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** Phyllis has an afro, Peter has a long [[Music/TheBeatles Beatles-inspired]] hairdo, Chris and Lt Fuller have noticeable sideburns and there's a blonde sorority sister with her ends feathered.
** Even in the brief glimpse we get of Billy, we can see a mop of curly 70s hair.
** Even in the brief glimpse we get of Billy, we can see a mop of curly 70s hair.
to:
** Phyllis Phyl has an afro, Peter has a long [[Music/TheBeatles Beatles-inspired]] hairdo, Chris and Lt Lt. Fuller have noticeable sideburns sideburns, and there's a blonde sorority sister with her ends feathered.
** Even in the brief glimpse we get of Billy, we can see a mop of curly70s '70s hair.
** Even in the brief glimpse we get of Billy, we can see a mop of curly
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Directed by Creator/BobClark, who's probably better known these days for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie]]. The cast includes Creator/MargotKidder as Barb the bad girl, Creator/OliviaHussey as Jess the nice girl, Creator/AndreaMartin as Phyllis the nerdy girl, Creator/KeirDullea as Jess's long-haired boyfriend Peter, and Creator/JohnSaxon as police lieutenant Fuller.
to:
Directed by Creator/BobClark, who's probably better known these days for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie]]. The cast includes Creator/MargotKidder as Barb the bad girl, Creator/OliviaHussey as Jess the nice girl, Creator/AndreaMartin as Phyllis Phyl the nerdy girl, Creator/KeirDullea as Jess's long-haired boyfriend Peter, and Creator/JohnSaxon as police lieutenant Fuller.
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* AmbiguouslyBi: Barb mentions having been with men but can be seen reading a Playboy magazine. According to WordOfGay, she was indeed intended to be bisexual.
* AmbiguouslyJewish: Phyllis has a very Semitic appearance with a 'Jewfro', though her last name Carlson is Swedish in origin. Her actress Andrea Martin has often been mistaken for Jewish, though she's Armenian.
* AmbiguouslyJewish: Phyllis has a very Semitic appearance with a 'Jewfro', though her last name Carlson is Swedish in origin. Her actress Andrea Martin has often been mistaken for Jewish, though she's Armenian.
to:
* AmbiguouslyBi: Barb mentions having been with men but can be seen reading a Playboy ''Magazine/{{Playboy}}'' magazine. According to WordOfGay, she was indeed intended to be bisexual.
* AmbiguouslyJewish:Phyllis Phyl has a very Semitic appearance with a 'Jewfro', though her last name Carlson is Swedish in origin. Her actress Andrea Martin (Her actress, Creator/AndreaMartin, has often been mistaken for Jewish, though she's Armenian.)
* AmbiguouslyJewish:
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* BrosBeforeHoes: Female version. It's mentioned that Phyllis was originally going to spend Christmas with her boyfriend, but has changed her plans to go skiing with Barb and Jess to make Barb feel better about her mother abandoning her over the holidays.
to:
* BrosBeforeHoes: Female version. It's mentioned that Phyllis Phyl was originally going to spend Christmas with her boyfriend, but has changed her plans to go skiing with Barb and Jess to make Barb feel better about her mother abandoning her over the holidays.
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** Phyllis's boyfriend Patrick swears at every available opportunity.
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** Phyllis's Phyl's boyfriend Patrick swears at every available opportunity.
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** [[spoiler: Phyllis]] is killed after spotting someone enter Barb's room.
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** [[spoiler: Phyllis]] Phyl]] is killed after spotting someone enter entering Barb's room.
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* FourGirlEnsemble: Phyllis is the wise, caring TeamMom. Barb is the tomboyish, abrasive one. Jess is the glamorous one. Clare is the naive youngest of the lot.
to:
* FourGirlEnsemble: Phyllis Phyl is the wise, caring TeamMom. Barb is the tomboyish, abrasive one. Jess is the glamorous one. Clare is the naive youngest of the lot.
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* TheHeart: Phyllis. The other girls aren't too concerned about Clare's father, as they just assume she's fine, but Phyllis bursts into tears, realizing she's dead and feeling horribly for her father. She also tries the hardest to help find Clare and is always willing to be at another girl's side to lend support.
to:
* TheHeart: Phyllis. Phyl. The other girls aren't too concerned about Clare's father, as they just assume she's fine, but Phyllis Phyl bursts into tears, realizing she's dead and feeling horribly for her father. She also tries the hardest to help find Clare and is always willing to be at another girl's side to lend support.
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* HonorBeforeReason: After Jess learns that the villain is inside the house, she could make an easy exit to safety, but instead frantically refuses to leave Phyllis and Barb behind and [[TooDumbToLive goes upstairs to find them]].
to:
* HonorBeforeReason: After Jess learns that the villain is inside the house, she could make an easy exit to safety, but instead frantically refuses to leave Phyllis Phyl and Barb behind and [[TooDumbToLive goes upstairs to find them]].
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* IronicNurseryTune: Billy sings ''Daddy's Gone A-Huntin'' to Clare's corpse.
to:
* IronicNurseryTune: Billy sings ''Daddy's Gone A-Huntin'' A-Hunting'' to Clare's corpse.
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* LampshadedDoubleEntendre: When Lt Fuller uncovers Barb's 'fellatio' prank on Sgt Nash, the latter obliviously says that one of the girls gave it to him. Lt Fuller smirks and replies "she gave it to you, huh?" - even though he knows it was a prank.
to:
* LampshadedDoubleEntendre: When Lt Lt. Fuller uncovers Barb's 'fellatio' prank on Sgt Sgt. Nash, the latter obliviously says that one of the girls gave it to him. Lt Fuller smirks and replies "she "She gave it to you, huh?" - -- even though he knows it was a prank.
