Christmas Evil

Christmas Evil

Credits
Title:	Christmas Evil
Directed by:	Lewis Jackson
Written by:	Lewis Jackson
Produced by:	Jerold Rubenstein; Burt Kleiner; Pete Kameron; Michael Levine
Music by:	Joel Harris; Julia Heyward; Don Christensen
Cinematography:	Ricardo Aronovich
Edited by:	Linda Leeds; Corky O'Hara
Production
Production:	Edward R. Pressman Productions
Released:	November 7th, 1980
Rating:	R
Running time:	100 min.
Country:	USA
Language:	English
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Christmas Evil is an American independent feature film of the holiday horror and slasher subgenres of horror. It was written and directed by Lewis Jackson. It was produced by Edward R. Pressman Productions and premiered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in November 7th, 1980.

Plot[]

A toy factory worker, mentally scarred as a child upon learning Santa Claus is not real, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a Yuletide killing spree.

Cast[]

Actor

Role

Harry Stadling

Philip Stadling

Jackie Stadling

Dennis Stadling

Marc Stadling

Frank Stoller

Young Philip Stadling

Gus Salud

Young Harry Stadling

Ellen McElduff

Harry's mother

Brian Hartigan

Harry's father

Peter Neuman

Moss Garcia

Lance Holcomb

Scotty Goodrich

Elizabeth Ridge

Susie Lovett

Chris Browning

Richie Sharp

Tyrone Holmes

Frankie

Patricia Richardson

Moss' mother

Scott McKay

Mister Fletcher

Peter Friedman

Mister Grosch

Owen Hollander

Ben

Horace Bailey

Jake

John Brockman

Doctor Probst

Burt Kleiner

Sol Wiseman

David Hughes

Worker

Lloyd David Hart

Tipsy worker

Francine Dumont

Mrs. Fletcher

Pamela Enz

Mrs. Grosch

William Robertson

Guard

Sheila Anderson

Nurse

Robert Ari

Doctor

Ricardo Bauma

Peter

Charles

Binky

Khaki

Man #1

Man #2

Jennifer Novtney

Little girl

Audrey Matson

Woman

Danny Federici

Accordion player

Arthur Bressler

Saxophone player

Jack Scarangella

Drummer

Ray Barry

Detective Gleason

Sam Gray

Inspector Grella

Bobby Lesser

Detective Gottleib

Will McMillan

Young man

Bill Raymond

Priest

Joan Jonas

Older woman

Nancy Clark

Female witness

T. Wellington Perkins

Black Santa

Santa #1

Santa #2

Santa #3

Older man

Policeman

Tom

Theresa

Angelina

Joe

Mary

Matthew

Mrs. Stoller

Daughter

Son

Notes & Trivia[]

Christmas Evil (1980) redirects to this page.
The tagline to this film is "Better watch out... better not cry... or you may DIE!"
There are a total of sixty-three credited cast members in this film.
The original title for this film is You Better Watch Out. This was the title the film was released under in Australia and Canada. For the American release, the title was changed from You Better Watch Out to Christmas Evil on marketing materials shortly before release, though the title card of the film retains the original title. When asked in an interview how he felt about the title change, director Lewis Jackson said, "I hate it".
This movie was filmed in parts of Edgewater, Englewood, Montclair and Glen Ridge in New Jersey. Scenes of the Thanksgiving Day Parade were shot in Times Square in New York City, with shots of the New York Christmas tree filmed at Rockefeller Center.
Christmas Evil was released on Blu-ray and DVD by Vinegar Syndrome on November 18th, 2014. Vinegar Syndrome re-released it as a slipcover edition exclusive on November 28th, 2019.
Christmas Evil was also included on the "Ultimate Shockfest" Blu-ray collection, released on April 2nd, 2012.
Actor Michael Klingher, who plays Peter, is credited as Michael Klinger in this film.
Actor James Desmond, who plays Man #1, is credited as Jim Desmond in this film.
Actor Raymond J. Barry, who plays Detective Gleason, is credited as Ray Barry in this film.
Actor Robert Lesser, who plays Detective Gottleib, is credited as Bobby Lesser in this film.
Actor Will MacMillan, who plays a young man, is credited as Will McMillan in this film.
Actor Jim Gagan, who plays Santa #1, is credited as Jim Gagen in this film.
Actress Rutanya Alda, who plays Theresa, is credited as Ratanya Alda in this film.
Actor Sam Samilari, who plays a son, is credited as Robert Samilari in this film.
While not prosecuted for obscenity, Christmas Evil was seized and confiscated in the United Kingdom under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959, during the video nasty panic.
On the Internet Movie Database, Christmas Evil has a Starmeter score of 5.5 out of 10 based on more than 8,300 user votes.
On the movie review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Christmas Evil holds a 67% Fresh rating on the Tomatometer based on 9 approved critic reviews. It has 6 positive ratings, and 3 negative ratings, averaging 5.80 out of 10. The film has an audience score of 35% based on more than 1,000 ratings, indicating generally unfavorable reviews. It averages 2.8 out of 5. There is a 32% variance between the Tomatometer score and the Audience score.
On Letterboxd, Christmas Evil has a weighted average rating of 3.13 out of 5 based on 15,049 user ratings.
Director Lewis Jackson makes an uncredited cameo appearance in the film as the bartender at the office Christmas party.
Producer Burt Kleiner makes an appearance in the film as Sol Wiseman.
Actor Jeffrey DeMunn is also known for playing Sheriff Herb Geller in the 1988 remake of The Blob, as well as Dan Miller in The Mist and Dale Horvath on seasons one and two of The Walking Dead.
Actress Patricia Richardson, who plays Moss Garcia's mother, will go on to play Jill Taylor on the situation comedy series Home Improvement from 1991 to 1999.

Body Count[]

Confirmed[]

Charles - Stabbed in the left eye with the sword from a toy soldier.
Peter - Whacked over the head with a weaponized toy hatchet.
Colleen Zenk - Whacked over the head with a weaponized toy hatchet.
Frank Stoller - After a failed suffocation attempt, Harry slices his throat open with a star-shaped tree topper.

Unconfirmed[]

Harry Stadling - Drives van off bridge into the sky. Ambiguous ending. Likely a fantasy and he probably perishes when the vehicle crashes below.

Recommendations[]

External Links[]

References[]