Few people are familiar with the original Black Christmas (1974), and to be fair, not many ventured to see Glen Morgan's 2006 remake either, starring Lacey Chabert among a gaggle of college girls terrorised by a fancy-dressed trespasser (no, not Santa). Even so, this tongue in (bloody) cheek slasher film did manage to nearly double its meagre $9m budget in US ticket sales.

Yule Be Sorry

Glen Morgan is depressingly honest about his intentions with this horror flick in May All Your Christmases Be Black. He begins by reflecting on the box office bombing of his 2003 creep show Willard (despite largely good reviews) and explains that he's aiming more for "jack in the box scares" with Black Christmas. "Which I hate," he adds with a shrug, "but the audiences love it..." On this particular day of filming he lethargically calls 'action' on a brutal decapitation, which apparently is de riguer these days. We also find Dean Friss in the makeup chair prepping for his turn as the sexually confused psycho Agnes Lenz.

Morgan works up slightly more enthusiasm (but only slightly) in What Have You Done? a featurette on the process of updating the 1974 film. Original director Bob Clark, who served as exec producer on the remake, insists this isn't just a slasher flick, but a story dealing with "social issues" (!) and later makes the point that Black Christmas was a forerunner to Hallowe'en, implying that John Carpenter ripped off his ideas. Andrea Martin, who features in both versions, talks about how "much more sophisticated" the female characters are in Morgan's film and the younger girls get a chance to speak too. e.g. Lacy Chabert tries to convince us she didn't break her leg just to get out of her contract...

Slay Ride

Grislier versions of two death scenes are included amongst eight frankly dull deleted scenes along with the ominously titled sequence 'Someone In The Attic'. (We can only take their word for it, because it's difficult to make out anything in the dark.) Three alternative endings are presented separately and there is the option of watching the film with the finale as seen in the US theatrical cut. That features Katie Cassidy (Kelli), a hospital crutch and a mental patient with a very sore head. And if you watched the previous 75mins, you'll know how that feels.

This DVD may appeal to a niche audience of horror buffs, but if the film's own director can't muster any excitement, then why should anyone else? In the end it's just not scary enough to make anyone over 12 fill their stockings.

EXTRA FEATURES

Black Christmas DVD is released on Monday 19th November 2007.