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* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Billy's backstory and identity are never confirmed - the film having been inspired by an urban legend - and it's a mystery how he's able to sneak around so much and avoid detection. He could simply be a normal psycho who's very good at hiding, or he could be a supernatural figure. Bob Clark came up with a backstory for him that leaned towards the former (and the 2006 remake ended up using it), but he left it open for people to interpret as they would.
to:
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Billy's backstory and identity are never confirmed - -- the film having been inspired by an urban legend - -- and it's a mystery how he's able to sneak around so much and avoid detection. He could simply be a normal psycho who's very good at hiding, or he could be a supernatural figure. Bob Clark came up with a backstory for him that leaned towards the former (and the 2006 remake ended up using it), but he left it open for people to interpret as they would.
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** The other way round later on. After confirmation that poor Janice, the missing thirteen-year-old, is dead - the cops discover Barb's 'fellatio' prank on Sgt Nash and collapse laughing in the station.
to:
** The other way round later on. After confirmation that poor Janice, the missing thirteen-year-old, is dead - -- the cops discover Barb's 'fellatio' prank on Sgt Sgt. Nash and collapse laughing in the station.
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** Lt Fuller shows that he's got a sense of humor when he can't help but laugh at Nash's incompetence. And again later when one of the cops comes to the station having been ShotInTheAss.
to:
** Lt Lt. Fuller shows that he's got a sense of humor when he can't help but laugh at Nash's incompetence. And again later when one of the cops comes to the station having been ShotInTheAss.
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* TeamMom: Mrs. Mac, who is literally the house mother. Also, Phyllis, to a lesser extent.
* TemptingFate: After Phyllis is scared by a member of the search team looking for the killer of the child in the park, she jokes "I'd rather face the killer!". [[spoiler:Billy ends up killing her only minutes later.]]
* TemptingFate: After Phyllis is scared by a member of the search team looking for the killer of the child in the park, she jokes "I'd rather face the killer!". [[spoiler:Billy ends up killing her only minutes later.]]
to:
* TeamMom: Mrs. Mac, who is literally the house mother. Also, Phyllis, Also Phyl, to a lesser extent.
* TemptingFate: AfterPhyllis is scared the girls are spooked by a member knock at the door, and answering it are greeted by two members of the search team looking for the killer of the child in the park, she Phyl jokes "I'd rather face the killer!". [[spoiler:Billy ends up killing her only minutes later.]]
* TemptingFate: After
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* SecretSquatter: Billy has been hiding in the sorority house for an unknown period of time (implied to be a few weeks, since the women said the calls started then), making obscene calls and then escalating to murdering them (and hiding some of his victims' bodies in the attic).
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Changed line(s) 27 (click to see context) from:
* AdultFear: Clare's father and the mother of the little girl who goes missing fearing (correctly) that their children have been murdered is also a potent source of fear for any parent. In fact, in the final scene (when Clare still isn't accounted for), Mr Harrison goes into shock and just faints.
to:
* AdultFear: AdultFear:
** Clare's father and the mother of the little girl who goes missing fearing (correctly) that their children have been murdered is also a potent source of fear for any parent. In fact, in the final scene (when Clare still isn't accounted for), Mr Harrison goes into shock and just faints.
** Jess's arc plays on the fear of 'my boyfriend is getting extremely controlling and I'm beginning to fear for my safety whenever he's around' with how Peter takes the news of her planned abortion.
** Clare's father and the mother of the little girl who goes missing fearing (correctly) that their children have been murdered is also a potent source of fear for any parent. In fact, in the final scene (when Clare still isn't accounted for), Mr Harrison goes into shock and just faints.
** Jess's arc plays on the fear of 'my boyfriend is getting extremely controlling and I'm beginning to fear for my safety whenever he's around' with how Peter takes the news of her planned abortion.
* BrosBeforeHoes: Female version. It's mentioned that Phyllis was originally going to spend Christmas with her boyfriend, but has changed her plans to go skiing with Barb and Jess to make Barb feel better about her mother abandoning her over the holidays.
Changed line(s) 110 (click to see context) from:
* {{Irony}}: Jess realises they've left all the doors and windows unlocked, and locks them all. This means that when Billy attacks, she has nowhere to run to. [[spoiler: And Peter, presumably hearing her screams from outside, is unable to get in the front door - having to break in through the cellar window, unaware that he's a prime suspect]].
to:
* {{Irony}}: {{Irony}}:
** Minor example. Mr Harrison is displeased at the environment at the sorority house, sniffing that he didn't send her here "to be drinking and picking up boys". Clare just has one boyfriend and is the TokenWholesome of the girls, with Phyllis later telling Lt Fuller she barely even drinks (despite there being a glass left in her room).
** Jess realises they've left all the doors and windows unlocked, and locks them all. This means that when Billy attacks, she has nowhere to run to. [[spoiler: And Peter, presumably hearing her screams from outside, is unable to get in the front door - having to break in through the cellar window, unaware that he's a prime suspect]].
** Minor example. Mr Harrison is displeased at the environment at the sorority house, sniffing that he didn't send her here "to be drinking and picking up boys". Clare just has one boyfriend and is the TokenWholesome of the girls, with Phyllis later telling Lt Fuller she barely even drinks (despite there being a glass left in her room).
