Silent night, deadly night. A story of how marketing a movie can go wrong

[Spicechinodiva]

It's still to this day viewed as the most controversial film, while it was issued the same day as A Nightmare on elm street, Freddy became a horror icon. 

 

The murderous Santa Claus however didn't even get a chance and it was due to marketing,  Tristar aired previews during family time (that is a thing of the past), most agree had they waited until past ten pm, it probably would be different. 

 

But somehow a commercial aired on a Sunday during the holiday episode of Little house on the prairie, as a whole slashers was the rage in the 80s as the dominant horror genre,  this led to Tristar basically selling the movie off, and wiping their hands cleaned. 

Banned in the uk during the infamous video nasty era, wasn't until 2009 when arrow video got the bbfc to give it the hard 18 (unlike rated r, in the states. You have to be 18 to see the movie and not even a parent can accompany a minor. Literally nc-17 uk version)

 

 

Happy birthday to the most controversial Christmas slasher of all time..also uses catholic imagery as well..

 

[Isla]

I have never seen this film but I don’t see what’s so bad about doing a horror themed Christmas time, or was this unusual for the 80s? Seems it was the conservative religious people who got upset.

I do agree it was wrong to advertise the film in the afternoon though when children would be watching.