Christmas Specials Wiki
Christmas Specials Wiki

Christmas Evil (originally titled You Better Watch Out, also known as Terror in Toyland) is a psychological slasher film that was released only in Pennsylvania in November 1980.

Synopsis[]

On Christmas Eve 1947 in suburban New Jersey, a young boy named Harry Stadling sees his mother being sexually groped by his father, who is dressed up as Santa Claus. Heartbroken, the child rushes up to the attic and cuts his hand with a shard of glass from a shattered snow globe.

33 years later, an adult Harry works in a low-level position at the Jolly Dreams toy factory, where his colleagues consider him a "schmuck" and make fun of him. At home, he has taken it upon himself to become the next true Santa: he sleeps in costume, and his apartment is resplendent with Christmas décor. He spies on neighborhood children to see if they are being "good" or "bad" and keeps detailed records of their behavior.

Harry's coworker, Frank, asks Harry to cover his shift on the assembly line in order to be with his family. However, on his way home from work, Harry sees Frank drinking with friends at a local bar. Distressed by the man's duplicity, Harry breaks one of his dollhouse figures while humming Christmas tunes. The following day, he cancels Thanksgiving dinner with his younger brother Phil and his family. Phil has been constantly angered by his brother's odd behavior, while Phil's wife Jackie is more sympathetic.

At the company Christmas party, the owner of Jolly Dreams, Mr. Wiseman, announces that the company will donate toys to the children of the local hospital, provided production increases sufficiently and the employees contribute with their own money. Mr. Fletcher, one of the company's high-ranking executives, introduces Harry to new training executive George Grosch, who devised the donation scheme. Harry is angry at both for not really caring about the children. That night, he fills bags with toys he stole from the factory and other bags with dirt.

On Christmas Eve, while gluing a Santa beard to his face, he enters a fugue state that has him convinced to truly be Santa Claus. Donned in his Santa suit, Harry starts doing his rounds on the van that he decorated with a sleigh picture, and that he believes to have been trained by Santa Claus's reindeer. He first sneaks into his brother's home and delivers toys for his nephews; then leaves a bagful of dirt at the doorstep of "bad boy" Moss Garcia. Later, Harry drops off toys at the hospital, where he is greeted cheerfully by the staff.

On the street, Harry is taunted by three young men leaving Midnight Mass and, in a fit of rage, he partially blinds one of them with a toy soldier's sword, then murders them all with a hatchet. Later, Harry is welcomed at a neighborhood Christmas party, where people think he is just some harmless Santa impersonator; he dances and cheers everyone up and makes sure the attending children know they will have to be good boys and girls to receive their gifts. He then breaks into Frank's home and murders him in his bed with a Christmas tree decoration, leaving toys behind for his kids.

Songs[]

Title(s) Performed by
"Santa Claus, Santa Claus" James Brown
Uncredited
"Winter Wonderland"
Brandon Maggart
(Humming)
"Angels We Have Heard on High"
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" The Crystals

Cast[]

Actor/actress Character(s)
Brandon Maggart Harry Stadling
Jeffrey DeMunn Philip Stadling
Dianne Hull Jackie Stadling
Andy Fenwick Dennis Stadling
Brian Neville Marc Stadling
Joe Jamrog Frank Stoller
Wally Moran Philip Stadling Jr.
Gus Salud Harry Stadling Jr.
Ellen McElduff Harry's Mother
Brian Hartigan Harry's Father
Peter Neuman Moss Garcia
Lance Holcomb Scotty Goodrich
Elizabeth Ridge Susie Lovett
Chris Browning Richie Sharp
Tyrone Holmes Frankie
Patricia Richardson Moss' Mother
Scott McKay Mr. Fletcher
Peter Friedman Mr. Grosch
Owen Hollander Ben
Horace Bailey Jake
John Brockman Dr. Probst
Burt Kleiner Sol Wiseman
David Hughes Worker
Lloyd David Hart Tipsy Worker
Francine Dumont Mrs. Fletcher
Pamela Enz Mrs. Grosch
William Robertson Guard
Sheila Anderson Nurse
Robert Ari Doctor
Philip Casnoff Ricardo Bauma
Michael Klinger Peter
Mark Chamberlin Charles
Colleen Zenk Binky
Lisa Sloan Khaki
Jim Desmond
Mark Margolis
Men
Jennifer Novtney Little Girl
Audrey Matson Woman
Danny Federici Accordian Player
Arthur Bressler Saxophone Player
Jack Scarangella Drummer
Ray Barry Detective Gleason
Sam Gray Inspector Grella
Bobby Lesser Detective Gottleib
Will McMillan Young Man
Bill Raymond Priest
Joan Jonas Older Woman
Nancy Clark Female Witness
T. Wellington Perkins Black Santa
Jim Gagen
Leib Lensky
James Gallagher
Santas
Hy Mencher Older Man
Michael Gordon Policeman
Stephen Mendillo Tom
Ratanya Alda Theresa
Kerry Broderick Angelina
John Towey Joe
Annette Kurek Mary
Matthew Levine Matthew
Marian Vitale Mrs. Stoller
Carrie Steele Daughter
Robert Samilari Son
Uncredited
Danielle Comforti Little girl at party
Annie Gagen
Don Stitt
Party Dancers
Lewis Jackson Bartender (Christmas Office Party)

External link[]

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