Looking to sell your grandfather’s mansion and make a quick buck, are ya? Well, if you manage to attract minimal attention, chances are the inspectors won’t notice anything out of the ordinary — that is, unless there isn’t an unknown assailant who has a penchant for surprising trespassers. Talk about property protection! The bloody bits, as the title implies, pierce the silence like a jingle bell being rung at an ungodly hour. It’s the kind of disturbance that puts you front and center of the grisliness, giving rise to the film’s palpable sense of dread.

At times, Silent Night, Bloody Night feels like a giallo, what with the inclusion of black gloves and the concealed nature of the killer’s identity. Who is he? And why does he identify himself as Marianne when talking on the phone? Such questions carry weight, and so the mysterious and, at times, peculiar nature of the killer is all the more intriguing. He’s the kind of guy that you wouldn’t want to invite to a Christmas party, and yet he treats his victims with warmth. If that isn’t cunning, I don’t know what is

.

There is backstory which goes into detail regarding the mansion as well as the Butler family, so if you’re hoping for a Yuletide yarn, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, you’ll find that the family’s history is surreal yet engaging, due to the sepia tones and insightful narration. It’s quite the pairing, and I can’t help but wonder if an artists’ colony was working behind the scenes. Plus, the inmates are a creepy bunch. I’d hate to see them in my dreams because I imagine that I’d be hard-pressed get a good night’s sleep.

Though Silent Night, Bloody Night is oddly paced, it’s worth a look if you’re in the mood for some quick cutting carnage. Just be sure to steer clear of that axe because once it starts swinging, it doesn’t stop.