In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the American Genre Film Archive is releasing a 4K restoration of Bob Clark's holiday horror classic "Black Christmas" in theaters.
Teaming up with the AGFA, Texas-based collectible company Mutant has created an 18'' by 24'' "Black Christmas" poster that will be available exclusively at select 50th anniversary screenings. The five-color screen print, produced by Night Swin in an edition of 285, features brand-new artwork by Phantom City Creative. Additional white and red variants of the poster will be released on Mutant's website Dec. 5.
"I am so honoured that the American genre Film Archive and Mutant are presenting the 50th Anniversary of 'Black Christmas' in movie theaters this year, star Olivia Hussey said of the rerelease. "The film world is lucky to have the AGFA, which continues to show the meaningful impact of going to the movies through screenings like this one. I'm so happy and honoured that AGFA is introducing this film to a new generation of moviegoers."
"AGFA is proud to partner with our friends at Shout Studios and Mutant to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bob Clark's 'Black Christmas' by bringing the iconic holiday horror hit back to movie theaters in stunning 4K," American Genre Film Archive leadership said in a statement. "This year also marks the 15th Anniversary of AGFA and our mission to preserve, protect, and promote the greatest genre films and their filmmakers. We're grateful to partner with incredible collaborators to bring these films to a new generation of movie lovers."
The film will screen in North American theaters from Dec. 7-22. Participating venues include Olympia Film Society in Olympia, Wash., Grand Illusion Cinema in Seattle, the New Beverly Cinema and Vista Theater in Los Angeles, the Brattle Theatre in Boston, the Rivoli Theatre in La Cross, Wis., AFS Cinema in Austin, Denver Film in Denver, Co., Rubber Glove Studio in Denton, Texas, Cinema Moderne in Montreal, Quebec, the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Ore., the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, Calif., the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, Mass. and the Metro Cinema in Edmonton, Alberta.
"What a gift it will be to see 'Black Christmas' in theaters, in December, and in glorious 4K presentation," added Mutant in a written statement. "We are so excited to partner with our friends at AGFA and several of the best arthouse cinemas across the U.S. and Great White North to offer a beautiful new silkscreen poster for the original holiday slasher. With a film as influential (and Canadian) as 'Black Christmas', no artist is better suited to deliver the goods than Toronto's own Phantom City Creative."
Originally released in 1974, "Black Christmas" follows a group of women in a sorority house who receive mysterious phone calls that become increasingly threatening. The first of Bob Clark's two holiday classics -- the other is "A Christmas Story" -- the film stars Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon and Marian Waldman.
