I am a rabid Black Christmas (1974) fan. It's one of my top five favorite horror movies of all time, if not my absolute favorite. I knew this 2019 remake was going to be completely different. I thought it might be fun like the 2006 version. I'm not a hater, especially when the director takes a classic film in a completely different direction rather than trying to duplicate the original. I expected a popcorn film, so my expectations were low.
Perhaps I have a different perspective than most of the reviewers here - I have always acknowledged how feminist and progressive the original 1974 Black Christmas is. The "final girl" is pro-choice, sexually active, breaks up with her fiance, and is seeking an abortion. No silly rules about virginity or explicit nudity. It's part of the quality of the Bob Clark film. But only a part. Still, I respected the huge feminist turn this re-imagining took to the left. It was a bit obvious and heavy-handed, but it's also a film for young people so I was along for the ride. I found the social criticisms timely.
But they lost me with the black goop plot line. The first two films aren't supernatural at all (although the atmosphere and framing of the 1974 version is arguably spiritual in a haunting way) and this third installment did it poorly. Very poorly.
Perhaps I have a different perspective than most of the reviewers here - I have always acknowledged how feminist and progressive the original 1974 Black Christmas is. The "final girl" is pro-choice, sexually active, breaks up with her fiance, and is seeking an abortion. No silly rules about virginity or explicit nudity. It's part of the quality of the Bob Clark film. But only a part. Still, I respected the huge feminist turn this re-imagining took to the left. It was a bit obvious and heavy-handed, but it's also a film for young people so I was along for the ride. I found the social criticisms timely.
But they lost me with the black goop plot line. The first two films aren't supernatural at all (although the atmosphere and framing of the 1974 version is arguably spiritual in a haunting way) and this third installment did it poorly. Very poorly.