Stream the Festive Horror Masterpiece ‘Silent Night, Bloody Night’ on Tubi

Originally released in 1972 and now existing within the public domain, Silent Night, Bloody Night (not to be confused with the holiday-themed slasher Silent Night, Deadly Night, which spurred a fair amount of controversy in the 1980s) is one of the more unique horror films tied to the genre. Taking place close to Christmastime in an isolated New England town, Silent Night, Bloody Night, also known as Deathhouse and Night of the Dark Full Moon, uses both its setting and location to instill dread and atmosphere and incorporates a house as much more than just a setting, but a sentient being that has a significant role within the narrative itself.

Produced by Cannon Films and featuring a cast that includes prominent names such as Patrick O’Neil, John Carradine, and even long-time Andy Warhol collaborator Candy Darling, Silent Night, Bloody Night is one of many films that thrived on the American drive-in circuit. While having a dismal 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film deserves much more praise and is itself a masterclass in taking a simple premise and location and building upon it in such a way as to provide a journey into both small-town America and the buried secrets of a family. Now streaming on Tubi, audiences have a chance to become enraptured by a unique offering of 1970s horror.

Buried Secrets of a Mysterious Home

From The Haunting of Hill House, To Kill a Mockingbird, and even The People Under the Stairs, a rich palette of houses exists in literature and film. These locations are usually the source of great curiosity and morbid fascination that manifests in characters and audiences alike. What makes these homes unique is what we don’t know about them as it pertains to the secrets that exist behind closed doors.

Silent Night, Bloody Night, concerns the home of a deceased patriarch, Wilfred Butler. Many years have passed since his death, and his grandson, Jeffrey (James Patterson), has opted to sell the home through his attorney, John Carter (Patrick O’Neil). Upon arriving in town, Carter is confronted by an enigmatic group of individuals who oversee the matters in the small town, including Towman (John Carradine), who communicates by ringing a bell and writing notes.

The film’s first act establishes the location that will be a source of intrigue and mystery and the mysterious force of malevolence that will stalk and inevitably hunt down individuals and bump them off by way of an ax. Finding her way into the mystery as it unfolds is Diane Adams (Mary Woronov), who, if we were to judge Silent Night, Bloody Night by modern standards, would be the film’s final girl.

However, unlike slasher titles that would rise to prominence in the following decade, the deaths that come from the mysterious ax-murderer take a back seat to the mystery in the film that gradually unfolds. Silent Night, Bloody Night gives its audience a look behind the closed doors of the mansion, where some of its deaths take place as the buried secrets of the enigmatic Butler family become unearthed.

Behind Closed Doors and an Unrelenting Atmosphere

The secrets of the Butler family go beyond what any member of the audience could have possibly expected during a first-time watch. This certainly speaks to the level of ambition behind the script written by Jeffery Kovitz, who would also be responsible for writing the screenplay of The Sentinel, based on his book of the same name. The mystery behind the Butler family and their estate can certainly be seen as a reflection of the inner workings and corruption of the upper class and the state hospital system that was prominent in New England for many years. Had it not been for the unique method of presentation and tone in Silent Night, Bloody Night might not have been as memorable as it was.

The secrets unveiled to the audience in Silent Night, Bloody Night, which consists of an asylum, and the tumultuous activity between the members of the Butler themselves are jarring to the imagination, as they’re told through the reading of a diary. The flashback sequence, in which the audience is given a visual accompaniment to these heinous acts, is presented in a sepia tone and features a cameo from Andy Warhol collaborator Candy Darling. The otherworldly presentation of the events is almost hypnotic as it bears all the hallmarks of a bad dream, one we don’t have the ability to wake up from.

With the mystery of the Butler family and their estate being revealed to the audience simultaneously, the house becomes more than just a setting but a character in the narrative, finally giving up its secrets as the whole truth is exposed to the audience. Throughout the entire duration of Silent Night, Bloody Night, dread permeates the atmosphere of every sequence, and when everything culminates in the final reveal, this feeling is as strong as ever.

A Masterpiece of a Bygone Era

The 1970s was certainly a remarkable decade for horror, with possession, haunted houses, sharks, and maniacs all finding new and creative ways to tap into our imaginations and unnerve us. Silent Night, Bloody Night, might not be the most well-known entry from this unique period, but its emphasis on atmosphere, tone, dread, and the mystery these facets wrap up with make it unique and capture our imaginations. Silent Night, Bloody Night is now streaming on Tubi.