DARKCOAST RE-RELEASES THE HOLIDAY SLASHER ‘CHRISTMAS EVIL’ (1980)

“CHRISTMAS EVIL // DARKCOAST”
“…The best seasonal film of all time. I wish I had kids. I’d make them watch it every year and, if they didn’t like it, they’d be punished!” – John Waters (Hairspray, Cry-Baby, Seed of Chucky).

Los Angeles, CA – December 11, 2018 TriCoast Entertainment’s horror division, DarkCoast, is finding out who’s been naughty this holiday season with the re-release of the 1980 classic, ‘CHRISTMAS EVIL’. Watch it today: https://amzn.to/2zR3CNJ.

From Writer-Director, Lewis Jackson (The Deviates, Lialeh, The Transformation: A Sandwich of Nightmares), CHRISTMAS EVIL (aka You Better Watch Out) is a dark, comedic horror follows the manager of the Jolly Dreams toy factory, Harry (Brandon Maggart), who has been mentally scarred since his childhood upon learning that Santa Claus isn’t real when he catches his mother being sexually groped by his father, who is dressed up in a Santa Claus costume.

“A decent seasoned horror slasher. If you’re into killer Santa flicks, then give this a try. It’ll be worth a check around Christmas, but be sure to drink a lot of eggnog before ya watch it,” wrote Upcoming Horror Movies on CHRISTMAS EVIL.

Though 30+ years have passed, Harry has taken it upon himself to become the next true Santa. From an apartment filled with Christmas toys and décor year-round to sleeping in a Santa costume each night, Harry uses binoculars to spy on neighborhood children to see if they have been ‘bad or good’. When he sees Moss Garcia (Peter Neuman), rifling through nude magazines, Harry immediately the child’s name in his “Bad Boys & Girls” book. But, one day on his way home from work, Harry notices his co-worker, Frank Stoller (Joe Jamrog), drinking in a local bar when he’d previously called in sick that morning. Furious and creepily humming a Christmas tune, Harry rushes home as he destroys one of his exquisite male dollhouse figures and cancels his upcoming Thanksgiving dinner plans with his younger brother, Phil (Jeffrey DeMunn) and their family. Harry’s anger cultivates even further a month later on Christmas Eve at Jolly Dream’s Christmas party, which he departs from belittled by his co-workers, realizing they perceive him as an absolute idiot. Cumulating in a nervous breakdown, Harry is now fully convinced he is the one and true Santa Claus.

Harry’s nervous breakdown results in a whirlwind of events, beginning with his brilliant idea, to steal the company toys and drop them off for the disadvantaged children at the Willowy Springs State Hospital. He fills the day pretending to be a local community center’s hired Santa Claus, passing out gifts to the happy children, but Harry’s nights are far more dangerous. Committing “Santa’s bloody crimes”, Harry murders three teenage parishioners who laughed at him, and invades the family homes of both Phil and Frank, continuing his Yuletide killing spree. As the police and town are in search for the murderous Santa Claus, will anyone be able to stop Harry’s epidemic of hatchet murders?

CHRISTMAS EVIL is in many ways the ultimate cult Christmas movie (endorsed by John Waters, no less), and certainly worth a look for those in need of alternative December merriment,” wrote Screen Anarchy.

CHRISTMAS EVIL was first released in Pittsburgh, PA in November 1980, following its international releases in the Philippines during December 1985 and DVD premiere in Finland during November 2018. CHRISTMAS EVIL stars Jeffrey DeMunn, recently featured in TV Series, Billions (2016-2018) as the character ‘Chuck Rhodes, Sr.’ Jeffrey DeMunn is also Emmy-nominated for supporting actor for Citizen X (1995) and prestigiously nominated for the ‘Screen Actors Guild Award’ for The Green Mile (1999). Alongside stars three-time nominated Brandon Maggart, best known for Dressed to Kill (1980).

DarkCoast will exclusively re-release CHRISTMAS EVIL on digital streaming platforms (Dish, FlixFling, Vimeo on Demand, Amazon, Fandago and Sling) beginning Dec. 10th. If you’re brave enough to let blood splatter your white Christmas, watch the trailer for CHRISTMAS EVIL here: https://vimeo.com/288228066.

CHRISTMAS EVIL stars Jeffrey DeMunn (The Mist, The Hitcher, The X Files), Brandon Maggart (Dressed to Kill, Brothers, Intrepid), Dianne Hull (The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, Girl on the Road, Man on a Swing), Andy Fenwick (Bolero, A Breed Apart, Hide in Plain Sight, Brian Neville (Going in Style), Joe Jamrog (Law & Order, United 93, Blue Steel, The Fisher King) and Peter Neuman (Orphan Train). 

CHRISTMAS EVIL (1980, 90 min.) Written and directed by: Lewis Jackson. Produced by: Pete Kameron, Burt Kleiner, Michael A. Levine, Jerald Rubinstein. Edited by: Linda Leeds, Corky O’Hara. Cinematographer: Ricardo Aronovich. Original Music: Don Christensen, Joel Harris, Julia Heyward. USA, English. Edward R. Pressman Productions, TriCoast Worldwide, DarkCoast.

Produced by: Edward R. Pressman Productions

MPAA rating: R

DarkCoast is a division of TriCoast Entertainment:

A new home for story-driven American films, TriCoast Entertainment is a full service media company that creates, produces, manages and distributes unique and unusual entertainment. Bringing together filmmakers, distributors, financiers, and technologists, TriCoast Entertainment embraces change by redefining the production and distribution model for indie filmmakers.

Founded by: Strathford Hamilton and Marcy Levitas Hamilton.

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