Better Watch Out: Silent Night, Deadly Night reboot officially in the works

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Orwo Studios and Black Hanger Studios have officially acquired the remake rights for the 1984 horror film, Silent Night, Deadly Night. Producers of the original film, Scott Schneid and Dennis Whitehead of Wonderwheel Entertainment, are also on board with the project.

The film is currently beginning sales at the virtual EFM (European Film Market) via Orwo Studios. Along with Black Hanger Studios, Orwo recently sold world rights to Jeepers Creepers: Reborn to Screen Media. That film is set for a release in the fall of 2021 and if all goes well with the sale for the rebooted Silent Night, Deadly Night, the movie should be ready to be unwrapped in 2022.

The original film was released in 1984 and quickly became the controversial focus of angry critics and parents everywhere. Silent Night, Deadly Night tells the story of a young man named Billy, who suffers from post-traumatic stress over witnessing his parents' murder on Christmas Eve by a man dressed as Santa Claus. Years later, the traumatic event along with an upbringing in an abusive Catholic orphanage, pushes Billy to a psychological break and he goes on his own killing spree dressed in a Santa suit. Due to the imagery of a murderous Santa Claus, its graphic violence, and advertising campaign, particularly its posters and TV spots, the film became the target of The National Parent & Teacher Association and their mission was to have the film removed from theaters. There were protests against the movie & critics Siskel and Ebert were among many to speak out against the movie with Siskel going as far as to read names of the production crew on-air, telling them, “Shame on you!" In response, TriStar pulled all advertising for the film six days after its release, and the movie itself was pulled from theaters shortly after.

This kind of response leads to a cult following & that is what certainly happened with Silent Night, Deadly Night in the years since its release. What's particularly interesting, even when the film had a limited run in theaters back in 1984, it performed pretty well for its time. Wes Craven’s A Nightmare On Elm Street opened on the same day and Silent Night, Deadly Night actually outgrossed the now-classic horror film during its opening. Before being pulled from theaters, the film took in more than $2.4 million (three times its budget) in 10 days.

Silent Night, Deadly Night spawned several sequels over the years and a loose remake of the original film that was released in 2012. This was one of those horror films I saw later in life and it kind of was the stuff legend because of all the controversy I read about in regards to its original release. I think because I had seen some pretty gruesome horror films by that point, I didn't exactly see what the big deal was but it's still campy fun and could actually benefit from a reboot that could do the original concept some justice.

Are YOU excited about the Silent Night, Deadly Night reboot?