Krampus may be preparing to visit your homes, but Santa Reaper is also here to give out presents to those Grimmlins who love and celebrate horror!
Paul Downey and David Hastings released their definitive book IT’S ME BILLY: BLACK CHRISTMAS REVISITED in 2022 and now, with the 50th anniversary of Bob Clark’s festive classic coming up next year, you could win a copy!
Featuring interviews with both cast and crew of the ground-breaking original film, as well as delving into the making of the film and an exploration of its themes and characters, the book brings you the ultimate behind the scenes account of both the 1974 classic, as well as the remakes and spin offs that have all continued the legacy of the infamous “Billy.”
IT’S ME BILLY is the ultimate resource for fans of Bob Clark’s influential horror film & its extraordinary legacy.
I chatted with Paul and David about the book and their memories of the film…
Do you remember the first time you saw BLACK CHRISTMAS?
DH – I remember it was on Channel 4 late over Christmas many many centuries ago (seems longer!), and it was actually its UK terrestrial premiere if I remember right. It was fantastic and completely chilling. I remember that the now defunct Tartan DVD label released it afterwards and it was loaded with special features which I consumed immediately. This film just has an unnatural ability to grip you, keep you intrigued and questioning throughout while giving it a fantastic third act payoff. It’s unsettling, cold, festive but invoking the dark side of the Christmas holidays, something I don’t think has been fully realised since.
PD – Ironically, we saw the same screening on Channel 4, it must have been fate. I can recall coming into the film when the first phone call happened and being absolutely chilled to the bone and from there I was gripped. It took a few years to track down on DVD but once I got it, it became a Christmas tradition.
What made you guys want to write a book like this and what was the writing process like?
PD – Initially I had secured an interview with Lynn Griffin, and then started to accumulate others that would go on my website and then the lightbulb moment happened when I saw this had potential to be something bigger. I really enjoyed the research side of things, as I had trained as a journalist years before so finding things out about this iconic film was a spark which endured during the entire process.
My personal highlight was our co-interview with Nick Mancuso Jr. where he did the voice of Billy, which sent a chill down my spine.
DH – Paul was doing some research and had already done some interviews and I believe he was going to run them as a piece for his Bloody-Flicks site, but the more material he got the more he saw it could be a potential book. Being a massive fan, and also because me and Paul are friends always nerding out on horror stuff and catching up, I cheekily asked if I could help, and he said yes, and the rest is history.
What do you hope people get from this book?
PD – If more people discover BLACK CHRISTMAS then our work is done.
DH – I really hope that if you’ve seen the film, this is like an extended peek behind the scenes, to help appreciate how the film was made technically as well as learn how the filmmakers approached the subject and themes that are still reasoning with us all today, 50 years later. I hope readers see we just wanted to celebrate Clark and his wonderful cast and crew and what they ultimately created.
Why do you think the film is still held to such a high standard all these years later?
PD – Like HALLOWEEN (1978), BLACK CHRISTMAS is an exercise in tension. It is beautifully shot, the music is haunting, it’s scary and weirdly funny at times. The fact we never know who Billy is, never get a clear look at Billy or find out why he’s terrorising these girls will be asked about as long as there’s cinema.
DH – It’s stylistic, Clark worked very hard to make sure his film and the world he was exploring got under your skin and he certainly succeeded! You feel the cold within the film, the emptiness of the house when people are out, the futile nature of the search for the missing child, and the loss of hopes and dreams of the characters like Barb who are left behind at this most wonderful time of the year by a mother. There are so many layers and it’s still relevant and I think because of that, old fans and newcomers find and hold it in high regard.
What’s your favourite moment from the film?
PD – The end chase scene with Jess being pursued by a frantic Billy is truly scary. He is relentless which makes the scene all the scarier. It feels like Clark was building up to this moment and it really pays off.
DH – I have loads, but Billy’s eye through the door is infamous and iconic, but Clark is so good at balancing horror and comedy, so Mrs Mac is wonderful in her scenes while Sgt. Nash and his unfortunate wording is hilarious, especially with John Saxon’s reactions too.
Aside from BLACK CHRISTMAS, what’s your favourite Christmas horror film and why?
PD – I have to be biased and say JAWS: THE REVENGE, as I wrote a book on that one too. If I had two choices I would say SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT, as it is really sleazy and revels in its B-movie status.
DH – I do love some GREMLINS and such, but I love more the Ghost Stories for Christmas that the BBC used to make in the 70s for Christmas Eve, and now they have brought them back. So not films I admit, but they are simply fantastic and haunting to this day still.
Thank you so so much to Paul and David for talking to me, and Paul himself has set the giveaway question where you could win a copy of the book!
Name the 1990 film from another famous horror franchise starring Black Christmas star Olivia Hussey.
Send your answers to sean@grimmfest.com with the subject IT’S ME BILLY – competition closes 6pm on 24th December and the randomly chosen winner will be revealed on 28th December!
UK entries only.
Best of luck!
EDIT 28/12 – Thank you so, so much for all the entries; this was our most popular competition by far!
The answer was PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING (directed by Friend of Grimm Mick Garris!) and the winner has now been notified, Merry Christmas to all of you.