A young boy experiences trauma while living in a Catholic orphanage situated near mountains in a small Utah town. Years later, when he begins working at a toy store, things quickly spiral out of control. "Silent Night, Deadly Night" (1984) generated considerable controversy upon its release, but I’ve never quite grasped the uproar. It's a horror film, specifically a slasher, and shocking imagery and violent deaths are inherent to that genre. Really, it shouldn't be surprising. Think about clowns—they’re meant to be playful and entertaining, yet there wasn't widespread concern when they were utilized for scares in films like “He Who Gets Slapped” (1924), "Terror on Tour" (1980), and “Poltergeist” (1982). Why is Santa Claus considered untouchable, especially given that he had already been portrayed as a killer twelve years prior in “Tales from the Crypt” (1972) and four years earlier in “Christmas Evil” (1980)? This slasher distinguishes itself by dedicating time to explore the reasons behind the killer's actions. The overall feel is quite serious, although there are occasional moments of humor or a touch of campiness sprinkled throughout. While it doesn’t possess the atmosphere and artistic merit of “Silent Night, Bloody Night” (1972), it functions adequately as a straightforward, occasionally amusing slasher film. I found the mountain town scenery to be quite pleasant. Linnea Quigley stands out among the female characters as Denise, and Toni Nero is also memorable in her role as Pamela. Both actresses are shown nude, so if that’s something you find objectionable, it's best to avoid this movie. The complete film runs for a concise 1 hour and 22 minutes (compared to 3 minutes less for the theatrical version). Filming took place in Heber City & Midway, Utah, both located east of Salt Lake City on the far side of the mountain pass. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB