Christmas Evil (1980) aka You Better Watch Out aka Terror In Toyland

3.5 / 5
Tagline: You'd better take care...Santa is coming to town!
Directed by: Lewis Jackson
Written by: Lewis Jackson
Actors include: Brandon Maggart, Jeffrey DeMunn, Dianne Hull
Genre: Horror
Length: 100 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
Well, I've been intrigued by this 'un because well, the cover art is pretty amazing, the idea seems good and John Waters provides commentary on this flick. Anything he loves, I'm pretty game to try. It's not nearly as impressive as I'd expected but it's not without some charms. We seem to have a man in a Santa suit who was traumatized as a boy when he found out that Santa isn't real. He goes around taking the naughty or nice bit a little too far. It does drag a bit, and there isn't much blood (one good stabby scene). I do like the surrealistic Christmas background to the whole thing. Evil Santa's apartment is fabulously decorated, and watching him interact with others as a jovial Santa is pretty funny too. As a camp flick it works, as a horror flick, it's a bit of a letdown. Likely one to watch when you feel grinch like.