Silent Night, Deadly Night is a great time at the movies. Super fun kills, an intriguing story, and a great lead performance from Rohan Campbell make it a must watch.
Who doesn’t love a good slasher? Silent Night, Deadly Night is a great blend of horror and holiday, as it takes place around Christmas and involves a murdering Santa Claus. Packed with insanely fun kills and boasting a great lead performance, this one is a must see.
This film follows Billy (Rohan Campbell) who becomes a serial killer after seeing his parents murdered in front of him when he is eight years old. While we do not learn the ins and outs of everything until the third act, we do know that he murders people while wearing a santa suit around the holidays.
As someone who has not seen the 1984 Silent Night, Deadly Night, or either of the sequels, I cannot comment a lot on the differences. But I can reveal that a lot of other Fantastic Fest goers have seen it and said that this is a new and creative spin, with more comedy, than its predecessor. A story like this should lean into the ridiculous and hilarious aspects of it all, so I am really happy they did.
Rohan Campbell was a standout of The Monkey, but he really is allowed the time to shine in this film. He is the perfect choice for the lead and I loved watching his character struggle with certain aspects of what he does.
He seems sweet and innocent by the way he looks, but he is strong and has no problem killing people he thinks have it coming. These scenes are a ton of fun. In my theater viewers were cheering, clapping, and laughing through them all. They are violent, bloody, and absolutely insane.
Ruby Modine plays Pamela, a bit of a love interest for him. Their chemistry is great and I truly enjoyed watching them together on screen. She brings a lot of the comedy as well, landing every joke. It was easy to root for the two of them because of how good they are together.
When everything comes together in the end and we learn the whys and the hows, this already great movie becomes even better. A horror movie is almost always made better when the lore is explained to the viewers, and this is no exception.
Without spoilers, Silent Night, Deadly Night ends in a way that leaves the door open for more. Should there be a sequel, I will absolutely be seated. This is the horror slasher you didn’t know you that you needed.
About Silent Night, Deadly Night
A reimagining of the controversial 1984 cult horror classic — when Billy witnesses his parents’ grisly murder on Christmas Eve at the hands of Santa, it ignites a lifelong mission to spread holiday fear. Every Christmas, he dons the jolly red suit and delivers a blood-soaked massacre to feed his twisted sense of justice. This Christmas Eve, Billy wants to know: “Have you been naughty?”
Silent Night, Deadly Night was a secret screening at Fantastic Fest 2025 and comes to theaters December 12, 2025.