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Tyler Harlow

Black Christmas


Starring: Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany O'Grady, Caleb Eberhardt, Cary Elwes, Madeleine Adams, Ryan McIntyre

Director: Sophia Takal

As Christmas break begins and students begin to leave Hawthorne College, Riley (Imogen Poots), feminist Kris (Aleyse Shannon) and Marty (Lily Donoghue), sisters at MKE Sorority, stay behind on campus and begin planning their "Orphans" dinner for the AKO talent show. Going back to AKO is hard for Riley, who is trying to recover from being raped there years prior by Brian Huntley (Ryan McIntyre) and only her sisters believe that it happened. Kris has also earned the anger of the frat, having had the bust of the college's founder Caleb Hawthorne removed from campus as he was a known racist and misogynist. Currently, she is in the middle of trying to get their lit professor and AKO alum Professor Gelson (Cary Elwes) fired due to him refusing to teach books written by women. After their sister Helena (Madeleine Adams) gets too drunk to perform, Riley reluctantly fills in and changes the lyrics of their song to slam the rape culture at the frat, as well as state that Brian was guilty of raping her. After the video of their performance hits the internet, the girls find Helena has gone missing and the girls begin to be stalked and killed at the hands of a masked killer. The sisters must band together to find out not only what is going on but also why, before their holiday is permanently cut short.


The plot of this movie is insane, especially once it dives into a third act twist into the supernatural. Seriously, the final 10-15 minutes of this is bonkers in a very enjoyable way that I couldn't help but laugh at. No one can say the movie doesn't swing for the fences. For such a short movie, there is a lot going on, with the above plot synopsis not even diving into what is actually happening. To say it has an agenda is an understatement, but the overall message behind the film is clear and well earned. Horror is also a great genre to give a feminist bent to, so kudos to April Wolfe and Sophia Takal for making this wickedly entertaining film.


I do wish it had taken some more time to get to know the ladies who are at the center of the film. I think it would have helped some of the criticism that has been leveled at the film in regards to its feminism, which didn't necessarily bother me but is definitely a very big part of the film.


I do wish the film were R. Not cutting away from some of the kills would have been a very quick and easy solve for this. I get why it's not, but I could have used that little push into more gruesome. The movie also completely forgets a character died and the body is never discovered.


The movie isn't perfect in any way, shape or form. But it is an entertaining remake with a strong feminist message. I was entertained and if you give it a chance I think you will too.


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