Black magic and metoo theme in college horror Black Christmas

Black Christmas was a great inspiration for John Carpenter's Halloween (All Saints Bloody Night) which came out in 1978 and later led to hundreds of copies. Although Halloween had a major impact and cultural influence, Black Christmas is considered one of the very first slasher films. A horror genre that often focuses on female murder and has traditionally been made by men for men, not infrequently with a conservative sexual morality where the promiscuous girls were murdered first.

Black Christmas, on the other hand, was not as speculative, and raised several topics, such as abortion, which many other films at the time did not dare discuss. After a forgotten 2006 remake, another new version of the horror classic is now available. This time directed by Sophia Kapal, who wrote the script with April Wolfe. Sophia Kapal says that she was a big fan of the original movie.

- I love how three-dimensional the female characters were and how interesting, funny and creative the film was, while dealing with real themes about what it was like to be a woman in 1974. Since then, slasher films have not been very empowering for women so it was exciting for me to have the opportunity to go back to a movie I really loved and make a version for 2019, says Kapal.

Instead of a lone crazy stalker, Kapal has updated the horror of the new Black Christmas with a male student union that uses black magic and human sacrifice to destroy the Christmas peace of a female association on campus. The men's so-called "fraternity" has long ancestors and connections to the university, and it undermines a culture of silence around rape that hit the film's protagonist Riley, played by Imogen Pots, known for example from the thriller Green Room.

- Riley frustrated me a lot because she is very passive at first, says Imogen Pots.

- That is before you understand what has happened to her, and as the action moves forward we understand what Riley is fighting for and literally find her voice. It was very satisfying to play this role because of her catharsis in the end.

Was the theme of female strength an important motivation for you to take on the role?

- Yes and getting to work with Sophia, a female horror director is quite unusual to find. And I was really excited to tell a story from the outside that looks like a horror movie at Christmas time about a student union, but which, like a Trojan horse, carries a potent social message.

Despite its adult themes, the new Black Christmas is from the age of 11 and surprisingly contains some blood. According to director Sophia Kapal, this was a way to reach a younger female audience.

Given the serious subject, why not invest in a film with a 15-year limit where you could take out the turns?

- For me it was important to make a movie where the women were not consumables or where the violence felt pointless. Therefore, a lower age limit was appropriate as I did not need to downplay the references to sexuality or rape. I didn't want to make a movie where a woman runs around naked and gets stabbed in the tits. I also think it is important for young women to watch a movie that reflects their experience, or what they will experience, so that they can learn not to be ashamed and empowered by other women.

In addition to the misogynous student union, the men in the film are represented by Landon, a shy, nerdy guy who is interested in Riley but gets brainwashed by black magic, and Nate, one of the girls' boyfriend. At one point, Nate says "not all men". Shortly thereafter, he realizes that a killer is loose and assumes the role of a white knight to protect his girlfriend, which ends badly.

- I think there are several male characters in this movie who are good guys and who want to be there for women. The film explores how men can navigate it and how they can be there to support women's rights, Takal says.