Silent Night, Bloody Night - 1974
Directed by Theodore Gershuny - MPAA Rating: Restricted
a film review by DAW
[Rating: 4/5]
It is made very clear that there is something strange going on at the old Butler house. When Jeffery shows up at the house 
of the mayor's daughter (Diane), it is soon made clear that either he is connected to the murders or their is a maniac on the lose. When they find out that a mental patient has escaped from a local asylum, he might just be the answer they are looking for. After some strange and eerie phone calls, Diane finds that appearances can be deceiving and that people's histories can come back to haunt them!
of the mayor's daughter (Diane), it is soon made clear that either he is connected to the murders or their is a maniac on the lose. When they find out that a mental patient has escaped from a local asylum, he might just be the answer they are looking for. After some strange and eerie phone calls, Diane finds that appearances can be deceiving and that people's histories can come back to haunt them!This is a great film which is often overlooked by the casual viewer. It has an older feel to it but a solid story, good amount of gore, and 
a great twist at the end. The atmosphere of the film is creepy, and the look of the film stock adds a wonderful little touch of grime, which improves the viewing experience.
a great twist at the end. The atmosphere of the film is creepy, and the look of the film stock adds a wonderful little touch of grime, which improves the viewing experience.The title is obviously a nod to the Christmas song "Silent Night"and the version of the song that is used in this film is veryhaunting. Sometimes it is in the background, and other times the characters are humming or singing the tune. This reviewer would put this in with other Christmas slashers, such as Black Christmas and Don't Open 'Till Christmas. The main difference being that the Christmas holiday is very downplayed in this film.
written by DAW for openfilmden.com and openflimden.blogspot.com
“The Sadist” is a fascinating and horrifying experience in thesame vein as films like “Young and Dangerous”, “Compulsion”, and “Natural Born Killers”. In this reviewer’s opinion, the reason this film is a contender to the above mentioned is because of the 1960s film look, and the lack of modern day special effects and musical score. Normally this would make a film appear cheap or outdated but the lack of the bells and whistles creates a realistic and disturbing environment. Whenviewing the film, one can really feel the fear and anxiety of being stuck in a situation similar to the characters on the screen. It is intriguing to watch and the events stay with you well after the film has ended. 
This film has always been met with mixed reviews. Even though it is regarded as a classic, and the first full length Zombie film, it seems to have a “love it” or “hate it” response from its viewers. There are several aspects of this film that are desirable. For this reviewer, the sets, music, and general atmosphere create an almost dream like state that makes you excited for the next scene to come. The wonderful set pieces as well as the painted backgrounds create an odd and enticing feeling. One of the most breath taking scenes is inside of Murder’s castle. It is amazing to look at the amount of effort put into creating illusions of depth and distance, especially since we are now in an age where computer generated graphics have lowered our standards with what we think is acceptable in films. On the negative side, the film’s acting is par to the era it was filmed in, which to many viewers, seems substandard in comparison to modern acting talents. It is not the worst acting this reviewer has witnessed, not
