Dan and Brian approach the end of 2025 pondering what makes a “movie year” — how to measure and rank it, what they’ve watched on the podcast, and what eras of film history they’ve under- and overrepresented. Then, they fill an important hole in their podcast’s lineup with a look at two 1974 Christmas movies at very different ends of the spectrum: a family stop-motion TV special and a terrifying proto-slasher. Join as they discuss the their competing feelings towards the Rankin-Bass holiday shorts, their histories with and feelings towards Santa Claus mythology, the thinking face emoji, chilling phone calls coming from inside the house, and the role of “female empowerment” themes in both selections. Yes, Virginia, there is a 1974 film.
Episode Number
235
Films Reviewed
- The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
- Black Christmas (1974)
Is It Good?
- The Year Without a Santa Claus – Good-ish (4/8)
- Black Christmas – Exceptionally Good (7/8)
- The Year Without a Santa Claus – Good (5/8)
- Black Christmas – Exceptionally Good (7/8)
Supplemental Media
- The Virgnia Santa Claus Letter (“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”): https://www.villageschoolma.org/pdf/YesVirginiathereisaSantaClaus.pdf
Brian’s feelings on the thinking face emoji 🤔:
Brian shouting out the crowd shots in The Year Without a Santa Claus:
Brian Terrill is a filmmaker and horror host.
Dan Stalcup writes reviews for The Goods and is a member of OFCS. Follow Dan on Letterboxd.