Review: ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night’ Finds New Life
Rohan Campbell in Silent Night, Deadly Night (Courtesy of Cineverse)
At a time when remakes and requels have become a defining feature of pop culture, Silent Night, Deadly Night returns from the shadows, recalling the controversy that surrounded its 1984 debut. The chapter in the Silent Night, Deadly Night franchise arrives as a remake with something many horror reboots lack: a clear reason to exist. My general rule with remakes is that there needs to be a reason for it to exist, whether it retells the story completely, or at least adds some freshness to the story being retold. And I am happy to say, that is one of the things this remake does very well. Rather than simply retreading the beats of the 1984 original, this new iteration significantly rewrites the story, recontextualizing its central ideas while embracing the slasher tradition it belongs to. The result is a film that feels both self-aware and sincere—one that understands its legacy without being trapped by it.
At its core, the film reworks the character of Billy in a way that feels purposeful rather than nostalgic. Rohan Campbell delivers a strong performance in the role, grounding Billy with an intensity that oscillates between vulnerability and volatility. Now it’s not to say the story does not have similar beats to the original, for example, the film still shows Billy’s parents murdered by a maniac dressed in a Santa costume on Christmas Eve while he is a young boy, spiraling his trauma and turning him into the murderer who only takes out people he feel is “Naughty”. Campbell’s portrayal avoids cartoonish excess and instead leans into a psychologically fractured figure shaped by his childhood trauma, rage, and a distorted sense of justice. His performance is the film’s strongest asset, anchoring the chaos and giving the remake an emotional through-line that the original only hinted at. One of the film’s more unique elements is its willingness to borrow from Child’s Play, introducing the idea of a murderous Santa whose soul transfers into Billy’s body early in the film. This allows the character to function as a kind of internal presence, speaking to Billy in a manner reminiscent of Venom’s relationship with Eddie Brock. It’s a surprisingly effective device, one that feels fresh within the Silent Night, Deadly Night framework and adds a layer of psychological commentary rather than simply serving as a supernatural gimmick. While the concept is undeniably heightened, it works in the film’s favor, giving Billy an internal conflict that deepens the narrative and makes the violence feel more thematically driven.
The film is also clearly made by a filmmaker who appreciates slashers. Directed by Mike P. Nelson—coming off his Friday the 13th horror short Sweet Revenge, which was previously available on YouTube—the film reflects a deep appreciation for the genre. While Sweet Revenge has since been removed from the platform for reasons that remain unclear, Nelson’s familiarity with slasher conventions is evident throughout Silent Night, Deadly Night. The film is loaded with references, some obvious, others more subtle, but most of them land. One of the most effective is a clear nod to Black Christmas (1974), a moment longtime fans of the genre will likely appreciate. These references never feel like empty fan service though. Instead, they function as part of the film’s identity, situating Silent Night, Deadly Night within a broader slasher lineage while still allowing it to carve out its own space. The kills are pretty brutal, the holiday setting is used effectively, and the film understands the inherent absurdity of mixing Christmas iconography with violence without tipping fully into parody.
Where the film stumbles unfortunately is in its editing. Several sequences suffer from noticeably choppy cuts that disrupt the film’s momentum and, at times, undercut tension that should be building. I mean there is a whole action scene that occurs that I can tell a lot of mayhem is going on - but I can’t see any of it, or at least anything that I feel is going to be worth while as a slasher fan. While these moments don’t completely derail the experience, but they are distracting enough to stand out, especially in scenes that rely on sustained suspense or character focus.
Still, these issues don’t overshadow what ultimately works. Silent Night, Deadly Night succeeds as a remake by being bold rather than safe, thoughtful rather than redundant. While imperfect, it delivers a genuinely fun and bloody slasher experience that respects its roots while forging a new, darker path—making it one of the more worthwhile horror reimagining’s in recent years.
RATING:
⭐⭐⭐
