UK: Silent Night Deadly Night on DVD from Arrow

[claire]

Released uncut on November 23rd:

THE NOTORIOUS SEASONAL SLASHER AVAILABLE UNCUT IN THE UK FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME EVER.

One of the most controversial movies of the 1980s – and never granted a certificate by the British Board of Film Classification until now – the seminal cult shocker SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT finally gets its long-awaited UK DVD release in November 2009 just in time to bring some Christmas fear into the hearts of horror fans looking for something more stirring than the usual seasonal fare.
A ‘stalk and slash' shocker with bells on, SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT sparked a wave of controversy on its original US theatrical release thanks to its premise of having a killer dressed as Santa Claus, a concept that led to angry parents, film critics, celebrities and movie industry insiders protesting against and calling for a boycott of this ‘outrageous' movie. Now, UK viewers can at last see what all the fuss was about with the release of the fully uncut and most complete version of the film available.

After witnessing the killing of his father and the rape and murder of his mother at the hands of a psycho in a Santa suit, young Billy Chapman, along with his infant brother Ricky, is sent to be raised at St. Mary's Orphanage, an institution run by a tyrannical and abusive Mother Superior. Billy's earlier tragic experience has already left him deeply scarred mentally, with a pathological fear of Santa Claus and a firm belief that sex is an evil act that must be punished – emotional problems that the nuns do nothing about except to reinforce.

Ten years later, and free of the shackles of the orphanage, 18-year-old Billy finds himself working at a local toy store as Christmas approaches. Things are going fine until the store Santa takes ill and Billy is forced to step in and don the red and white suit. He manages to get through the final day at work before the holidays, but an incident at the store employee's Christmas celebrations that evening brings back terrifying memories in Billy initiating a bloody killing spree in which this now-psychotic Santa sets out to ‘punish the naughty'.

A superlative 80s shocker that spawned four sequels and ticks all the required slasher genre boxes – namely gratuitous gore, nudity, sex, decapitation and an appearance by Hollywood scream queen Linnea Quigley (Return Of The Living Dead; Night Of The Demons; Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers) – SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT is the perfect Yuletide tale of terror.

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (cert. 18) will be released on DVD (£15.99) by Arrow Video on 23rd November 2009. Special Features include: unrated trailer; audio interview with director Charles E. Sellier Jr.; poster; booklet including ‘Deadly Director: Charles Sellier interviewed by Calum Waddell' and ‘Silent Night, Sex Night: The Slice and Times of Linnea Quigley'.

RRP is £15.99, but Amazon UK have it as a pre-order for £5.98!

DVD: amazon.co.uk | play.com | hmv.com

[Myersfan73]

I have the US release, but at that price I'm double dipping. I love the art work on the new Arrow releases and Silent Night Deadly Night is a bit of a personal favourite.

[dubster75]

thanks for the info and link, just pre ordered mine

[MarcMorris]

The Uk disc includes the unrated trailer not found on the US disc too.

[Dave Jay]

Sorry, but I seem to be in the minority in thinking the new Arrow covers are a right old dog's dinner... thank the lord they're reversible...

[Camino_real]

Dave: You Are Not Alone!

I'll buy the DVD but the cover is awful. Misrepresents the film completely.

[coffindaz]

Consider it ordered...HMV have some of the other Arrow titles at £6.99 too...Macabre etc

[jacksmith1983]

To be honest I have to disagree slightly with Dave and Camino and say that I actually don't mind the new artwork. However, the films famous orignal poster design with the axe-wielding Santa disappearing down the chimney is a bit of a classic and I'm firmly of the opinion that if it aint broke, don't fix it.

In truth I'm quite happy with the old US Anchor Bay double-bill of this film and it's first sequel and don't see myself double-dipping. Personally I'm more looking forward to the forthcoming US set of Silent Night, Deadly Night 3, 4 and 5. However, it's nice to see that Arrow are putting some effort into this release on the extra's front and I commend them for that. Also nice to see a certain Mr Waddell keeping himself busy now that Dark Side Magazine is "on hiatus".

[Myersfan73]

Originally Posted by coffindaz

Consider it ordered...HMV have some of the other Arrow titles at £6.99 too...Macabre etc

oooh spend on me thinks

[orgasmo]

Every Christmas day I send the same text to all my mates-its ok, your safe now, santas gone.

Love this film-buy for me.

[claire]

Just looked at this disc, the picture quality's excellent.

[MarcMorris]

That's my trailer on there too.

[Companero]

Originally Posted by MarcMorris

That's my trailer on there too.

...and my synopsis on the back of the box

[AndyBlade]

Originally Posted by Dave Jay

Sorry, but I seem to be in the minority in thinking the new Arrow covers are a right old dog's dinner... thank the lord they're reversible...

Couldnt agree more - the cover for the upcoming Street Trash is terrible. Far too much going on in some of them - the less is more rule works much better.

As for Silent Night, Deadly Night - I've never seen it, but at £5.98 theres very little room for complaint, so I've pre-ordered, horrible cover and all.

[claire]

Originally Posted by MarcMorris

The Uk disc includes the unrated trailer not found on the US disc too.

Great stuff, it's a fine addition to the disc.

Marc, did you have a hand in restoring a couple of deleted scenes for this release too? Or have I dreamt that?

[AndyBlade]

Pre-ordered this around a month ago from Amazon, release day is today and I havent had a dispatch email through, so I went to my account page to check. This item is listed as being dispatched in 4-6 weeks. Nuts to that.

HMV have it for a penny more and it was dispatched an hour after I placed the order.

[smileysmile18]

Originally Posted by AndyBlade

Pre-ordered this around a month ago from Amazon, release day is today and I havent had a dispatch email through, so I went to my account page to check. This item is listed as being dispatched in 4-6 weeks. Nuts to that.

HMV have it for a penny more and it was dispatched an hour after I placed the order.

That's odd, mine arrived from Amazon this morning...

[MarcMorris]

That just means they've sold out and more stock is on its way. Usually takes just a few days.

If I were you I'd drop their customer services department an email.

[coffindaz]

Mine came from HMV yesterday

[dubster75]

mine arrived today from amazon and is the first arrow release i have brought and i have to say i'm very impressed with the standard of this dvd, i got mine on the pre order for £6, for that you get a reversible sleeve, poster, informative booklet, plus extras on the dvd. fellow dvd companies really need to take note on the spec of this dvd because
this is how to release a dvd! are all arrow releases up to this standard?