As our Holiday Horror series continues, The Film Jury turns its attention to one of the most controversial slashers of the 1980s. This week, James, Kat, and Meagan review Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), the infamous Christmas slasher directed by Charles E. Sellier Jr. and written by Michael Hickey.

Starring Robert Brian Wilson, Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, and Linnea Quigley, the film follows a traumatized young man who dons a Santa suit and embarks on a murderous rampage fueled by childhood trauma, religious guilt, and a deeply confused moral message.

In this episode, the Jury pulls no punches.

We break down:
• The film's troubled production and cultural backlash
• Its reliance on shock value over storytelling
• Weak performances and inconsistent tone
• Problematic themes and exploitative execution
• Why controversy does not equal quality
• How the film became notorious despite its flaws

The Verdict:
James — Guilty
Kat — Guilty
Meagan — Guilty

FINAL JUDGMENT: Unanimous Guilty Verdict

While Silent Night, Deadly Night has earned cult infamy and a place in horror history, the Film Jury finds it fundamentally broken in execution, intent, and impact. Sometimes a movie is remembered not because it's good, but because it's loud.

Listen now as we continue our December deep dive into holiday horror, separating seasonal classics from cinematic coal.

This week, The Film Jury dives into the 1974 horror classic Black Christmas, the original slasher that helped define the genre long before Halloween or Friday the 13th. Directed by Bob Clark and written by A. Roy Moore, this cult favorite blends holiday cheer with chilling suspense, a creeping sense of dread, and some of the most iconic early slasher techniques in cinematic history.

Starring Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon, the film follows a group of sorority sisters who begin receiving terrifying phone calls and threats during the Christmas holiday. As tension mounts and murders escalate, no one is safe — and the line between safety and horror disappears.

In this episode, the Jury discusses:

• How Black Christmas influenced the modern slasher genre

• The performances of Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, and the ensemble cast

• Bob Clark's use of suspense, framing, and sound design to create terror

• The film's lasting legacy in holiday horror and cult cinema

• Why this classic still resonates with audiences decades later

NEW RANKING SYSTEM — Full Acquittal

• James — Not Guilty

• Kristina — Not Guilty

• Heidi — Not Guilty

The Film Jury delivers a unanimous verdict: Black Christmas (1974) remains a chilling, masterful classic that continues to haunt holiday horror fans.

Tune in for our full discussion, and see why this seminal slasher still holds up as a must-watch for horror enthusiasts.

The Film Jury is back with a festive blood-soaked verdict as James, Kristina, and Heidi take on the cult favorite Anna and the Apocalypse (2017), the wildly inventive Christmas zombie musical directed by John McPhail and written by Alan McDonald and the late Ryan McHenry.

Starring Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire, Christopher Leveaux, Ben Wiggins, Marli Siu, and Mark Benton, this genre-blending film mashes up holiday cheer, high-school drama, infectious musical numbers, and a full-scale zombie outbreak—and somehow makes it all work.

In this episode, the Jury breaks down:
– Why the film's musical sequences elevate the horror-comedy format
– How the cast brings surprising emotional weight to the chaos
– The movie's mix of camp, heart, and genuine apocalypse stakes
– What makes this one of the most unique holiday horror films in years
– Whether the film deserves its growing cult status

The Verdict:
James — Not Guilty
Kristina — Not Guilty
Heidi — Not Guilty

FINAL JUDGMENT: Full Acquittal 🎬

If you love horror-comedy, zombie movies, offbeat musicals, or alternative Christmas films, this episode delivers a full breakdown of why Anna and the Apocalypse continues to stand out in the genre.

Listen now and let The Film Jury decide your holiday watchlist.

The Losers' Club returns to Derry—older, traumatized, and still bound by a childhood nightmare they hoped they'd escaped. This week on Film Jury, we dive deep into IT Chapter II (2019), directed by Andy Muschietti and based on Stephen King's legendary novel.

Stacked with an impressive adult cast including James McAvoy (Bill), Jessica Chastain (Beverly), Bill Hader (Richie), Isaiah Mustafa (Mike), Jay Ryan (Ben), James Ransone (Eddie), and Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, the film attempts to blend cosmic horror, emotional closure, and surreal creature spectacle into one massive final chapter.

But did it succeed?

James comes in with a brutal 1/5 gavels, citing pacing issues, tonal imbalance, and an overreliance on CGI.
Kristina lands at 3/5 gavels, praising the performances—especially Hader—and some standout emotional moments.
Heidi gives it 2/5 gavels, feeling the story couldn't quite support its nearly 3-hour runtime.

We break down:
• How the film adapts (and alters) the book's ending
• The missed opportunities in character arcs
• Whether Pennywise is still scary the second time around
• The strengths of the cast vs. the weakness of the structure
• The themes of trauma, memory, and returning home
• And why this sequel divided audiences and critics alike

Epic, messy, heartfelt, bizarre—IT Chapter II is a lot.
And this week, The Jury has opinions.
Tune in, listen to the verdict, and see where you stand.

