This movie is a perfect candidate for college "random movie nights". Although this movie isnt for everyone, I think college age is perfect because we are old enough to appreciate the "indy" persona, but we are also young enough to take it for face value. I definately suggest watching it.
shareI own this movie and I like it a lot especially after the first time I saw it. Do you have it on DVD. I have it on VHS.
sharethis movie was hilarious! That scene with him driving in the van and cracking his whip "go prancer, go dasher" hahahhahahha! And how bout when he got stuck in the chimney!! hahahha And the ending just took the cake. It wouldn't have been so funny had it not been for the main character's great acting. He took it so seriously, and when his character starts to become mad and zany, it knocked me unconscious with laughter.
sharePeople really need to see the DVD and watch the interviews with the star and director (wonder how many people are aware that Harry is Fiona Apple's father in real life), and listen to the commentary. So many people think it's a slasher flick and complain there's only 2 murders.
The parts about him explaining "the tune" to the guy at the party was pretty funny, lol. And it so freaky it's funny watching him start to snap like gluing the beard to his face tugging like crazy ("It's me!"). But god almighty, take the film for what it's actually about: a crazy guy. The whip noises and bells while driving is all in his head as he's completly lost it by that point. The ending is the biggest messup as the explosion sound, actually sounds like the brother falling down the hill crashing into the boxes and garbage cans and stuff. In reality, the explosion you hear is Harry's van. He drove off the bridge and killed himself, while in his mind he never fell, he just drove off through the air like Santa Claus. This is all explained on the DVD and Lewis Jackson points out that Harry does in fact die at the end, and even Brendon Maggart points out in his interview it wasn't a slasher film but suppossed be more of an arthouse film.
I got this movie on a Classic Horror movies DVD that contains 4 movies, Night of the Living Dead, The Ghost, The Snake People and this one. I bought the DVD because I wanted Night of the Living Dead and it was the only copy I could find at the time. I didn't even know this movie was on it at the time I bought it, it's titled Christmas Evil but I really liked it, my DVD doesn't have any of the interviews and special features on it.
shareAll the DVD's of it are titled "Christmas Evil" and certain releases of the VHS's (my old VHS of it was under the title "Christmas Evil"), but there are old VHS copies apparently out there with the title "You Better Watch Out" and "Terror in Toyland".
The special edition DVD of "Christmas Evil" is released by Troma. You can buy it from their website, or most other places like eBay, Half.com, and possibly stuff like Amazon.com or whatever.
Aside from random Troma extras on most of their DVDs (trailers for other Troma movies, introduction by Lloyd Kaufman, etc), it has an interview with the director (Lewis Jackson), one with the star (Brendan Maggart), commentary by Jackson & Maggart, cards that people filled out after seeing the movie, and maybe a couple other things. Those cards are kind funny. Someone's listed as like age 60, and wrote something about "...ruining the spirit of christ. Awful." lol.
The commentary and director interview provides LOADS of insight into the movie that most people don't even realize. I.E. it's in his head that he flew off into the night, reality is he crashed off the bridge. He even points out there is an explosion heard, but it's too muddled in with other sound effects. Aside from that points out deleted scenes, the people in the film who went on to become bigger stars, the kind of Christmas/Santa it's based on (the original, violent one, not the one made up by Coca-Cola), and loads more. Should definately check it out.
Thanks for the info, I didn't know that. I had heard of You Better Watch Out but did not know that it was also called Christmas Evil until I got the DVD. I need to try to get the DVD, with the extras. The extras sound nice, I always like watching movies with commentary so I'm sure I'd love that.
shareIf you still do not have it on DVD, you can get it on overstock.com as part of a multi-movie CD called "Horror Classics." Other films on this DVD set are "Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory," "Night of the Living Dead," "Don't Look in the Basement," "The House on Haunted Hill," and "The House on the Edge of the Park," among others. The price is not bad either, $6.29 plus shipping.
Enjoy!
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Indy persona? What in the world are you talking about. Obviously we didn't watch the same movie. You're such a loser that you probably work at a camp and go to Ouachita Baptist University.
sharei loved it too! saw it at 3 in the morning after the taste of chaos..so was really tired..but it was good. i love the part when he attacks the people outside of the church with the axe adn the tin soldier! what we couldnt understand is how he became obsessed with santa after learning he was fake adn was feeling up his mother...guess he wanted to replace that childlike innocence that was lost
shareI finally got the dvd in the mail today, after waiting for almost a month! I am very pleased with the movie, I liked it. It's one of the best Christmas killer movies I've ever seen next to Black Christmas. The ending I thoguht was pretty unexpected too.
R.I.P. Uncle Steve
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I too adore this film for its offbeat and intriguing portrait of a deeply troubled, but well-meaning guy's descent into insanity. Brandon Maggart was terrific as Harry and made you feel genuinely sorry for the poor guy despite the fact that he was clearly nuts.
I've been chasing grace/ But grace ain't easy to find
Amen.
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