Silent Night, Deadly Night (R)
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This came out in 1984, but I didn't see it until 2024 (on Krampusnacht). I feel like my rating is a bit stingy, but there are movies I definitely liked more than this that I rated only one smiley, the next rating up, so... whatever. I think the story is kind of okay, but the dialogue and writing in general, and the acting, all leave much to be desired. I also could have done without all the gratuitous bare breasts throughout the movie. Still, I'm glad I've finally seen the movie, so I can cross it off my list.

It starts on Christmas Eve, 1971, when 5-year-old Billy Chapman is traveling with his parents and baby brother to visit his grandfather in a mental facility. His grandfather is supposedly catatonic, but actually seems to be just pretending. When Billy's parents leave him alone with his grandfather for a few minutes (something I can't imagine why they did), his grandfather talks to Billy and tells him that Santa Claus punishes naughty children. Later that night, on the drive home, the Chapmans stop for a man dressed as Santa, who we had previously seen robbing a store and killing the owner. I have no idea why this man stopped them, because I don't think he was planning on robbing them, though I could be wrong. Anyway, he kills Billy's parents, after Billy ran away from the car and hid out on the side of the road, watching Santa rip open his mother's shirt and slit her throat.

Three years later, 8-year-old Billy and his 4-year-old brother Ricky live in an orphanage run by Mother Superior, who I would say was pretty sadistic. She believes her cruel treatment of Billy will make him overcome his trauma, which causes him to misbehave every December. This culminates in her forcing Billy to sit on Santa's lap, which further traumatizes him. Ten years later, a nun named Sister Margaret helps get 18-year-old Billy a job at a toy store. He does alright for a few months, until Christmas Eve rolls around. His boss makes him dress up as Santa Claus and interact with children, to replace the guy who was supposed to do it when he broke his ankle. This is obviously a bad idea, and Billy barely gets through it. After the store closes, there is a little employee Christmas party, which seems odd to me, because the boss had previously made it clear that he doesn't like Christmas. Anyway, two of Billy's coworkers, a man and woman, go off into another room to make out for awhile. But then the man sexually assaults the woman, and Billy walks in on it. He just stands there having flashbacks to all the traumatic events in his life, then snaps and kills the man (which didn't really bother me). Then he kills the woman, and his boss and another coworker. He apparently believes it's his duty as Santa Claus to punish "naughty" people, and that seems to include basically anyone he comes across.

After a few random murders, Billy heads to the orphanage. Meanwhile, Sister Margaret goes to the toy store to see Billy, but only finds his dead coworkers. She then goes to the police, who start searching for Billy. Sister Margaret assumes he will go to the orphanage, so the cops go there to stop him. And... I don't really want to spoil any more of the plot.

There have been some sequels and a loose remake, but I don't know if or when I'll ever see any of those.