Remaking a film is at all times an fascinating prospect. Stick too near the unique and also you begin to surprise, “What is the level?” Gus Van Sant’s shot-for-shot remake of “Psycho” comes to mind. Stray too removed from what got here earlier than and it begins to really feel equally pointless, albeit for various causes. That brings us to director Mike P. Nelson’s remake of the notorious ’80s Christmas slasher “Silent Evening, Lethal Evening.” It walks a high-quality line, turning into a remake that completely justifies its existence. On the similar time, it slightly boldly units itself aside in methods which might be, in phrase, shocking.
The remake not too long ago premiered at Unbelievable Fest in Austin, Texas as one of many fest’s secret screenings. On this new model, much like the original Christmas horror classic, a younger boy named Billy witnesses his dad and mom brutal homicide by a person in a Santa Claus swimsuit. From there, issues diverge a bit. We decide up years later with Billy (Rohan Campbell) as an grownup who now dons a Santa swimsuit, embarking on a collection of on a violent murders of his personal. His motivations appear purely sinister, no less than at first — however over time, his true goal turns into extra clear.
What I can say as I sit right here proper now’s that I’m nonetheless interested by this film and the way it unfolds. I in all probability might be for a while. Whether or not it is nice or not, I do not know. What I can say with confidence is that Nelson someway each honored the premise of director Charles Sellier’s unique, however used that premise to inform a narrative that’s all his personal. And that story is wild. Adore it or hate it, it is exhausting to not respect it.
Director Mike P. Nelson does the other of a secure remake
When the unique “Silent Evening, Lethal Evening” arrived in 1984, it felt harmful. The thought of watching a man dressed as Santa killing individuals was offensive to many, and it grew to become extremely controversial in its day. In 2025, in an era when “Terrifier 3” can make nearly $90 million at the box office as a no-holds-barred, deeply disturbing gore fest with Artwork the Clown dressed as Santa, the shock and awe issue simply is not there with the premise alone.
Nelson understood this and, to be clear, does not pull punches in relation to the violence. Billy has his trusty ax in hand and makes use of it. There’s gore-a-plenty with some brutal kills. However Nelson additionally decides to do one thing radically completely different with the character of Billy and use his trauma in new methods, making it extra of an interesting, weird character piece. There are some fairly massive reveals that are not value spoiling, however as soon as this film reveals itself, there’s a actual massive “Oh!” second one has when all of it clicks into place.
What Nelson does with this materials is something however secure. It is a massive, loopy swing. In an period when Hollywood is so IP obsessed, even when it does not all work like gangbusters, there’s something refreshing about how straight-up audacious this film finally ends up being. For individuals who have not seen it, Nelson also did 2021’s criminally underseen “Wrong Turn” reboot which was equally daring. In that case although, he diverted much more from the supply materials. In any occasion, he is a director who’s rapidly asserting himself as somebody who can take long-standing IP and do one thing fairly fascinating with it. If we should proceed to reboot and remake issues, why not have some enjoyable with it?
Rohan Campbell is a compelling fashionable scream king
“Silent Evening, Lethal Evening” is a surprisingly enduring franchise, with 4 sequels and now two remakes to its identify. A lot of that’s owed to the attraction of the central character Billy Chapman. It has, at instances, resulted in so-bad-it’s-good gems such as “Silent Night, Deadly Night 2.” On this case although, Nelson treats the fabric a bit of extra critically. That would not work in any respect with out the correct actor in place. Rohan Campbell was completely the correct actor.
Campbell sort of stole the show as Corey in “Halloween Ends,” a film that equally takes an enormous swing inside a pre-existing franchise. Casting him as Billy is perfection, as he brings an everyman high quality to this twisted, unusual character. Billy is not like Jason Voorhees or another masked slasher with out a lot humanity. He is an actual individual and a multi-dimensional character, one who additionally occurs to rack up a physique rely. The tackle Billy on this film is daring and it might have been straightforward for the fallacious actor to drop the ball. Campbell rises to the duty, making a case for himself as one in every of our extra compelling fashionable scream kings alongside the best way.
What we’re left with is a film that makes one suppose greater than anybody would have anticipated heading into it. It is foolish at instances. It does not take itself too critically. But, it additionally has one thing fairly loud and well timed to say. It goes exhausting with the gore when it must. The film feels a bit of lengthy within the tooth at instances, notably earlier than we work out what is going on on, however that is a minor crime in comparison with what Nelson acquired away with right here.
I might slightly have a barely messy film that sticks with me than a secure, boring retread of what got here earlier than any day of the week. In that method, the brand new “Silent Evening, Lethal Evening” greater than earns its place on the planet.
/Movie Ranking: 7 out of 10
“Silent Evening, Lethal Evening” hits theaters on December 11, 2025.