** Jess realises they've left all the doors and windows unlocked, and locks them all. This means that when Billy attacks, she has nowhere to run to. [[spoiler: And Peter, presumably hearing her screams from outside, is unable to get in the front door - having to break in through the cellar window, unaware that he's a prime suspect]].
* JerkassHasAPoint: One time Peter somewhat has a point is that Jess chooses a particularly bad time to tell him she's pregnant and planning to abort it - right before a recital he's been practicing insanely hard for and has gotten barely any sleep. It's no surprise that he botches the performance.
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* MisplacedAccent: It's not entirely clear why Jess, an American college student, would have actress Creator/OliviaHussey's English accent. The accent itself is never commented upon in the film proper, and as such it isn't entirely clear whether her character is intended to be an English expatriate, or if the actress simply [[NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent isn't bothering with an accent.]]
to:
* MisplacedAccent: It's not entirely clear why Jess, an American college student, would have actress Creator/OliviaHussey's English accent. The accent itself is never commented upon in the film proper, and as such it isn't entirely clear whether her character is intended to be an English expatriate, or if the actress simply [[NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent isn't bothering with an accent.]]]] A throwaway line says that it will take her parents two hours to get to the sorority house, implying she's living in America anyway.
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** [[spoiler: Clare's murder]] is juxtaposed with the sorority girls getting Mrs Mac a tacky nightgown as a present and begging her to put it on.
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* NeverFoundTheBody: [[spoiler: By the end, the police haven't searched the attic of the sorority house, where Clare and Mrs Mac's bodies are. They don't even know about Mrs Mac's death either - since she told Phyllis she was going to her sister's and won't realise she's missing for likely several days]].
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* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Claude the cat seals [[spoiler: Mrs Mac's]] fate when she hears him purring up in the attic, and goes to check on him. She was literally about to leave in a taxi and would have been safe from Billy otherwise.
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* DramaticIrony: The audience knows from the start that Billy is inside the house, while the girls are oblivious.
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* DramaticIrony: DramaticIrony:
** The audience knows from the start that Billy is inside the house, while the girls areoblivious.oblivious.
** Even once Jess suspects the truth, she runs upstairs out of desperation to save Phyllis and Barb. The audience knows that both are already dead.
** The audience knows from the start that Billy is inside the house, while the girls are
** Even once Jess suspects the truth, she runs upstairs out of desperation to save Phyllis and Barb. The audience knows that both are already dead.
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* AbortionFalloutDrama: A rare example where the abortion hasn't happened yet, and it's technically still left ambiguous whether Jess gets an abortion or not. [[spoiler:Peter insists that abortion is murder and gets extremely upset about the prospect that Jess might have one, an emotional breakdown that slowly convinces Jess that Peter might be the killer and leads her to kill him.]]
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* GoodGirlsAvoidAbortion: Peter firmly believes this, insisting that Jess shouldn't get an abortion.
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* SerialKiller: Billy, since there's the minor implication he committed some rapes and murders before the ones featured in the film.
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* SerialKiller: Billy, since there's the minor implication he Billy is implied to have committed some rapes and other murders before and rapes prior to the ones featured in the film.film. The character was at least partly inspired by real-life Canadian serial killer and rapist Wayne Boden.
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* WeAllLiveInAmerica: The film makes sure to remind you that it's set in America by plastering U.S. flags all over the police station.
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* WeAllLiveInAmerica: The This Canadian-produced film makes sure to remind you that it's set in America by plastering U.S. flags all over the police station.
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A 1974 horror film, and one of the {{Trope Maker}}s for the SlasherMovie genre.
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A 1974 horror film, and one of the {{Trope Maker}}s for the SlasherMovie genre.
genre. It is [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory loosely based on]] a series of real-life killings, and also borrows elements from the {{urban legend}} "the babysitter and the man upstairs".
Changed line(s) 125 (click to see context) from:
* NoNameGiven: The cop who laughs at the fellatio prank, and the other cop getting shot in the ass is just credited as 'Laughing Cop' - though Lt Fuller calls him Buchanan in the latter scene.
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* NoNameGiven: The cop who laughs at the fellatio prank, prank and the other cop getting shot in the ass is just credited as 'Laughing Cop' "Laughing Cop" - though Lt Lt. Fuller calls him Buchanan in the latter scene.
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** Jess too has a handful of scenes where she laughs with her friends - such as at the beginning when giving Mrs Mac the present.
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** Jess too has a handful of scenes where she laughs with her friends - friends, such as at the beginning when giving Mrs Mrs. Mac the present.
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* RefugeInAudacity: Barb trolls the incompetent Sgt Nash by telling him that the number to the sorority house is 'fellatio' and it's a new exchange.
* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The film was released just a year after Roe v. Wade made abortion fully legal, putting the subject in the forefront of a lot of people's minds.
* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The film was released just a year after Roe v. Wade made abortion fully legal, putting the subject in the forefront of a lot of people's minds.
to:
* RefugeInAudacity: Barb trolls the incompetent Sgt Sgt. Nash by telling him that the number to the sorority house is 'fellatio' and it's a new exchange.
* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The film was released just a year afterRoe ''Roe v. Wade Wade'' made abortion fully legal, legal in the U.S., putting the subject in the forefront of a lot of people's minds.
* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The film was released just a year after
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* WeAllLiveInAmerica: The film makes sure to remind you that its set in America by plastering American flags all over the police station.
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* WeAllLiveInAmerica: The film makes sure to remind you that its it's set in America by plastering American U.S. flags all over the police station.
