MovieChat Forums > Black Christmas (1974) Discussion > What is the film's best scene?

What is the film's best scene?

posted 9 years ago by Sewaat
9 replies | jump to latest

The whole movie is filled with fantastic moments beyond count, but the scene that made me realize I was watching a great horror classic was the scene where while the Caroller's are at the door, Billy creeps into Barb's room and whispers those horrifying lines to her. And then he begins to stab her, (but not before the camera briefly cuts, giving us perhaps the best glimpse at the movie's killer we ever get). The scene is beautifully edited. The cutting back between the innocent children singing and then to Barb being stabbed by Billy is so indescribably brilliant, I almost have no words for it.

And it's scary to boot because Barb is already so weak from her asthma attack, she can't defend herself at all. So you can really feel her helplessness in the scene, being killed but not being able to do anything about it. And then having Jess clap at the end just ends the scene perfectly because that's exactly what I wanted to do when it was over. What an amazing blend of peaceful serenity and cold blooded anarchy. Such an amazingly well done scene.

[–] Clockwork399 9 years ago

That's just an eerie scene altogether. Barb had already had an asthma attack a minute earlier, Phyl is sleeping in her room and Jess is oblivious to everything happening as well. The cuts back and forth from the kids carolling (is it "O Come All Ye Faithful" they are singing?) to Barb getting stabbed are epic filmmaking. What's scarier is that it doesn't rely on blood at all. That's what makes films like this so great. The less you see the scarier it is.

I would say though that the scariest spine tingling scene is Jess opening the door to see Barb and Phyl and then looking over to see Billy's eye in the door. Yikes, that gets to you.

[–] ElectricWarlock 9 years ago

I agree with your choice and I'm going to say Barb's death. That is the absolute most beautiful rendition of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" I've ever heard so to have such a lovely song juxtaposed against a brutal murder makes it seem almost surreal. As though it's part of a dream. It is truly a great moment and one of my favorite scenes in any movie.

[–] Legion_89 9 years ago

"Agnes, its me, Billy."

The ending with Jess alone in the house thinking the nightmare is over, but then the slow pan to the attic, showing the dead bodies of Claire and the house mother (they never found them), that ghoulish whisper, and the slow, deliberate pan outside the window, as the snow continues to fall peacefully, belying the danger still lurking in the sorority house. Such a quiet, yet intense shot, and very unnerving ending as well.

"Martyr me for Cordis Die."

[–] puplover 9 years ago

Agree w/ all the above. Not a scene per sey, but the slow pan up to that gruesome image of the dead girl, w/ the bag over her head is an image that absolutely makes the hairs on my neck stand up. I was going to say she is mid-scream when she dies, but it's even worse: she's struggling to breathe. So incredibly helpless. And on top of that, neglected for the length of the movie.

[–] BKB (9912) a year ago

And when Billy is looking at her behind the door with that insane large eye of his ready to burst and her slamming the door on him with her running and he grabbed her by the hair was genuinely unnerving.. Please don't let Rob Zombie remake this

[–] russfro (113) 2 years ago

A couple minor moments that stuck out to me on this rewatch.

One is the shot at about 1:25 when Billy runs down the stairs and grabs Jess by the hair. The camera tracks Jess moving to the left as Billy’s hand reaches in the frame then abruptly whips back to the right following Jess getting slammed into the bannister. Very cool kinetic Raimi-ish shot.

Also, the last time we see Phyl alive when she goes to check on Barb and the door closes behind her sealing her fate was chilling and made me think of the ending to The Snowtown Murders.

[–] TheArgentinian (7072) 2 years ago

the hair pulling was greatly done. like JN hacking at the door in the Shining.

[–] javie (2216) 2 years ago

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[–] Biggs111Mr (247) a year ago

When I first saw this movie it looked to be the boyfriend doing the killing but then the shot of his eye didn't match the killer. So confusing! It was also so so scary when the killer's eye was peaking at Jessica through the door & then he chases her down the stairs calling her Agnes made my heart pound so hard & I don't know why?!