Alam Nyo Ba?

Gather round, children, it’s time to open presents. But first, have you heard about the patriarchy? Today’s film is a remake of a seasonal slasher classic that changed the horror genre forever, yet somehow has almost nothing to do with the movie it shares a name with. I mean, it takes place on Christmas and it is technically a movie that exists on Earth. So there’s that. This is the Christmas tale born from Blumhouse trying to appease the angry masses of the internet after a Jason Blum interview went sideways. The result? Complete creative control handed to a director and writer far more interested in sexual politics than anything resembling a horror movie. The final bow on this gift? A rarely given D+ CinemaScore from theatergoers. There’s truly nothing better than taking a horror classic, remaking it in under a month on a minuscule budget, and stuffing the bloody beating heart of an angry subreddit into it, then disguising it as a fun holiday slasher. This is the story of what happened to Black Christmas (2019).

From Genre-Defining Classic to Holiday Content

The story of Black Christmas begins, of course, in 1974 with Bob Clark’s horror masterpiece, a film so influential it helped inspire Halloween itself. The 2019 version began very differently. Blumhouse called director Sophia Takal, whom they had previously worked with on the TV series Into the Dark, and offered her carte blanche to make her own version of Black Christmas. There were only two requirements:

1. It had to be titled Black Christmas
2. It had to be ready for release by December 13th

That’s it.

Takal has stated that she considers the original film perfect, but also felt it was necessary to push the remake deeper into themes of misogyny. She wanted to channel her anger that the Me Too movement wasn’t sticking the way she hoped, and that not just men but women weren’t doing enough. To help deliver that message, Takal brought on writer April Wolfe, whose writing credits at the time included a single short film (Widower, 2013). Since then, she’s added Clawfoot in 2023. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the writing credits for Black Christmas (2019) also include Roy Moore, the original writer of the 1974 classic, purely because the remake is technically based on his film.

Takal and Wolfe have said Blumhouse was completely supportive of their radical ideas and never asked them to tone anything down. And boy, did they not.

A Slasher Without Subtext, Only Text

The remake wastes no time distancing itself from the original. Gone are the terrifying obscene phone calls that made the 1974 film legendary. Instead, we get the most generic, embarrassing text message threats imaginable:

• “I will bring you to your knees”
• “I will make you beg for mercy”
• Pig emojis. Yes, really.

The killers wear black hoods and Dr. Doom masks, because subtlety is for cowards.

The ending goes completely off the rails when it’s revealed that all the fraternity men are being empowered by the bust of an evil historical figure named Calvin Hawthorne, which bleeds black goo from its eyes. I am not exaggerating. By the moon and the stars and all the evil, evil guys, I swear this is real.

This culminates in an Avengers-style showdown where the women storm the fraternity house with bows and arrows. The final girl, Riley, smashes the evil bust while declaring, “We will never be broken!”… but not before apologizing to her hardcore feminist sister for not being militant enough against men from the start.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, the film’s biggest departure from the original isn’t the lack of creepy phone calls or memorable kills. It’s the complete absence of subtext.

A Message, Loud and Clear (Too Clear)

This movie has a message, and it is going to wrap it around your head like a plastic bag for 90 minutes. This suffocating approach completely overwhelms what could have been a genuinely compelling story: Riley, a survivor of sexual assault, processing trauma through the events unfolding around her. That story is there. It’s just buried under a megaphone.

Cast and Characters

The role of tortured final girl Riley went to Imogen Poots, who already had strong horror credentials with 28 Weeks Later, Fright Night, and Green Room. Backing her up is:

• Aleyse Shannon as Kris, an over-the-top ultra-activist caricature
• Brittany O’Grady as sorority sister Jesse
• Lily Donoghue as Marty, the refreshingly level-headed friend who dies in an exceptionally slow and stupid way
• Caleb Eberhardt as Landon, the only male character portrayed even remotely positively—mainly by cowering and whispering

Even Landon eventually falls victim to the film’s belief that male anger is an unavoidable disease. Then there’s the most notable face in the film: Cary Elwes. Doctor Gordon from Saw trades his stethoscope for tweed to play Professor Gelson, a role that practically screams “I’m the villain” from the moment he appears. Why? Because this is Black Christmas (2019), and he’s a man.

I don’t make the rules. I just watch them.

