In addition to being a prototypical slasher film, this is the first seasonal slasher movie, or a horror movie that takes place on a holiday, and of course right on its heels would come things like Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN in 1978 and FRIDAY THE 13TH in 1980; plus things like PROM NIGHT, MOTHER’S DAY, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, and SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, which is of course another Christmas horror movie.

I'm totally ashamed to admit this — I didn't see it until maybe 10 or 12 years ago. And it immediately became one of my absolute hands-down go-to favorites. I've seen it at this point more times than I can count. I think I love it more every single time I see it.