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Changed line(s) 14,15 (click to see context) from:
The story involves a group of sorority girls who are staying over for Christmas break. Each is dealing with her own problems, and things are about to get much worse, as unbeknownst to them a [[AxCrazy psychotic killer]] moves into their sorority house attic and soon begins taunting the girls with [[EvilPhone terrifying phone calls]] before bumping them off one by one...
to:
The story involves a group of sorority girls who are staying over for Christmas break. Each is dealing with her own problems, and things are about to get much worse, as unbeknownst to any of them a [[AxCrazy psychotic killer]] moves into their sorority house attic and soon begins taunting the girls with [[EvilPhone terrifying phone calls]] before bumping them off one by one...
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[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/black_christmas_1974_poster.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:315:[[IronicNurseryTune He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake...]][[note]] Alternatively: [[Creator/JeffDunham He kills you when you're sleeping, he chokes you when you wake...]][[/note]]]]
[[caption-width-right:315:[[IronicNurseryTune He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake...]][[note]] Alternatively: [[Creator/JeffDunham He kills you when you're sleeping, he chokes you when you wake...]][[/note]]]]
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A 1974 horror film, remade twice ([[Film/BlackChristmas2006 in 2006]] and [[Film/BlackChristmas2019 2019]]), and one of the {{Trope Maker}}s for the [[SlasherMovie slasher genre]].
to:
A 1974 horror film, remade twice ([[Film/BlackChristmas2006 in 2006]] and [[Film/BlackChristmas2019 2019]]), and one of the {{Trope Maker}}s for the [[SlasherMovie slasher genre]].
SlasherMovie genre.
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The 1974 movie was directed by Creator/BobClark, who is better known for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie]]. It stars Creator/MargotKidder as Barb the bad girl, Creator/OliviaHussey as Jess the nice girl, Creator/KeirDullea as Jess's long-haired boyfriend Peter, Creator/AndreaMartin as Phyllis the nerdy girl, and Creator/JohnSaxon as police lieutenant Fuller.
Not to be confused with ''Film/SilentNightDeadlyNight''; another Christmas-themed slasher flick. (The fact that Creator/WarnerBros released this one under the title ''Silent Night, Evil Night'' in some markets doesn't help.)
Not to be confused with ''Film/SilentNightDeadlyNight''; another Christmas-themed slasher flick. (The fact that Creator/WarnerBros released this one under the title ''Silent Night, Evil Night'' in some markets doesn't help.)
to:
Remade twice, in [[Film/BlackChristmas2006 2006]] and [[Film/BlackChristmas2019 2019]]. Not to be confused with ''Film/SilentNightDeadlyNight''; another Christmas-themed slasher flick. (The fact that Creator/WarnerBros released this one under the title ''Silent Night, Evil Night'' in some markets doesn't help.)
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Changed line(s) 16,17 (click to see context) from:
The 1974 movie was directed by Creator/BobClark, who is better known for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie]]. It stars Creator/MargotKidder as bad girl Barb, Creator/OliviaHussey as nice girl Jess, Creator/KeirDullea as Jess's long-haired boyfriend Peter, and Creator/JohnSaxon as police lieutenant Fuller.
to:
The 1974 movie was directed by Creator/BobClark, who is better known for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie]]. It stars Creator/MargotKidder as Barb the bad girl Barb, girl, Creator/OliviaHussey as Jess the nice girl Jess, girl, Creator/KeirDullea as Jess's long-haired boyfriend Peter, Creator/AndreaMartin as Phyllis the nerdy girl, and Creator/JohnSaxon as police lieutenant Fuller.
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* TemptingFate: After Phil is scared by a member of the search team looking for the killer of the child in the park, she jokes "I'd rather face the killer!". [[spoiler:Billy ends up killing her only minutes later.]]
to:
* TemptingFate: After Phil Phyllis is scared by a member of the search team looking for the killer of the child in the park, she jokes "I'd rather face the killer!". [[spoiler:Billy ends up killing her only minutes later.]]
Changed line(s) 166 (click to see context) from:
* TomboyishName: Phyllis is nicknamed Phil by all the other girls, though she's not much of a tomboy in nature.
to:
* TomboyishName: Phyllis is nicknamed Phil "Phyl" by all the other girls, though she's not much of a tomboy in nature.
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Changed line(s) 14,15 (click to see context) from:
The story is about a group of sorority girls who are staying over for Christmas break. Each one is dealing with her own problems, and things are about to get much worse, as unbeknownst to them a [[AxCrazy psychotic bastard]] has moved into the sorority house attic... and soon begins his reign of terror, taunting the girls with [[EvilPhone disturbing phone calls]] before killing them one by one...
to:
The story is about involves a group of sorority girls who are staying over for Christmas break. Each one is dealing with her own problems, and things are about to get much worse, as unbeknownst to them a [[AxCrazy psychotic bastard]] has moved killer]] moves into the their sorority house attic... attic and soon begins his reign of terror, taunting the girls with [[EvilPhone disturbing terrifying phone calls]] before killing bumping them off one by one...
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Changed line(s) 6,10 (click to see context) from:
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/black_christmas_1974_poster.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[IronicNurseryTune He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake...]][[note]] Alternatively: [[Creator/JeffDunham He kills you when you're sleeping, he chokes you when you wake...]][[/note]]]]
->''"If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl, it's on '''TOO TIGHT'''."''
