There was a time when studios would actually accept screenplay ideas from the general public and that’s how producer Scott Schiend got his hands on a short story entitled “He Sees You When You’re Sleeping,” which was written by a Harvard student named Paul Caimi. 

The story centered around a killer Santa Claus and the concept was interesting enough that Schiend decided to develop it into a film. 

Under the working title “Slayride,” numerous directors were targeted to lead the film including Sam Raimi, Albert Magnoli and Ken Kwapis but the studio was interested in working with television producer Charles Seller Jr., who had famously worked on the “Life and Times of Grizzly Adams” film and TV series. 

Principle photography started in March 1983 in Utah with the movie centering around a traumatized young boy who witnesses a killer in a Santa costume murder his family and years later he decides to take up the same mantle to punish all those who misbehaved before Christmas…

In our special holiday episode of Rewind of the Living Dead, we’re going to find out if you’ve been naughty as we review the 1984 classic “Silent Night, Deadly Night."

Music courtesy of Andrew Scott Bell

Music courtesy of Andrew Scott Bell and Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

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