Even though the spooky season is over, the upcoming holiday season brings along its own brand ofhorror. Theholiday sub-genrefeatures some of the most celebrated films in horror. Whether it be modern gems likeBetter Watch Outor slasher classics likeSilent Night, Deadly Night, there’s no shortage of Christmas-themed terrors to watch. However, the king of the sub-genre remainsBob Clark’sBlack Christmas. The 1974 slasher masterpiece celebrated its 50th anniversary last month. Now, to ring in the hellish snow-covered season,Gutter Garbshas unveiled their latestBlack Christmascollection.
The horror-centric apparel company pulled out all the stops to make sure there was something for everyBlack Christmasfan under the blood-soaked tree this year. On the apparel side of the equation, the collection features four brand-new designs. Two of thet-shirts honor the film’s Italian and Japanese posters, while Gutter Garbs are releasing a third version of the classic posterfeaturing actressLynne Griffin’s Claire Harison with a bag over her head sitting in a rocking chair with an eerie Christmas reef surrounding her. This latest edition is on a black t-shirt. Thefinal new design honors the 50th anniversary with another artistic interpretation of the iconic plastic bag opening killwith the ill-fated sorority house under Claire.
This particular design comes in the form of a t-shirt, zip-up hoodie and poster. In addition, this collection features a series of reprints from Gutter Garbs’Black Christmaspast. Every shirt is also available in a Comfort Color version. That being said, this collection isn’t just apparel. There aretons of stocking stuffers like a magnet, lobby cards featuring high quality images from the film, a button set, a sticker sheet, blankets and enamel pinsfor horror fanatics to go crazy over. The latter of which features one of the film’s “final girl” Jess Bradford, who was played byOlivia Hessey.
What’s ‘Black Christmas’ About?
The originalBlack Christmasfollowed a group of sorority sisters who are spending the holiday break, for one reason or another, on campus. However, when a mysterious man only known as“Billy” starts leaving creepy phone messages and eventuallystarts killing them off one-by-one, the only gift this Christmas is survival. That’s if the local police can find the killer before it’s too late. WhileHalloweenis often credited for putting the slasher sub-genre on the map, that film actually borrows more than a few key elements fromBlack Christmas. The prime example being the POV opening and seasonal setting.
However, even by today’s standards, Clark’s lesser-known Christmas classic is such a unique horror offering. Howit blends a thick, chilling, atmosphere and intense sequences of dread with genuinely hilarious bits of humor is something that hasn’t been replicated since. The film has beenremade twicein thelast two decades, but what madeBlack Christmaswork is the humanity found in each of the characters and the genuine writing that made them feel like real people. The cast of Hessey, Griffin,Margot Kidder,Andrea Martin,James Edmond,Doug McGrathand horror legendJohn Saxonis next to none. Finally, the themes of this film were so ahead of this time, covering topics like abortion with such a deep complexity. Things like that makeBlack Christmasone of the best horror films ever made. Its influences are even still being felt today in new slasher gems likeTerrifier 3.
Where Can You Stream ‘Black Christmas’?
Black Christmasis currently streaming onPeacock. The trailer can be viewed below. you may also pre-order Gutter Garbs' anniversary collection now on theirwebsite. It’ll ship the week of Sunday, December 1st or earlier.
Black Christmas
During their Christmas break, a group of sorority girls are stalked by a stranger.