[[caption-width-right:300:[[IronicNurseryTune He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake...]][[note]] Alternatively: [[Creator/JeffDunham He kills you when you're sleeping, he chokes you when you wake...]][[/note]]]]
->''"If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl, it's on '''TOO TIGHT'''."''
to:
->''"If this
-->--'''{{Tagline}}'''
Changed line(s) 13,16 (click to see context) from:
The story is about a group of sorority girls who are staying over for Christmas break. Each one has their problems, but they don't know it's about to get worse, as a [[AxCrazy psychotic bastard]] sets up home in the Sorority House attic... And starts his reign of terror, terrorizing the girls with [[EvilPhone disturbing phone calls]] before killing them...
The 1974 movie was directed by Creator/BobClark, who is better known for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie]]. It stars Creator/MargotKidder as Barb the bad girl, Creator/OliviaHussey as Jess the nice girl, and Creator/KeirDullea as Jess's long-haired boyfriend Peter.
The 1974 movie was directed by Creator/BobClark, who is better known for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie]]. It stars Creator/MargotKidder as Barb the bad girl, Creator/OliviaHussey as Jess the nice girl, and Creator/KeirDullea as Jess's long-haired boyfriend Peter.
to:
The story is about a group of sorority girls who are staying over for Christmas break. Each one has their is dealing with her own problems, but they don't know it's and things are about to get much worse, as unbeknownst to them a [[AxCrazy psychotic bastard]] sets up home in has moved into the Sorority House sorority house attic... And starts and soon begins his reign of terror, terrorizing taunting the girls with [[EvilPhone disturbing phone calls]] before killing them...
them one by one...
The 1974 movie was directed by Creator/BobClark, who is better known for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie]]. It stars Creator/MargotKidder asBarb the bad girl, girl Barb, Creator/OliviaHussey as Jess the nice girl, and girl Jess, Creator/KeirDullea as Jess's long-haired boyfriend Peter.
Peter, and Creator/JohnSaxon as police lieutenant Fuller.
The 1974 movie was directed by Creator/BobClark, who is better known for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie]]. It stars Creator/MargotKidder as
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* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The film was released just a year after Roe v. Wade made abortion fully legal, putting the subject in the forefront of a lot of people's minds.
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* TheCallsAreComingFromInsideTheHouse: The TropeCodifier. [[spoiler:After spending the third act trying to trace where Billy is calling from, much to Jess's horror, the calls are traced back to the very sorority house she's in.]] Of course the audience is aware from the start that Billy is already inside the house.
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* TheCallsAreComingFromInsideTheHouse: The TropeNamer and TropeCodifier. [[spoiler:After After spending the third act trying to trace where Billy is calling from, much to Jess's horror, the calls are traced back to the very sorority house she's in.]] in. Of course the audience is aware from the start that Billy is already inside the house.
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* BrickJoke: Barb trolls dimwitted Sgt. Nash by giving him "Fellatio" as the a new telephone exchange. Later the detectives are shown cackling with laughter after one of them looks at the number.
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* TheUnreveal: We never know who Billy is, why he's murdering people (other than it might be somehow related to the unknown "Agnes"), or even ''what he looks like''.
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* TheUnreveal: TheUnReveal: We never know who Billy is, why he's murdering people (other than it might be somehow related to the unknown "Agnes"), or even ''what he looks like''.
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The 1974 movie was directed by Creator/BobClark, who is better known for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie...]]
to:
The 1974 movie was directed by Creator/BobClark, who is better known for directing [[Film/AChristmasStory a very different Christmas-themed movie...]]
movie]]. It stars Creator/MargotKidder as Barb the bad girl, Creator/OliviaHussey as Jess the nice girl, and Creator/KeirDullea as Jess's long-haired boyfriend Peter.
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* TheUnReveal: We never know who Billy is, why he's murdering people (other than it might be somehow related to the unknown "Agnes"), or even ''what he looks like''.
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* TheUnReveal: TheUnreveal: We never know who Billy is, why he's murdering people (other than it might be somehow related to the unknown "Agnes"), or even ''what he looks like''.
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* FinalGirl: Of the major characters, only Jess is alive by the end of the film. She subverts some of the usual aspects by having an active sex life, and plans to abort a pregnancy. Clare - as the most modest and shyest of the girls would fit the trope more - but she's the first victim! [[spoiler: And there's a very real possibility that even Jess will be killed soon after the film credits are over...]]
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* FinalGirl: Of the major characters, sorority house people, only Jess is alive by the end of the film. She subverts some of the usual aspects by having an active sex life, and plans to abort a pregnancy. Clare - as the most modest and shyest of the girls would fit the trope more - but she's the first victim! [[spoiler: And there's a very real possibility that even Jess will be killed soon after the film credits are over...]]
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Changed line(s) 173 (click to see context) from:
* TheUnReveal: We never know who Billy is, why he's murdering people, or even ''what he looks like''.
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* TheUnReveal: We never know who Billy is, why he's murdering people, people (other than it might be somehow related to the unknown "Agnes"), or even ''what he looks like''.
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Changed line(s) 67 (click to see context) from:
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Jess mistakes Peter for the killer and kills ''him''; the actual killer is still in the house and now has a prime opportunity to kill the lowered-guard Jess]].
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* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Jess mistakes Peter for the killer and kills ''him''; the ''him''. The actual killer is still in the house and now has a prime opportunity to kill the lowered-guard Jess]].Jess, though it's deliberately left ambiguous whether it indeed happens. Not to mention that the two bodies of the first victims are still hidden in the attic and they're not even known to be missing yet.]]
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Changed line(s) 78 (click to see context) from:
* FinalGirl: Jess is the last of the sorority girls and confront Billy at the end. She subverts some of the usual aspects by having an active sex life, and plans to abort a pregnancy. Clare - as the most modest and shyest of the girls would fit the trope more - but she's the first victim!
