BLACK CHRISTMAS Trailer

The holidays are getting bloody once again with Black Christmas, the latest from co-writer/director Sophia Takal.

Yes, it’s a remake of that ’70s classic, the one that laid the groundwork for pretty much every slasher film that came after it, and its bare bones remain the same: a group of sorority sisters are picked off by a mysterious attacker. Simple enough, but the originator of tropes has to be complicated after all these years, so there’s a suspicious frat and some modern feminist undertones added to the mix. It’s still Black Christmas, though, so the bread and butter will be its inventive kills.

Taking on a classic will be no small task for Takal, who’s directorial career has been a steady climb with Green and Always Shine. Black Christmas is undoubtedly her biggest film to date and her biggest risk, especially considering the 2006 attempt fell flat on its face. She’s got solid backup in co-writer April Wolfe, though, who is a longtime film critic with a special interest in horror.

The young women to be slaughtered are mostly unknown actresses with a handful of credits to their names. Imogen Poots is the only one you’ll recognize, and that’s fine considering that many of them are just there to die. The really big get cast-wise is Cary Elwes, who will lurk around as one of their professors. Considering its pedigree and genre, this isn’t the kind of film that needs a flashy cast. People will show up just to see if the story can fly in 2019, and if not, at least it’ll have some kills to release the holiday tension.

Black Christmas is directed by Sophia Takal and stars Imogen Poots, Lily Donoghue, and Aleyse Shannon. It will be released in the US and the UK on December 13th, 2019. For international release dates, click here.

Do you think they can pull off this remake? Let us know in the comments!