Production Choices and Rating Decisions

Filming began in June 2019 and wrapped just one month later in July. Shooting took place in New Zealand at the University of Otago.

Takal organized improvisation sessions where actresses created shared backstories and traumatic moments to foster a sense of sisterhood. The sorority house was designed to feel warm and safe, while the fraternity house, where men eat sandwiches loaded with mayo, was intentionally cold and menacing.

The film was deliberately given a PG-13 rating, not because of studio pressure, but because the director wanted it that way. Takal stated she didn’t want a movie where women were “expendable” or where their deaths were exciting. In a slasher movie.

She also suggested the original Black Christmas earned its R rating primarily due to offensive language, apparently missing literally everything else about why it was terrifying.

The Blumhouse Context

The budget came in at $5 million, making this another low-risk Blumhouse project. At the time, Jason Blum was under heavy criticism for the lack of female-directed films at Blumhouse. In October 2018, he sparked backlash after stating that there were “not a lot of female directors” interested in horror. He quickly apologized and promised to do better.

Black Christmas (2019) was released just over a year later on December 13th, right in the middle of the holiday season. It opened to $4 million, dropped nearly 60% in its second weekend, and ultimately made about $19 million worldwide, enough to still be considered a financial success.

Critics were largely forgiving, landing the film at around 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audience reaction, however, was brutal, with a D+ CinemaScore. Which, in CinemaScore terms, is basically Santa leaving something unpleasant under your tree.

Verdict: A Movie Buried Under Its Own Megaphone

There is a fun movie buried deep, deep, deep inside Black Christmas (2019). Holiday slashers are inherently fun. The mystery, the kills, the seasonal atmosphere, it’s all still here, technically. And if those joys can survive even this, then maybe someone should take another crack at the franchise someday.

Just make sure it’s someone who actually wants to make a Black Christmas movie.

And that’s what happened to Black Christmas (2019). It did not, in fact, slay.

A couple of previous episodes of this show can be seen below. For more, check out the JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel—and don’t forget to subscribe!

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Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions has been one of the biggest names in horror for several years now, and their status recently got a boost when they merged when Atomic Monster, the company headed up by genre regular James Wan… but for a while this year, the Blumhouse was on a cold streak. Their reboot of the classic Universal property Wolf Man, the thriller Drop, the horror film The Woman in the Yard, the sci-fi horror sequel M3GAN 2.0, they all had underwhelming box office numbers. And yet the business those movies did, when combined with the numbers drawn in by the hits Blumhouse/Atomic Monster had this year, helped the company have a record-breaking year. Deadline reports that, for the first time, Blumhouse/Atomic Monster productions made over $1 billion at the global box office.

While the first M3GAN made $180 million during its theatrical run, M3GAN 2.0 sputtered out at $39 million. Wolf Man only made $34.1 million. Drop couldn’t quite reach $29 million – which is a shame, because that’s a really good thriller. The Woman in the Yard earned just $23.3 million. Those were all Universal releases.

But there were successes in the mix. The Stephen King adaptation The Monkey, released by Neon, made just under $69 million at the global box office. Black Phone 2, a sequel to a film that was based on a story by Stephen King’s son Joe Hill, made $132 million worldwide. ($29 million less than its predecessor.) That was also released by Universal, in hopes that it would get an extended franchise rolling – and with numbers like that, it might have.

Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and Universal also had a hit on their hands with the video game adaptation Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. It hasn’t reached the heights of the first Five Nights at Freddy’s, which made over $291 million, but it’s $202 million haul is nothing to sneeze at.

Their biggest hit of the year: the Warner Bros. / New Line Cinema release The Conjuring: Last Rites. Their merger with Atomic Monster brought Blumhouse into the Conjuring Universe business, and it paid off for them in a major way, because The Conjuring: Last Rites became the first entry in the franchise to make over $400 million at the box office. It left that milestone in the dust, earning almost $495 million worldwide.

And that’s how Blumhouse surpassed $1 billion at the box office in one year for the first time in the company’s history.

The future looks bright, as the companies are working on new entries in the Paranormal Activity, Blair Witch Project, and Saw franchises, there’s a sequel to the Blumhouse film Ma in development, they have a new take on The Mummy coming our way (but that’s a New Line Cinema project, not a continuation of the Universal property), there’s a M3GAN spin-off called SOULM8TE, and much more.