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* FinalGirl: Of the major characters, only Jess is alive by the last end of the sorority girls and confront Billy at the end.film. She subverts some of the usual aspects by having an active sex life, and plans to abort a pregnancy. Clare - as the most modest and shyest of the girls would fit the trope more - but she's the first victim!victim! [[spoiler: And there's a very real possibility that even Jess will be killed soon after the film credits are over...]]
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Changed line(s) 9,10 (click to see context) from:
->''"If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl, it's on '''TOO TIGHT."'''''
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->''"If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl, it's on '''TOO TIGHT."'''''
TIGHT'''."''
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!!"If these tropes don't make your skin crawl, it's on '''TOO TIGHT."
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!!"If these tropes don't make your skin crawl, it's on '''TOO TOO TIGHT."
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Not to be confused with ''Film/SilentNightDeadlyNight''; another Christmas-themed slasher flick. (The fact that Warner Bros. released this one under the title ''Silent Night, Evil Night'' in some markets doesn't help.)
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Not to be confused with ''Film/SilentNightDeadlyNight''; another Christmas-themed slasher flick. (The fact that Warner Bros. Creator/WarnerBros released this one under the title ''Silent Night, Evil Night'' in some markets doesn't help.)
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!!This film has examples of the following tropes:
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** Phyllis has an afro, Peter has a long Beatles inspired hairdo, Chris and Lt Fuller have noticeable sideburns and there's a blonde sorority sister with her ends feathered.
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** Phyllis has an afro, Peter has a long Beatles inspired [[Music/TheBeatles Beatles-inspired]] hairdo, Chris and Lt Fuller have noticeable sideburns and there's a blonde sorority sister with her ends feathered.
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* BewareTheNiceOnes: Jess is a perfectly normal NiceGirl, but if she feels her life is in danger [[spoiler: and knows her friends have been killed]], she will defend herself with a fire poker. [[spoiler: Even if she wasn't in any danger]].
* DidntThinkThisThrough: Jess decides to tell Peter she's a) pregnant and b) going to get an abortion, right before an important audition that he's been losing sleep preparing for. Had she waited even a few more hours to break the news...
* ExtremelyShortTimespan: The film begins the night of a party in the sorority house, and finishes up the next night. The majority of the plot takes place over one evening.
* FirstNameBasis: Chris calls Lt Fuller by his first name Ken, implying they know each other.
* {{Irony}}: Jess realises they've left all the doors and windows unlocked, and locks them all. This means that when Billy attacks, she has nowhere to run to. [[spoiler: And Peter, presumably hearing her screams from outside, is unable to get in the front door - having to break in through the cellar window, unaware that he's a prime suspect]].
* KillTheCutie: [[spoiler: Clare is the youngest of the group, and more modest than the others. She's also got a sweetheart personality, and is the first one to die]].
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* NotSoStoic: Lt Fuller shows that he's got a sense of humor when he can't help but laugh at Nash's incompetence. And again later when one of the cops comes to the station having been ShotInTheAss.
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* NotSoStoic: NotSoStoic:
** Lt Fuller shows that he's got a sense of humor when he can't help but laugh at Nash's incompetence. And again later when one of the cops comes to the station having beenShotInTheAss.ShotInTheAss.
** Jess too has a handful of scenes where she laughs with her friends - such as at the beginning when giving Mrs Mac the present.
** Lt Fuller shows that he's got a sense of humor when he can't help but laugh at Nash's incompetence. And again later when one of the cops comes to the station having been
** Jess too has a handful of scenes where she laughs with her friends - such as at the beginning when giving Mrs Mac the present.
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* PhoneTraceRace: When the calls get creepier, they decide to trace them.
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* PhoneTraceRace: When the calls get creepier, they decide to trace them. This means that Jess has to stay on the line with Billy for as long as possible.
* ReactionShot: The camera gets a few of these from the uncomfortable group as they listened in on Billy's obscene phone call at the start of the movie.
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* ReactionShot: The camera gets a few of these from the uncomfortable group as they listened in on Billy's obscene phone call at the start of the movie.
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* ReactionShot: The camera gets a few of these from RedHerring:
** [[spoiler: Peter is assumed to be killing theuncomfortable group girls as they listened in on Billy's obscene phone call at revenge for Jess deciding to abort their baby. It turns out he's innocent]].
** [[spoiler: Chris]] was viewed as one by American distributors, who tried to get Bob Clark to reveal him as thestart of the movie.killer at first.
** [[spoiler: Peter is assumed to be killing the
** [[spoiler: Chris]] was viewed as one by American distributors, who tried to get Bob Clark to reveal him as the
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* TokenWholesome: Clare is the one girl in the sorority house who isn't sexually active or promiscuous, and is uncomfortable with Barb's attempts at provoking Billy.
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* TokenWholesome: Clare is the one girl in the sorority house who isn't sexually active or promiscuous, and is uncomfortable with Barb's attempts at provoking Billy. Lt Fuller asks if she's known for drinking, and Phyllis endearingly says "hardly at all".
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* VasquezAlwaysDies: Downplayed. [[spoiler: Barb establishes herself as outspoken and fearless by talking back to Billy over the phone. She dies halfway through the film, leaving the much meeker Jess to face him. Downplayed because the other sorority sisters die as well]].
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Changed line(s) 21 (click to see context) from:
* SeventiesHair: Phyllis has an afro, Peter has a long Beatles inspired hairdo, Chris and Lt Fuller have noticeable sideburns and there's a blonde sorority sister with her ends feathered.
