their roles and it makes the film enjoyable.
The story for this one is a departure from the body horror that was in part 4 and goes a more sci-fi route with the killer robot and animatronic toys. This was a great story for the Christmas series.
Finally, the film does have a few kills but they are rather bland and boring. A film with so much imagination dropped the ball when it came to deaths. The practical effects we get are solid for what we actually get. Overall, Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker is a solid addition to any Christmas viewing but once again fails to follow the story set first in the first three films. It is well worth a watch so check it out.
Special Features:
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!
Audio Commentary with Film Historian Jarret Gahan
“Outshine the Brain Cap” — An Interview with Actor Bill Moseley
“Monte & Me” — An Interview with Creative Consultant Steven Gaydos
“For a Live Audience: Silent Night, Deadly Night 3” — An Interview with Executive Producer Richard Gladstein
Trailer
Still Gallery
Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation
Audio Commentary with Director Brian Yuzna
Our Man Ricky with Clint Howard
“Ritualistic Behavior” — An Interview with Screenwriter Woody Keith
“Twisted Visions” — An Interview with Surrealistic Design & Effects Artist Screaming Mad George
“For a Live Audience: Silent Night, Deadly Night 4” — An Interview with Executive Producer Richard Gladstein
Trailer
Still Gallery
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker
Audio Commentary with Director-Cowriter Martin Kitrosser
“The Best Presents” — An Interview with Producer-Cowriter Brian Yuzna
“Pino’s Truth” — An Interview with Actor Brian Bremer
“The Most Toys” — An Interview with Surrealistic Design & Effects Artist Screaming Mad George
“For a Live Audience: Silent Night, Deadly Night 5” — An Interview with Executive Producer Richard Gladstein
Trailer
Still Gallery
