I suppose if your goal was to make a movie about Santa Claus as an axe murderer, you could do worse than this clunky movie. Danny Wagner witnesses his family killed by a thief disguised as Santa Claus; he winds up in an orphanage run by Mother Superior Lilyan Chauvin, one of those mean old nuns. By the time he leaves the orphanage as Robert Brian Wilson and gets a job in a toy store, he's a smiling maniac. Then he is asked to play Santa Claus, and during the drunken party that follows the season, he starts off his jolly murder spree with two co-workers being naughty in a back room.

The worst thing about this movie is its erratic handling. Some parts are very good, like the parts where the deputies, trying to capture Wilson, wind up with other men in Santa suits. Miss Chauvin is excellent, and Gilmer McCormick, as a younger nun, know exactly how to perform for the camera in her last film. The others have problems reading their lines cleanly, and an example of the demonization of, well, everything, it's simply distasteful.

In 1971, on the Christmas Eve, a family heads to a nursing home to visit the catatonic grandfather of the 5-year-old Billy and the baby Ricky. While his parents go with the baby to discuss the treatment with the doctor in the office, Billy is left alone with grandpa. Out of the blue, he awakens and tells Billy to be afraid of Santa Claus since he punishes who is naughty. While driving back home, a killer posing of Santa Claus lures Billy's father that pull over his car on the road and Billy witnesses the killer murdering his parents. A few years later, Billy and his brother are raised in an orphanage run by the tyrannical Mother Superior (Lilyan Chauvin) that believes that punishment is the better way to educate children. Sister Margaret (Gilmer McCormick) feels that Billy needs psychological support but the Mother Superior does not agree. In 1984, when Billy (Robert Brian Wilson) turns 18 years old, Sister Margaret finds a job in a toy store for Billy. On the Christmas Eve, Billy´s chief Mr. Sims (Britt Leach) asks Billy to replace the employee that plays Santa Claus for the clients and their children since he is injured. The Santa suit associated to alcoholic drink trigger his insanity and Billy begins his murder rampage punishing naughty people.

"Silent Night, Deadly Night" is a bold 1984 horror movie that challenges the Christmas symbol of Santa Claus. The scene on the beginning of the feature with Billy witnessing the murder of his parents is also very brutal and cruel. The deaths and the special effects are original and do not disappoint fans of slaher genre. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Natal Sangrento" ("Bloody Christmas")

After his parents are murdered, a young tormented teenager (Robert Brian Wilson) goes on a murderous rampage dressed as Santa, due to his stay at an orphanage where he was abused by the Mother Superior.

I watched this film when I was very young and did not recall it. I watched it again last night (December 2012) and was disappointed beyond words. As much as I love the slasher subgenre of horror films, this just was pretty bland. Critics and parents hated it for the content... and I was disappointed by the complete lack of content.

Now, do not get me wrong. We have Linnea Quigley in an early role, which is a treat, and her death scene is by far the greatest part of the film. While most of the picture seems to either be boring or exhibits gratuitous nudity, the Quigley death actually showed some imagination.

We also have Don Shanks as a stuntman. Today, Shanks has made a name for himself as one of the guys to play Michael Myers. Whether that is a big deal or not, I am not sure, but I recognized his name right away and that was cool.

Overall, I do not recommend the movie. There are many other better slashers out there. But if you are a die-hard fan, I guess you should check it out sooner or later. Heck, they made like four follow-up films for some reason...