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* SeventiesHair: SeventiesHair:
** Phyllis has an afro, Peter has a long Beatles inspired hairdo, Chris and Lt Fuller have noticeable sideburns and there's a blonde sorority sister with her endsfeathered.feathered.
** Even in the brief glimpse we get of Billy, we can see a mop of curly 70s hair.
** Phyllis has an afro, Peter has a long Beatles inspired hairdo, Chris and Lt Fuller have noticeable sideburns and there's a blonde sorority sister with her ends
** Even in the brief glimpse we get of Billy, we can see a mop of curly 70s hair.
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* CanadaEh: Filmed on location in Toronto, there are plenty of characteristics 'Ehs' and 'Aboots' to go around. Chris also plays hockey, for seemingly no other reason other than it's in Canada.
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* CanadaEh: Filmed on location in Toronto, there are plenty of characteristics 'Ehs' and 'Aboots' to go around. Chris also plays hockey, for seemingly no other reason other than it's in Canada. As noted below, the beer Barb is seen drinking and the use of snow mobiles later place this movie's setting to Canada.
* ChekhovsGun: There are a couple of scenes where Mrs Mac struggles to get in the front door, referencing how it jams easily. [[spoiler: The door jams when Jess tries to run from the killer, forcing her to go to the basement]].
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* CountryMatters: Billy's first onscreen call has him calling the sorority girls cunts.
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* CountryMatters: Billy's first onscreen call has him calling the sorority girls cunts. WordOfGod recalls modern viewers asking if they redid the audio track for that - in disbelief that such language was used in the 70s.
* DramaticIrony: The audience knows from the start that Billy is inside the house, while the girls are oblivious.
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* FreezeFrameBonus: In one scene where Jess is talking with a detective about one of the phone calls she just had, Billy's shadow can be seen in the background.
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* FreezeFrameBonus: FreezeFrameBonus:
** In one scene where Jess is talking with a detective about one of the phone calls she just had, Billy's shadow can be seen in thebackground. background.
** Mildly, you can see that Barb has stuck a Christmas wreath on her door and stuck empty wine bottles in it.
** In one scene where Jess is talking with a detective about one of the phone calls she just had, Billy's shadow can be seen in the
** Mildly, you can see that Barb has stuck a Christmas wreath on her door and stuck empty wine bottles in it.
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* NotSoStoic: Lt Fuller shows that he's got a sense of humor when he can't help but laugh at Nash's incompetence. And again later when one of the cops comes to the station having been ShotInTheAss.
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* EverytownAmerica: There are conspicuous American flags in the police station to make the film look like it takes place in a generic American town. This was standard practice for Canadian films at the time; in the hopes of having more success abroad. That being said, a lot of the accents, the use of snowmobiles in the search, Chris playing hockey, Barb drinking from a king can of 50 and the University of Toronto standing in for the college immediately make it recognisable as Canada to those who know the difference.
* LampshadedDoubleEntendre: When Lt Fuller uncovers Barb's 'fellatio' prank on Sgt Nash, the latter obliviously says that one of the girls gave it to him. Lt Fuller smirks and replies "she gave it to you, huh?" - even though he knows it was a prank.
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* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Billy's backstory and identity are never confirmed - the film having been inspired by an urban legend - and it's a mystery how he's able to sneak around so much and avoid detection. He could simply be a normal psycho who's very good at hiding, or he could be a supernatural figure.
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* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Billy's backstory and identity are never confirmed - the film having been inspired by an urban legend - and it's a mystery how he's able to sneak around so much and avoid detection. He could simply be a normal psycho who's very good at hiding, or he could be a supernatural figure. Bob Clark came up with a backstory for him that leaned towards the former (and the 2006 remake ended up using it), but he left it open for people to interpret as they would.
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* NoNameGiven: The cop who laughs at the fellatio prank, and the other cop getting shot in the ass is just credited as 'Laughing Cop' - though Lt Fuller calls him Buchanan in the latter scene.
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* ParentalAbandonment: In the opening, Barb gets a phone call from her mother - where she's informed that for Christmas she'll be taking off with a new boyfriend and leaving her daughter alone on Christmas.
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* RefugeInAudacity: Barb trolls the incompetent Sgt Nash by telling him that the number to the sorority house is 'fellatio' and it's a new exchange.
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* SeventiesHair: Phyllis has an afro, Peter has a long Beatles inspired hairdo, Chris and Lt Fuller have noticeable sideburns and there's a blonde sorority sister with her ends feathered.
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* AdultFear: Claire's father and the mother of the little girl who goes missing fearing (correctly) that their children have been murdered is also a potent source of fear for any parent. In fact, in the final scene (when Clare still isn't accounted for), Mr Harrison goes into shock and just faints.
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* AdultFear: Claire's Clare's father and the mother of the little girl who goes missing fearing (correctly) that their children have been murdered is also a potent source of fear for any parent. In fact, in the final scene (when Clare still isn't accounted for), Mr Harrison goes into shock and just faints.
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* BloodlessCarnage: The murders of [[spoiler: Mrs Mac and Barb]] have very little (if any) blood seen.
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* BloodlessCarnage: BloodlessCarnage:
** The murders of [[spoiler: Mrs Mac and Barb]] have very little (if any) blood seen.
** The murders of [[spoiler: Mrs Mac and Barb]] have very little (if any) blood seen.
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* TheHeart: Phyllis. The other girls aren't too concerned about Claire's father, as they just assume she's fine, but Phyllis bursts into tears, realizing she's dead and feeling horribly for her father. She also tries the hardest to help find Claire and is always willing to be at another girl's side to lend support.
