Black Christmas Director Sophia Takal on Her Gutsy Remake of the Horror Classic

Black Christmas Director Sophia Takal on Her Gutsy Remake of the Horror Classic

Blumhouse Productions is hoping that the public's desire for more horror fare and alternative programming to films like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker or Jumanji: The Next Level will translate into box office success for their Black Christmas remake which launches this Friday. Directed by Sophia Takal, who also cowrote the script with April Wolfe, this second remake of the classic 1974 Canadian horror film stars Imogen Poots (The Art of Self-Defense) in the title role. Like the original, the film is set during the winter break at a university and centers on a group of young sorority sisters being stalked by a mysterious killer. However, in this 2019 version these ladies aren't just waiting around to be killed. They're fighting back with any and all weapons at their disposal. The updates don't end there with the film including a powerful #MeToo storyline, a pull no punches approach to subjects like date rape, the white male patriarchy and the brainwashing of young men to view the growing independence of women as a threat to their societal standing.

Before the film's release, I sat down with Takal to discuss how she came on to the project as a director and what the process was like for her remaking this horror classic for Blumhouse. We talked about her gutsy approach to the material and how important it was for her to show in her version what it was like to be a young woman in 2019. Takal also discussed working with Wolfe to construct a script that stayed true to the vibe of the original yet resonated powerfully for horror loving audiences in 2019. Read the questions that I asked down below and watch the video above to see Takal's answers. Black Christmas also stars Cary Elwes, Brittany O’Grady (Star), Aleyse Shannon (Charmed), Lily Donoghue (Grey’s Anatomy), Ben Black (Roman Empire), and Caleb Eberhart (The Post).

Sophia Takal:

What was the process like creating this remake with such a topical approach to current social issues with Blumhouse?
How did you come onto the project?
Image via Universal Pictures
How much did the script change from conception to when you started shooting?
How did you assemble this talented young cast?
Were there any alternate endings that you considered? And what was the meaning in the last scene of Riley's look?
How important was it to you to have multiple point of views presented in this movie and what message did you want the film to send to women?

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[tylerwade]

“There was no script” that really says a lot about this movie 😂

[tylerwade]

Clearly there’s a different interpretation between “fun” with me and the director because this movie wasn’t fun. It was a train wreck and doesn’t do any justice to the classic Black Christmas.

[dinkan]

"Woke christmas " yeah and it badly!😂

[cloudburst]

Ok this is the 2nd interview from the director and she is pushing the same thing. Empowering women. I have never in my life, walked out of a horror movie thinking about the life lessons I can reflect upon. WTF is going on in 2019? Thank god none of the people in my life circle subscribe to this narrative.

[KonKreteNetwork]

I want my time back. The first remake is one of my favorite horror movies of all time however this atrocity should never have been made. Sophia takal should be ashamed of herself. I wish I could rate this movie negative Stars that's how fucking bad it was. I don't even think you see blood in the movie. It's trash.

[J.Street.]

That movie was absolutely terrible, they ruined how amazing the original was

[jazzercaster]

Rocha deserves an academy award preteding this was any good at all good lawd.

[Bradford]

This must have been so awkward for Rocha. He ended up giving the movie a negative review.

[peak]

This movie was made to piss off Slasher fans by taking a shit on the 1974 horror classic.

The only good thing I can say about this film is that it made the 2006 remake look like a masterpiece.

[TimmmTim]

I am not a mean person but I hope such a movie will end up the career of her and all involved in such a terrible movie.

[curseofyig]

This movie is woke garbage and doesn't have a single good scene.

[TheJustin]

gutsy is not the right is the right word. This awful director took an hour and half of my life away from me that im never getting back. what a pile of shit that movie is

[alanhanglin]

"there is no script" No shit!

[Chloe-vgbs]

One"don't you get tired of fighting your true nature and wanting to accept your place behind' no that's not your true nature and that was I was never will be your. Those guys were not regaining a natural order they were using the supernatural means to gain an unnatural position. Aren't you tired of the types of guys represented by that fraternity of suppressing your nature. The traitor actually felt like denying her true nature and trying a different way was easier because she did not feel empowered enough to stand up. It's not fair point of view when you're going to be is not valid and based on lies

[Anthonycheesman]

I like the cast but it looks like a generic pg 13 horror movie

[CJ]

Big mistake titling it black Christmas 👎🏻

[buckfuddy]

LOL "gutsy remake", say goodbye to your career sis, mid you, Lizzie Banks is getting another shot after Charlie's Angels bombed so who knows. Damned patriarchy not seeing movies n stuff.

[youturd]

We had movies like Friday the 13th and Texas Chainsaw Massacre to this pile of FLY shit

[apocalypsepow]

not interested in a woke horror film aimed at 13 year olds

[Chloe-vgbs]

It's very sad and disappointed that this will come from a female. The_, what is a guy wrote a song about women being & in the real world there are some. However that comment was still inappropriate in the film because she was writing a song about her actual stacker. Is the female", what do you think was going to happen if you continue to trash talk and, , _ for her male character to say that was backwards deranged and not a p.ov