31 Scary Movies: ‘Black Christmas’

“Black Christmas” (1974) – A group of sorority girls hope to spend a joyous holiday over Christmas break, but a maniac – with unknown motivations – attempts to murder them one by one.  Director Bob Clark gives “Black Christmas” a raw and unsettling edge by employing shifty, handheld camerawork that walks up and down empty stairs and hallways of a 4,000 square foot house, and many times without an accompanying score. John Carpenter’s “Halloween” (1978) might be considered the first mainstream slasher film, but director Clark’s picture arrived in theatres…