[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Christmas Evil (1980)

A toy factory worker, mentally scarred as a child upon learning Santa Claus is not real, and actually shags his mum, suffers a nervous breakdown after being belittled at work, and embarks on a Yuletide killing spree.

Except he doesn't, not really. Christmas Evil is a character study rather then a horror film and it's difficult not to be sympathetic towards the downtrodden Harry. However the plot intricacies aren't much different to say Halloween (1978) or any other horror film about mental scarring at a young age but what it gains in characterization it totally loses in horror value.

John Waters may love this film but it ain't a patch on the grotty Brit bloodshed of Don't Open Till Christmas.