Fiona Apple’s Father Is a Killer Santa Claus
The best Christmas movies are full of surprises. For example, you wouldn’t expect to use the phrases “Fiona Apple” and “killer Santa Claus” in the same sentence. However, Apple’s father played a killer Santa in one of the most interesting horror films of the early 1980s. Here’s a look at a hidden Christmas chestnut of a movie that’s perfect for lovers of the holiday season and the macabre.
Michael Myers paved the way for Fiona Apple’s father to play a killer Santa Claus
Firstly, some background. In 1978, John Carpenter’s Halloween was a massive hit. In 1980, the film industry tried to cash in on its success by producing a glut of slasher films set around holidays and special events, including New Year’s Evil, Terror Train (which is also set on New Year’s Eve), Prom Night, Friday the 13th, and Mother’s Day. Perhaps the most unusual of the bunch was Christmas Evil, a film that has more in common with Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver than it has with A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Christmas Evil centers on Harry (played by Brandon Maggart), a low-level toy factory worker who is obsessed with Christmas. There’s more Santa Claus memorabilia in his home than in the Christmas decoration aisle at Home Depot. The film is a slow-paced character study depicting Harry steadily losing touch with reality. By the end, he believes he is Santa — and he goes on a killing spree.
Why this killer Santa Claus movie actually works
The premise of Christmas Evil could easily have descended into unintentional camp. Despite this, it’s actually pretty eerie. Maggart makes Harry feel real and sympathetic — up to a point. The entire film rests on his shoulders. Between Maggart and his daughter, artistic talent seems to run in the family.
The decision to make Christmas Evil a look into a tortured man’s psyche makes it more memorable than most of its peers. The film also has a bold ending that you’ll never forget.
Why Fiona Apple’s father was cast in the movie
Christmas Evil was directed by Lewis Jackson. During a 2005 interview with Film Threat, the director revealed why he cast Maggart as his killer Saint Nick. “Something about the way he pantomimed carrying the sack on his back,” Jackson revealed. “I was looking for something visual to connect it and he gave it to me. His background was in theatre and musical comedy on Broadway and comedians make good dramatic actors.
“Harry’s descent is expressed almost solely through nuances and facial expressions,” he added. “Was that hard to capture and convey? I only know one way to work and it’s mostly instinctive. I don’t think I was aware of anything more than the fact that I wanted to convey things visually. If possible I like the pictures to tell the story without the dialogue. Only later did I actually realize, when looking at the movie many years later, that much of what was happening seemed to be to possibly be all in Harry’s head.” Jackson said that he didn’t intend for the film to take place in Harry’s mind, with the exception of one crucial scene.
Whether you’re interested in Apple’s background, character studies, or Yuletide horror, Christmas Evil is well worth your time.