What do you think of Blumhouse/Atomic Monster projects crossing $1 billion at the box office in 2025? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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The “rabid chimp” horror film Primate is set to reach theatres on January 9, 2026 – and with that date getting shockingly close, Paramount Pictures is building the hype with a featurette that focuses on cast member (and Oscar winner) Troy Kotsur (CODA) and a sequence where the film enters the perspective of Kotsur’s character – who, like the actor, happens to be deaf. You can check it out at the bottom of this article, along with an audience reaction promo that shows how the movie is terrifying people in early screenings.

Bloodbath of Fun

At the helm of Primate is genre regular Johannes Roberts, who has previously directed Hellbreeder, Darkhunters, Forest of the Damned, F, Roadkill, Storage 24, The Other Side of the Door, 47 Meters Down, The Strangers: Prey at Night, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. He also contributed a segment to the horror anthology V/H/S/99. Roberts has written the Primate screenplay with his frequent collaborator Ernest Riera. In this one, a group of friends’ tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival.

If you’d like more information on what’s going on, you can check out the 8/10 review from JoBlo’s own Mike Holtz at THIS LINK. He described the film as “an unapologetic blood bath of fun” that’s about a rabies-crazed chimp.

Cast and Producers

Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur (CODA) stars in Primate alongside Johnny Sequoyah (Dexter: New Blood), Jessica Alexander (Amadeus), Victoria Wyant (My Fault: London), Benjamin Cheng (d’ILLUSION: The Houdini Musical), Gia Hunter (Sherlock and Daughter), Miguel Torres Umba (National Theatre co-production Kin), Kae Alexander (Ready Player One), Tienne Simon (Grime Kids), Charlie Mann (Lazarus), newcomer Amina Abdi, and Albert Magashi (National Theatre Live: Dear England).

A while back, former DC Films boss Walter Hamada signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures, the idea being that he would become, as Deadline put it, “the architect of Paramount’s mainstream horror genre pod, with the mission to release several low- to mid-budget films per year across theatrical and streaming.” Primate is part of Hamada’s horror-minded efforts at Paramount, and he is producing the film through his 18hz production company alongside John Hodges and Bradley Pilz. Roberts serves as an executive producer with Vicki Dee Rock, Nathan Samdahl, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary.

Primate looks to have the makings of a good time to me (especially since I just caught up with, and was blown away by, the 1986 killer chimp movie Link within the last couple of years), though I know I’m also going to be feeling sorry for this poor, sick killer chimp.

Are you looking forward to Primate? Check out the Troy Kotsur featurette and the audience reaction promo, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Sad news has come to light. According to multiple reports, James Ransone, the actor known for roles in IT: Chapter Two, The Wire, and The Black Phone, has died at 46. Deadline reports that Ransone was found dead by hanging on Friday in Los Angeles, having apparently died by suicide.

When did James Ransone start his career?

Born June 2, 1979, in Baltimore, Ransone, who was a Film Independent Spirit Award winner, attended the nearby George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology before studying at Manhattan’s School of Visual Arts. He began his acting career by appearing in several shorts, including Nick Jones’s Doulo, Sebastian Mlynarski’s Tough Love, and Hala Matar’s Fish in the Sea. He then went on to feature in eight episodes of The First, a psychological drama from creator Beau Willimon. After acting in an episode of the horror mystery series Deadwax, he landed his first feature role in the dystopian alien invasion film Captive State.

What else do we know James Ransone from?

Most people know Ransone as the adult version of Eddie Kaspbrak from IT: Chapter Two, and as Max from Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone and The Black Phone 2. He also played an unnamed deputy in the 2012 film Sinister and its 2015 sequel, Sinister 2. His other movie credits include Prom Night (2008), Starlet (2012), Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer (2012), Oldboy (2013), Cymbeline (2014), Sean Baker’s Tangerine (2015), Mr. Right (2015), Gemini (2017), and V/H/S/85 (2023).

On the television side, Ransone played Ziggy Sobotka in Season 2 of HBO’s The Wire, and also appeared in episodes of CSI, Law & Order, Burn Notice, Hawaii Five-0, Treme, Bosch, and Poker Face.

While I only remember Ransone from a handful of titles, such as IT: Chapter Two, the Sinister films, and The Black Phone, I recall enjoying his performances. It’s upsetting to think of someone passing away so young, and I hope that Mr. Ransone finds peace in his next life. Ransone is survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee, and their son. We here at JoBlo wish him safe passage into the Great Hereafter, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and fans. Please take care of yourselves, folks.

