Chicagoist Weekend Theater: Siskel & Ebert Review 'Silent Night, Deadly Night'

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 1, 2013 9:00PM

For better or worse, the Christmas/holidays season has started, and, with it, comes a tradition of counter-programming for people who puke at the very notion of holiday spirit. One such infamous example of Christmas counter-programming is the 1984 holiday slasher film about a killer Santa Claus called Silent Night, Deadly Night. The film garnered protests from upset parents over its television ad campaign, which focused on the film's killer Santa angle. The film also received terrible reviews from critics.

Two of those critics were none other than Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Though this clip of the pair reviewing the film on their "At The Movies" show is Siskel-heavy, Ebert gets in a few characteristically blunt digs in at the very end. Watch some masters at work on a holiday cult anti-classic, which spawned multiple direct-to-video sequels.

Watch Silent Night, Deadly Night on YouTube as well.