‘Silent Night, Deadly Night’ Review – Slasher Remake Embraces Its Roots While Carving It’s Own Path [Fantastic Fest 2025]

Remaking a cult classic like Silent Night, Deadly Night is no easy task—especially when the original is remembered as much for its controversy as its content. But writer-director Mike P. Nelson (The Domestics) delivers a surprisingly effective update, one that embraces its slasher roots while adding a layer of psychological depth that gives this version a pulse of its own.

The film opens with young Billy visiting his dying grandfather, a sequence drenched in dread and unease. Nelson sets the tone early with sharp atmosphere and deliberate pacing. On the drive home, Billy’s life takes a horrific turn when a deranged man in a Santa suit attacks his parents. It’s a hauntingly staged scene, relying more on silence and tension than shock value. From there, the story jumps years ahead, finding Billy (Rohan Campbell) hiding out from the police in a run-down motel. The trauma of that night has never left him, and now it manifests as a violent need to punish those he deems “naughty.”

Rohan Campbell delivers a strong performance as Billy, grounding the character in pain and confusion. He’s not just another masked slasher; he’s a young man consumed by the scars of his past. Campbell plays him with an understated sadness that makes his violent transformation feel both tragic and inevitable. There’s also an attempt to explore how trauma shapes identity, most clearly seen in Billy’s relationship with Pamela (Ruby Modine). She’s one of the few people who sees the good still buried inside him, and her warmth makes his descent even more heartbreaking. While the film could have gone deeper into Billy’s fractured psyche, the effort to add dimension is appreciated—it gives the bloodshed some emotional weight.

What truly stands out here, though, are the kills. They’re inventive, brutal, and laced with a dark sense of humor. Nelson knows exactly what fans come for, and he delivers with confidence. From impalements on Christmas decorations to clever uses of everyday tools, the violence never feels repetitive. The kills are staged with flair and a sense of wicked fun that recalls the golden age of ’80s slashers. The pacing is tight, too; there’s rarely a dull moment, and Nelson keeps the story moving briskly from one set piece to the next. It’s a blood-soaked good time that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Still, the film isn’t without flaws. Outside of Billy, the supporting characters are thinly written and mostly forgettable. When the carnage begins, there’s little emotional investment in who lives or dies. The presentation is sleek and the direction confident, but narratively, the film doesn’t offer many surprises. If you’ve seen your fair share of slashers or even the 1984 original, you’ll likely predict where this one’s headed. The tension is more visual than emotional; the film entertains, but rarely unsettles.

Still, Silent Night, Deadly Night succeeds in being what so many remakes fail to be: fun. It respects the original’s spirit without being enslaved to it, and it updates the concept in a way that feels relevant rather than cynical. It may not reinvent the Christmas horror wheel, but it spins it with energy, craft, and just enough blood-soaked cheer to keep you watching.

Silent Night, Deadly Night had its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025. The film will debut in theaters on December 12, 2025, courtesy of Cineverse.

Director: Mike P. Nelson

Writer: Mike P. Nelson

Rated: NR