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Almost exactly one year ago, it was announced that production had wrapped on Grizzly Night, a fact-based “nature run amok” movie that marks the first feature project for a newly launched production company called FourJFilms. The film stars Charles Esten (Outer Banks), Brec Bassinger (Stargirl), Oded Fehr (The Mummy), Jack Griffo (The Thundermans), Josh Zuckerman (Oppenheimer), Joel Johnstone (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and Matt Lintz (Ms. Marvel)… and now, we know when we’re going to have the chance to see it. Saban Films will be giving Grizzly Night a digital and VOD release on January 30th – and with that date right around the corner, a trailer for the film has dropped online! You can check it out in the embed above.

Synopsis

Directed by Burke Doeren, Grizzly Night has the following synopsis: Based on true events, this terrifying survival thriller follows a rookie park ranger thrust into the fight of her life when Glacier National Park becomes the scene of deadly grizzly attacks. As panic spreads and communication breaks down, she must lead a group of frightened strangers through the darkness, confronting both the untamed wilderness and her own fears. What begins as a quiet summer evening turns into a night of chaos that changes the nation’s understanding of wildlife forever.

Doeren and Kellie Doeren of 22 Waves Creative are producing the film with Lauren Call. Tyson Call, the founder of FourJFilms, serves as an executive producer. Grizzly Night filmed outside of Park City, Utah, and The Hollywood Reporter has noted that FourJFilms “aims to prioritize productions that will shoot in Utah, with a focus on independent filmmakers and message-driven dramas.”

Producer Quotes

Tyson Call provided the following statement: “We are thrilled to share Grizzly Night with audiences. This project is the culmination of years of passion and dedication, and I am excited to continue creating impactful stories through this new production company. Collaborating with such a talented cast and crew, as well as working alongside Burke, Kellie and Lauren, has been a remarkable journey.“ Burke Doeren added, “Grizzly Night is a film that carries an important message of respecting nature and wildlife — and that’s absolutely what drew us to want to tell this story as a feature film. We only have one planet, and we need to respect it and the animals who inhabit it with us. We’re very thankful that our brilliant cast and crew connected so deeply with this story and that we’re able to bring it to the screen.“

At first, it didn’t sound like this would be quite the rampaging, bloodthirsty bear movie I would like to see (you know, something along the lines of Grizzly and Cocaine Bear), but the trailer indicates that there is going to be a good amount of rampaging, bloodthirsty bear action after all.

What did you think of the Grizzly Night trailer? Will you be watching this movie next month? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Ok, confession time. Despite Fallout being one of the most popular game franchises of the last few decades, I had never played a single entry. So when Season One of Amazon’s Fallout series dropped, I came in with no baggage and no bar to clear. I figured I’d finally see what all the hype was about.

Well, much like the proverbial nukes that kick off the apocalypse, I was completely blown away.

The show ticked every box for me: retro-futurism, oddball characters, fresh spins on the gunslinger archetype, hulking mech suits, and monsters galore. It walked a creative tightrope that should have been impossible, and somehow pulled it off. I was an instant fan.

Why Fallout Season 2 Is So Exciting

In the time since, I’ve been working my way through the games and kicking myself for sleeping on this universe for so long. Now that Season Two is rolling around, I’m just as hyped as the old-school fans—especially knowing where we’re headed next.

We’re packing our bags and going to New Vegas.

And to borrow a popular Vegas phrase, I’m all in.

Fallout Season 2 Red Carpet at the Academy Museum

Now that I’m officially drinking the Nuka-Cola, I was beyond excited to be invited to the Season Two premiere of Fallout, held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Pulling up, the massive dome atop the iconic building glowed bright red, signaling a Vegas-style, post-apocalyptic shindig. Out front stood a full-scale Brotherhood of Steel power armor suit (sadly without an operator, an opportunity I regret not seizing).

I did my best to match the Fallout energy with my own suit: western red threads, coffin bolo tie, and cowboy hat astride. I was ready to chat with vault dwellers and wastelanders alike.

