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Christmas Evil

Original title: You Better Watch Out
  • 19801980
  • RR
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
You Better Watch Out (1980)
  • Horror
  • Thriller
A toy factory worker, mentally scarred as a child upon learning Santa Claus is not real, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a Yuletide killing spree.A toy factory worker, mentally scarred as a child upon learning Santa Claus is not real, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a Yuletide killing spree.A toy factory worker, mentally scarred as a child upon learning Santa Claus is not real, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a Yuletide killing spree.
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lewis Jackson
  • Writer
    • Lewis Jackson
  • Stars
    • Brandon Maggart
    • Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Dianne Hull
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lewis Jackson
  • Writer
    • Lewis Jackson
  • Stars
    • Brandon Maggart
    • Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Dianne Hull
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 117User reviews
    • 204Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Reissue Trailer
    Trailer 1:21
    Reissue Trailer

    Photos59

    You Better Watch Out (1980)
    You Better Watch Out (1980)
    You Better Watch Out (1980)
    You Better Watch Out (1980)
    You Better Watch Out (1980)
    Brandon Maggart in You Better Watch Out (1980)
    Ellen McElduff, Wally Moran, and Gus Salud in You Better Watch Out (1980)
    You Better Watch Out (1980)
    Brandon Maggart in You Better Watch Out (1980)
    Brandon Maggart in You Better Watch Out (1980)
    You Better Watch Out (1980)
    Brandon Maggart in You Better Watch Out (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brandon Maggart
    Brandon Maggart
    • Harry Stadlingas Harry Stadling
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Philip Stadlingas Philip Stadling
    Dianne Hull
    Dianne Hull
    • Jackie Stadlingas Jackie Stadling
    Andy Fenwick
    Andy Fenwick
    • Dennis Stadlingas Dennis Stadling
    Brian Neville
    • Marc Stadlingas Marc Stadling
    Joe Jamrog
    • Frank Stolleras Frank Stoller
    Wally Moran
    • Philip Stadling Jr.as Philip Stadling Jr.
    Gus Salud
    Gus Salud
    • Harry Stadling Jr.as Harry Stadling Jr.
    Ellen McElduff
    Ellen McElduff
    • Harry's Motheras Harry's Mother
    Brian Hartigan
    Brian Hartigan
    • Harry's Fatheras Harry's Father
    Peter Neuman
    • Moss Garciaas Moss Garcia
    Lance Holcomb
    Lance Holcomb
    • Scotty Goodrichas Scotty Goodrich
    Elizabeth Ridge
    • Susie Lovettas Susie Lovett
    Chris Browning
    • Richie Sharpas Richie Sharp
    Tyrone Holmes
    • Frankieas Frankie
    Patricia Richardson
    Patricia Richardson
    • Moss' Motheras Moss' Mother
    Scott McKay
    Scott McKay
    • Mr. Fletcheras Mr. Fletcher
    Peter Friedman
    Peter Friedman
    • Mr. Groschas Mr. Grosch
    • Director
      • Lewis Jackson
    • Writer
      • Lewis Jackson
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Widely recognized as the best of the Christmas horror efforts, Christmas Evil is the story of a boy who loves Christmas. He is scarred as a boy when he learns that Santa is not real. Throughout the rest of his life, the toy-maker tries to make the Christmas spirit a reality. He becomes obsessed with the behavior of children and the quality of the toys he makes. When he is met with hypocrisy and cynicism, the resulting snap causes him to go on a yuletide killing spree to complete this dark comedic horror. —Jason Duvall <jasduv@edge.net>
    • serial killer as protagonist
    • antagonist as protagonist
    • lift skirt
    • child
    • murder spree
    • 123 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You'd better take care...Santa is coming to town!
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Waters recommends this as his favorite Thanksgiving/Christmas themed film.
    • Goofs
      When Harry's brother falls down the hill, it's obviously a fake sheet of snow as it all lifts off the ground.
    • Quotes

      Harry "Santa": But now I want you to remember to stay good boys & girls. Respect your mothers & fathers and do what they tell you. Obey your teachers and learn a whooooole lot! Now *if you do this*, I'll make sure you get good presents from me eeeevery year. Ha ha ha... but if you're bad boys & girls, your name goes in the 'Bad Boys & Girls' book, and I'll bring you something... horrible.

