Black Christmas (1974)

Plot:A sorority house is terrorized by a stranger who makes frightening phone calls and then murders the sorority sisters during Christmas break.

A large house harboring the cheerful chatter of a sorority Christmas party, a few colorful holiday decorations and a snowy landscape make up the first images of this film.Now while this seems like a warm and friendly situation, it is anything but as we realize we're seeing this through the eyes of a stranger. This person proceeds to climb up an ivy trellis along the side of the house and enters through an open attic window. Minutes later, a sorority girl is dead.
Just as disturbing obscene phone calls suddenly ruin the joyous occasion, main character Jessica Bradford and her friend Phyllis decide to stay behind at the house for Christmas break to help out Barb,a lovable drunken mess of a girl who has no where to go. By this early point in the film, we already get a sense of the characters through their caring demeanor and even some well placed humor. The three actresses play their parts really well and prove likable, which helps the mounting tension build.
Within the horror genre, I think less is more and since most of the sinister elements of this film are kept under wraps and we're left with numerous questions, we can build fear from our own imaginations. We're never fully sure who this psycho is or what he's really after. We don't even know what he looks like. We're only given minor glimpses, one of which is his creepy bulging eye.he is insane, especially when he rants. His rants make no sense, making his intentions unknown. He just kills, not for revenge like most horror films.
The piano score by Carl Zittrer is simplistic and effective as well. The repetitive use of Christmas carols also add up to the tension.
Black Christmas is among the best slasher films to date.For any true slasher fan, this is a must see.
3/5