The Film Jury returns to Derry as we dive into IT: Chapter One (2017) — the blockbuster Stephen King adaptation that redefined Pennywise for a new generation. Directed by Andy Muschietti, this modern retelling shifts the story fully into the 1980s, blending coming-of-age adventure with some of the most iconic horror imagery of the decade.

Starring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Dancing Clown and a phenomenal young cast including Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Jack Dylan Grazer, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor, and Wyatt Oleff, the film follows the Losers' Club as they uncover the ancient evil terrorizing their town — and confront their deepest fears along the way.

Hosts James Patrick, Kristina Patrick, and Heidi Romans break down:

• Bill Skarsgård's terrifying re-imagining of Pennywise
• The chemistry and performances of the Losers' Club
• How the film balances heart, humor, and horror
• The shift to an '80s setting and why it works
• Which scares land, which ones don't, and how well it adapts King's massive novel

The Verdict — 11/15 Gavels
James — 3/5
Kristina — 4/5
Heidi — 4/5

Is IT: Chapter One a modern horror classic or an overhyped blockbuster with great makeup? Join The Film Jury as we render our official verdict on one of the biggest horror films of the decade.

New episodes drop weekly — subscribe for honest reviews and cinematic judgments.

The hunt is on.

The Film Jury assembles for a brutal new hunt in Predator: Badlands (2025) — the latest Predator film directed by Dan Trachtenberg.

Starring Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek (a young, exiled Yautja) and Elle Fanning as Thia (a damaged synthetic), the film throws survival horror into overdrive on a hostile alien world.

Hosts James Patrick, Kat Stratford, and Alabama Deer break down:

• The shift in perspective — for the first time, a Predator is the protagonist.

• The visual style and world-building of Trachtenberg's direction.

• How Dek and Thia's unlikely alliance plays out, emotionally and thematically.

• The action, creature design, and whether this entry feels fresh or derivative.

• Whether Badlands advances Predator mythology or leans too hard into nostalgia.

The Verdict — 12/15 Gavels

• James Patrick — 3/5 Gavels

• Kat Stratford — 5/5 Gavels

• Alabama — 4/5 Gavels

Does Predator: Badlands prove that Predators can be heroes? Or is it another wild hunt that loses its way? Tune in and render your verdict.

🔔 Subscribe to The Film Jury for weekly breakdowns, honest reviews, and verdicts that don't shy away from the claws.

The Film Jury resurrects a classic tale for Episode 5 as we review Frankenstein (2025) — the bold new reimagining of Mary Shelley's iconic story. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, this modern adaptation pushes the legend of Victor Frankenstein into darker, more psychological territory while honoring the spirit of the original novel.

Starring Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as the Creature, and Mia Goth as Elizabeth, the 2025 version reinvents the dynamic between creator and creation with emotional intimacy, striking production design, and a tone that blends gothic horror with contemporary moral dread.

Hosts James Patrick, Meagan Jones, and Jose Acevedo break down the film's atmospheric visuals, its character-driven storytelling, and the new thematic elements introduced in this adaptation. The panel explores how the film reframes ideas of identity, responsibility, and monstrosity — and why this version may be the most resonant interpretation in years.

The Verdict — 12/15 Gavels

• James Patrick — 4/5 Gavels

• Meagan Jones — 4/5 Gavels

• Jose Acevedo — 4/5 Gavels

Does Frankenstein (2025) breathe new life into a classic masterpiece, or does it stretch too far from its roots? Join The Film Jury as we deliver our official verdict.

Listen now on all major podcast platforms and follow for weekly reviews, deep dives, and cinematic judgments.

The Film Jury heads back to Derry, Maine, to revisit the iconic 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's IT. Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace and starring Tim Curry, Jonathan Brandis, Richard Thomas, Seth Green, and Annette O'Toole, this TV classic terrified a generation — but how well does it hold up over three decades later?

Hosts James Patrick, Kristina Patrick, and Heidi Romans dive deep into the two-part structure, the limitations of network television horror in the early '90s, and the enduring legacy of Curry's legendary performance as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The panel debates the film's pacing, character dynamics, special effects, and how it compares to modern horror standards and the later cinematic remakes.

The Verdict — 8/15 Gavels

• James Patrick — 2/5 Gavels

• Kristina Patrick — 3/5 Gavels

• Heidi Romans — 3/5 Gavels

Does IT (1990) still float… or is nostalgia the only thing keeping it above water?

Join us as The Film Jury renders its verdict on one of horror's most memorable TV events.

Listen now on all major podcast platforms and follow for more weekly reviews, breakdowns, and cinematic trials.

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