    • Crazy credits
      While it is understandable that viewers might identify the rousing "Merry Christmas everybody!" at the end of the credits as the crew adding a personalized touch to the final moments of the film, it is in fact the greeting that ends the Jackson Trio's "Jingle Bell Hop" that is used during the end credits.
    • Alternate versions
      A deleted scene toward the film's beginning showed Harry being promoted in his job. Brandon Maggart had a hangover from the day before while shooting the dancing scene, and can be seen becoming dizzy and nauseous at the end of the scene.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Cinema Snob: Silent Night, Deadly Night: Part 2 (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Santa Claus, Santa Claus
      Written by Charles Bobbitt (uncredited) and Nat Jones (uncredited)

      Performed by James Brown

    User reviews117

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Santa Clause meets Norman Bates
    (Some Spoilers) Off the wall slasher film involving this not so stable toy factory manager who got the shock of his life when, as a little boy, her saw Santa and his mom getting off on Christmas Eve. The fact that Santa was young Harry Stadling's father didn't seem to be noticed by Harry who became obsessed with Ol' Saint Nicholas his entire life. Going on a one man crusade Harry was intent to prove the existence of Santa if it was the last thing that he did. Harry went so far as living a secret life as the man in the red and white suit using his disguise as Santa as his personal and secret identity.

    Harry keeping tabs on all the kids in his neighborhood, by spying on them, had a list of who was naughty and who was nice among them and as Christmas approached he was to make sure that they all got, good or bad, everything that they so rightfully deserved. It was really the adults who didn't believe in Santa and the giving spirit of the Chistmas holidays that Harry really had it in for. And it was them who in the end had to pay, in Harry's mind, for their unforgivable sins! It was when Harry flipped out, on Christmas Eve, that he turned the joy of Christmas into a night of horrors.

    Touched by the horrible conditions at the local Willowy Springs-a take of on the notorious Willowbrook state school in Staten Island NY- State Hospital Harry tried to get his fellow workers at the Jolly Dream Toy Factory to chip in and give the unwanted and discarded, by their families, kids there some toys for Christmas. It's When he was laughed at and made to feel like a fool,in his wanting to give away loads of toys for free, by his bosses at the factory that something snapped in Harry's head having him go ballistic! Besides Harry taking all the toys, from the factory, to give away as Christmas presents to the children in the city he also plans to give his Scrooge-like bosses a Christmas that they'll never forget!

    Harry's rampage in the movie was motivated by those who looked at Christmas, and Santa, as nothing but a money making, not giving, time of the year. Even though he didn't like kids who didn't listen to their parents and elders and looked at dirty pictures, like Penthouse Centerfolds, Harry felt that they can be made to see he evil in their ways and be straightened in time. It was the adults who made a mockery of Christmas, and Santa Clause, that Harry really had it in for in that they should know better but don't. which in Harry's mind was unforgivable and needed to be, by him, taken care of with the utmost urgency!

    Hard to take serious slasher/horror movie in that the villain, Harry Stadling, was so lovable that even when he did in his victims you just couldn't dislike him. Harry was so believable as the lovable Santa Clause that even the children of the people that he murdered looked up to him, with Harry giving them expensive presents, as if he were the real McCoy, Santa, himself!

    During the entire film Harry was always on the outs with his younger brother Philip who, since they were little boys, never believed in Santa and let Harry know it in no uncertain terms. It took a while but in the end even Philip became a believer. Not that Harry proved to Philip that the legendary Santa does in fact exists but, in the final moments of the movie, that Santa is actually his own brother, Harry Stadling, in the flesh!
    helpful•6
    3
    • sol1218
    • Jan 4, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • 80sSlashers
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Christmas Evil: Original Director's Cut
    • Filming locations
      • Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA
    • Production company
      • Edward R. Pressman Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $850,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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