Trailer Break Down: Silent Night, Deadly Night

StudioCanal’s Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025) Trailer — A Bloody Christmas Reborn

The holidays are about to get a lot bloodier. StudioCanal has released a red band trailer for its 2025 remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night, and it looks like a wickedly gory, darkly funny, and surprisingly emotional update to one of the most infamous slashers of the 1980s.

The trailer opens on a scene that fans of the original will immediately recognize, a young boy named Billy Chapman witnessing the brutal murder of his parents by a man dressed as Santa Claus. That trauma becomes the film’s foundation, setting the stage for Billy’s eventual transformation into a killer Santa himself. Rohan Campbell (Halloween Ends) takes on the role of Billy, giving the character a mix of innocence, torment, and rage that the trailer leans into hard.

From there, it’s a violent sleigh ride. The trailer doesn’t shy away from the blood and brutality, axes swinging, ornaments shattering, and a grisly antler impalement that nods directly to one of the most memorable kills from the 1984 original. It's why I love the history of the original being a VIDEO NASTY!

But amid all the carnage, there’s also a sly wink to the audience. Director Mike P. Nelson (Wrong Turn) has said he wanted the movie to make viewers “laugh, be disgusted, and feel like they shouldn’t be watching this right now,” and that tone comes through clearly. The trailer feels equal parts shocking and self-aware, blending genuine horror with a knowing sense of Christmas chaos.

What’s new this time around is the emotional layering. Ruby Modine (Shameless) appears as Pamela, a love interest whose relationship with Billy seems to play a larger role than in past versions. The trailer teases moments of connection between the two before the inevitable bloodbath kicks in, suggesting the film will give Billy’s story more depth and tragedy than before. This isn’t just a retelling of a killer Santa, it’s a story about trauma, guilt, and the loss of innocence wrapped in tinsel and terror.

Visually, the remake looks slick and stylish. StudioCanal’s high production values are on full display, snowy backdrops lit by Christmas lights, crimson blood spraying across garland-lined walls, and a killer Santa who looks both menacing and iconic. The mix of warm holiday imagery and cold-blooded violence gives the trailer a striking contrast that perfectly captures what made Silent Night, Deadly Night a cult classic in the first place.

That said, the remake is clearly walking a fine line. The original film became infamous not just for its violence, but for the controversy surrounding its release, angry parents, banned ads, and protests over the idea of Santa Claus as a murderer. In 2025, audiences are far more accustomed to boundary-pushing horror, but the new film seems to embrace that legacy rather than shy away from it. This isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake, it’s a full-on, blood-soaked reimagining designed to shock a new generation.

The film hits theaters on December 12, 2025, and if the trailer is any indication, it’s going to give Terrifier 3 some serious competition for the title of this year’s bloodiest Christmas movie.

Looks like Santa’s checking his list, and this time, everyone’s on the naughty side.

Let us know what you think about this latest installment in the Silent Night, Deadly Night films!