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* TheHeart: Phyllis. The other girls aren't too concerned about Claire's Clare's father, as they just assume she's fine, but Phyllis bursts into tears, realizing she's dead and feeling horribly for her father. She also tries the hardest to help find Claire Clare and is always willing to be at another girl's side to lend support.
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* IronicNurseryTune: Billy sings ''Daddy's Gone A-Huntin'' to Claire's corpse.
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* IronicNurseryTune: Billy sings ''Daddy's Gone A-Huntin'' to Claire's Clare's corpse.
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* PartingWordsRegret: Barb has a drunken rant in which she accuses people of believing she drove Claire away with her harsh words - mocking her for being wary of Billy's harsh phones. The truth is that this is what she (Barb) thinks, but doesn't want to admit it to herself. In some ways she is right; Clare goes upstairs to pack because of this and is left alone to be the first kill.
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* PartingWordsRegret: Barb has a drunken rant in which she accuses people of believing she drove Claire Clare away with her harsh words - mocking her for being wary of Billy's harsh phones. The truth is that this is what she (Barb) thinks, but doesn't want to admit it to herself. In some ways she is right; Clare goes upstairs to pack because of this and is left alone to be the first kill.
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* PoliceAreUseless: [[spoiler:Double subverted.]] When Claire is first reported missing, Sargent Nash is largely dismissive of it and insinuates that she's run off with a boy. Likewise when Jess reports Billy's obscene phone calls he's equally as dismissive. When Nash's superior gets wind of this he chews him out for this and takes the reports completely seriously. He has the sorority's phone lines tapped in order to trace the calls and posts an officer outside the building for their protection. [[spoiler:Billy dispatches the officer posted outside without incident, and by the time the police realize that he's been in the house all along, it's too late for them to prevent Jess getting attacked or her killing Peter in a panic. At the film's end they neglect to check the house's attic, leaving the bodies of Mrs. Mac and Claire undiscovered and causing Billy to [[KarmaHoudini get away with the whole thing and possibly kill Jess]].]]
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* PoliceAreUseless: [[spoiler:Double subverted.]] When Claire Clare is first reported missing, Sargent Nash is largely dismissive of it and insinuates that she's run off with a boy. Likewise when Jess reports Billy's obscene phone calls he's equally as dismissive. When Nash's superior gets wind of this he chews him out for this and takes the reports completely seriously. He has the sorority's phone lines tapped in order to trace the calls and posts an officer outside the building for their protection. [[spoiler:Billy dispatches the officer posted outside without incident, and by the time the police realize that he's been in the house all along, it's too late for them to prevent Jess getting attacked or her killing Peter in a panic. At the film's end they neglect to check the house's attic, leaving the bodies of Mrs. Mac and Claire Clare undiscovered and causing Billy to [[KarmaHoudini get away with the whole thing and possibly kill Jess]].]]
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* ScareChord: The film employs a couple of these in shots featuring Claire's corpse.
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* ScareChord: The film employs a couple of these in shots featuring Claire's Clare's corpse.
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* SpoilerCover: The cover depicts Claire's corpse after having been killed by Billy. Of course, since she dies in the first ten minutes, it's not ''that'' much of a spoiler.
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* SpoilerCover: The cover depicts Claire's Clare's corpse after having been killed by Billy. Of course, since she dies in the first ten minutes, it's not ''that'' much of a spoiler.
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** For a truly spotless yet graphic murder though, we have [[spoiler: Clare's death: asphyxiation by plastic garment bag]].
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Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* AdultFear: Claire's father and the mother of the little girl who goes missing fearing (correctly) that their children have been murdered is also a potent source of fear for any parent.
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* AdultFear: Claire's father and the mother of the little girl who goes missing fearing (correctly) that their children have been murdered is also a potent source of fear for any parent. In fact, in the final scene (when Clare still isn't accounted for), Mr Harrison goes into shock and just faints.
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* AxCrazy: Billy has decided to start murdering the sorority girls for no reason at all, in addition to harrassing them over the phone with crude taunts. There's also a scene where he randomly trashes the attic.
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* AxCrazy: Billy has decided to start murdering the sorority girls for no reason at all, in addition to harrassing harassing them over the phone with crude taunts. There's also a scene where he randomly trashes the attic.
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* BloodlessCarnage: The murders of [[spoiler: Mrs Mack and Barb]] have very little (if any) blood seen.
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* BloodlessCarnage: The murders of [[spoiler: Mrs Mack Mac and Barb]] have very little (if any) blood seen.
* ByTheHair: Jess is grabbed by her hair at one point when running from the killer.
* CrappyHolidays: Even before the murders start happening, it's clear that the girls' Christmases aren't going to be jolly. Barb in particular is spending Christmas in the sorority house, thanks to implied problems at home.
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** Clare and Mrs. Mac die looking for Mrs. Mac's perpetually lost cat, Claude.
** Phyllis is killed after spotting someone enter Barb's room.
** Phyllis is killed after spotting someone enter Barb's room.
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** [[spoiler: Clare and Mrs. Mac Mac]] die looking for Mrs. Mac's perpetually lost cat, Claude.
**Phyllis [[spoiler: Phyllis]] is killed after spotting someone enter Barb's room.
**
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* {{Fainting}}: [[spoiler: In one of the final scenes, Mr Harrison faints over the news that everyone in the house is dead]].
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* StaircaseTumble: In fleeing from Billy, Jess at one point tumbles down the stairs.