Fallout Season 2 Cast Interviews on the Red Carpet

On the sandy-brown carpet, next to a glowing Welcome to Las Vegas-style Fallout sign, I had the pleasure of speaking with several members of the cast, including:

• Frances Turner (Barb)
• Xelia Mendes-Jones (Dane)
• Rafi Silver (Robert House)
• Jon Daly (Snake Oil)
• Adam Faison (mystery role)
• Leer Leary (Davey)

Even the Ghoul himself, Walton Goggins, stopped by for a quick chat.

Since this is a Vegas-set season, I couldn’t resist testing my luck against the cast. We played a game of one-card draw, each pulling a card from my cowboy hat. Were the odds in my favor? Let’s just say, in this case, the house usually wins.

Fallout Season 2 Episode 1: Robert House Enters the Game

Following the red (sorry, brown) carpet, we screened the first episode of Season Two. It delivers a bloody good introduction to the season’s new heavy: the iconic Robert House, portrayed by Rafi Silver and series newcomer Justin Theroux.

While the episode doesn’t fully dive into New Vegas just yet, it smartly places our main characters back on the chessboard and teases the paths they’ll be walking in the episodes ahead.

Inside the Fallout After-Party

After the screening, the night rolled straight into an after-party fit for the end of the world. Beneath the glowing red dome, guests sampled flea soup cocktails and TV dinners as the lights of Los Angeles twinkled in the distance, rivaled only by buzzing neon Vegas sign recreations.

Vault-friendly old-school tunes filled the air. Showgirls walked the floor. The Rollerbrain of Bud Askins skittered around our feet, straight out of Vault 31. There were games of Whack-a-Commie, a walk-through vault experience, and a Vault-Tec lab inscribing custom yo-yos.

Kyle MacLachlan and series newcomer Kumail Nanjiani also stopped by for a chat. Kumail even mentioned being a JoBlo fan—so if you’re reading this, hey man!

Final Thoughts on Fallout Season 2

All in all, the evening perfectly set the tone for what’s to come. For fans of New Vegas, the show’s adaptation of this iconic setting appears to be in very good hands.

To check out my full coverage of the event, hit the link below—and be sure to catch Fallout Season Two, now streaming on Amazon Prime.

See you in the wasteland.

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Fred Olen Ray is known as one of the great B-movie makers, a reputation he has earned over a career that stretches back to the end of the 1970s and includes more than 165 directing credits. Ray has also produced over 100 movies, including the 1995 “killer pumpkinhead scarecrow” movie Jack-O, which was directed by Steve Latshaw from a script by Patrick Moran (based on a story crafted by Ray and Brad Linaweaver). Jack-O has gained a cult following over the decades – and now, it has a sequel! Ray has confirmed on social media that filming has wrapped on the sequel, Jack-O 2: Blood Moon Rising.

Jack-O Returns

If you need a refresher, Jack-O had the following synopsis: On Halloween night the spirit of Mister Jack, The Pumpkin Man rises from its long forgotten grave to once again terrorize the citizens of Oakmoor Crossing. Summoned by warlock, Walter Machen, the resurrected monster soon sets its sites on killing young Sean Kelly, the descendant of Machen’s enemies. Sean’s babysitter, Carolyn, tries to save the day, but is there really a chance in Hell?

Jack-O 2: Blood Moon Rising is the first feature-length motion picture from Ray’s new company, Fred Olen Ray Productions LLC. Ray is writing, directing, and producing the film, with Latshaw serving as executive producer. Sean Donohue is also producing, with legendary exploitation director William Grefé also on board as an executive producer. Why Jack-O 2 now? Ray explains, “For the last decade I have focused on dozens of Made for TV network movies… Christmas films and Lifetime Women’s thrillers and it’s been great, opening an entirely new page in my long career… but my early Drive-in movie roots are begging me to take another walk on the wild side, a walk back to my beginnings and I want to do it in Florida with you. I’m going to produce a 1970s styled Drive-in movie… the kind fans want but no big company wants to finance anymore.” 

Genre icons Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens, John Carradine, and Cameron Mitchell had roles in the original Jack-O. For the sequel, Ray has cast Sybil Danning (Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf), Richard Gabai (Nightmare Sisters), Sushii Xhyvette Holder (Swamp Woman), and Martin Nicholas (Beach Blanket Bloodbath).

Here are some behind-the-scenes images from the making of Jack-O 2:

Are you glad to hear that filming has wrapped on the Jack-O sequel? Share your thoughts on Jack-O 2: Blood Moon Rising by leaving a comment below.

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