This is a twisted tale, taking place at Christmastime but not really revolving around the holiday. A man named Jeffrey Butler (James Patterson) inherits an old country house but needs money and is eager to sell it. So he sends his lawyer John Carter (Patrick O'Neal) to arrange a deal with the town council, who want to buy it. Of course, this being a horror film, the place has the expected sordid history, and a mysterious figure starts placing calls to the people on the council - the mayor (Walter Abel), switchboard operator (Fran Stevens), newspaperman (John Carradine), and sheriff (Walter Klavun) - promising retribution for an almost 40 year old crime and stating that "Marianne" has come back.
Also featuring appearances by Andy Warhol film graduates Mary Woronov (the ever delightful cult icon, very young and sexy here) and Candy Darling, this film, also known as "Silent Night Bloody Night" and "Deathouse", is very reminiscent of a giallo and is also similar in some ways to "Black Christmas", although this one actually predates BC. It's undeniably crude at times and obviously a low budget affair, but damn if it doesn't have a reasonably engrossing mystery (involving such sundry elements as incest) and some effectively stark atmosphere. Co-written by author Jeffrey Konvitz ("The Sentinel") and director Theodore Gershuny, it's amusing in spots, has one unexpected plot twist about a half hour along, and has a deliciously gory murder set piece. The music by Gershon Kingsley is quite good.
None of the performances are really all that hot, but the actors are still watchable, especially Woronov. Poor Patterson was dying of cancer during this time, and had to be dubbed by another actor. One nice touch is to have Carradines' character be a mute and acknowledge what others have said by ringing a bell. Gorgeous Astrid Heeren plays Carters' gal pal; Philip Bruns (the original Morty Seinfeld) has a role in the flashback scenes, and Staats Cotsworth provides the eerie hissing voice of our black gloved antagonist.
Worth a look, overall.
Lloyd Kaufman of Troma fame was the associate producer.
Seven out of 10.
Also featuring appearances by Andy Warhol film graduates Mary Woronov (the ever delightful cult icon, very young and sexy here) and Candy Darling, this film, also known as "Silent Night Bloody Night" and "Deathouse", is very reminiscent of a giallo and is also similar in some ways to "Black Christmas", although this one actually predates BC. It's undeniably crude at times and obviously a low budget affair, but damn if it doesn't have a reasonably engrossing mystery (involving such sundry elements as incest) and some effectively stark atmosphere. Co-written by author Jeffrey Konvitz ("The Sentinel") and director Theodore Gershuny, it's amusing in spots, has one unexpected plot twist about a half hour along, and has a deliciously gory murder set piece. The music by Gershon Kingsley is quite good.
None of the performances are really all that hot, but the actors are still watchable, especially Woronov. Poor Patterson was dying of cancer during this time, and had to be dubbed by another actor. One nice touch is to have Carradines' character be a mute and acknowledge what others have said by ringing a bell. Gorgeous Astrid Heeren plays Carters' gal pal; Philip Bruns (the original Morty Seinfeld) has a role in the flashback scenes, and Staats Cotsworth provides the eerie hissing voice of our black gloved antagonist.
Worth a look, overall.
Lloyd Kaufman of Troma fame was the associate producer.
Seven out of 10.