Night of the Dark Full Moon

Moody horror that influenced many films to come

A mysterious man from California (James Patterson) inherits a manor in a Northeast town at Christmastime, but someone has escaped the local asylum and key citizens feel increasingly threatened, especially after some creepy phone calls. Patrick O'Neal, Astrid Heeren, John Carradine and Walter Abel are on hand.

"Silent Night, Bloody Night" was made in December-March, 1970-71, on a modest budget ($295,000), but not released until 1972. This is an atmospheric horror flick that originated tropes that became staples of the oncoming slasher craze, such as the (possible) killer escaping from an asylum, sexual immorality results in death, disturbing phone calls and naming horror films after a holiday or significant date, à la “Black Christmas” (1974) “Halloween” (1978), “Friday the 13th” (1980), “April Fool's Day” (1986/2008), “Valentine” (2001) and “My Bloody Valentine” (1981/2009).

Unlike the later “Silent Night, Deadly Night” (1984), this is less of a one-dimensional slasher flick and more artistic horror. Don’t expect Santa Claus stalking victims with an ax. It shares an effective plot element introduced in “Psycho” and “The City of the Dead” (both from 1960).

Interestingly, several of the cast members were iconic of Warhol's arty retinue in the 60s, including star Mary Woronov, who married director Theodore Gershuny the same year this movie was made (a marriage that lasted till 1973). Others play either asylum inmates or “guests”: Ondine, Kristen Steen, Tally Brown, Lewis Love, filmmaker Jack Smith, artist Susan Rothenberg and Candy Darling.

Speaking of Candy, this was her last movie as she died of lymphoma in 1974 at the too-young age of 29. She expressed before her passing, “I am just so bored by everything. You might say bored to death.” Julie Newmar read her eulogy. It was also the last film of costar James Patterson (who was dubbed); he would be dead of cancer three months before the film’s debut.

While some critics call bits of the story a “mess,” practically everything is explained if you put the pieces of the puzzle together (although how someone can walk around for very long with hands literally cut off is a great mystery).

The movie is succinct at 1 hour, 21 minutes, and was shot at Mill Neck & nearby Oyster Bay in northwestern Long Island, NY, straight across the sound from the Connecticut panhandle.

GRADE: B-/B