Mike P. Nelson and Ruby Modine Talk Reimagining SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT

Image courtesy of Cineverse

By Shannon McGrew

In Mike P. Nelson’s SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, a twisted reimagining of the 1984 controversial classic of the same name, after witnessing his parents’ brutal murder on Christmas Eve, Billy grows up to deliver an annual spree of holiday violence. This year, his blood-soaked mission collides with love, as a young woman challenges him to confront his darkness.

For the upcoming release of SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, Creepy Kingdom’s Shannon McGrew spoke with director Mike P. Nelson and actor Ruby Modine, who plays Billy’s badass love interest, Pam. We talked about reimagining Billy Chapman, bringing Pam to life as a fearless, unforgettable character, and balancing heartfelt storytelling with blood-soaked holiday horror.

Taking on an iconic holiday horror film like the original Silent Night, Deadly Night is no easy task. What initially drew you to it, and how did you strike a balance between making it your own while still honoring the original? 

Mike P. Nelson: I did not want to overthink it. I was always going to give nods to the original, like the antler kill, but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t overthinking it and that the movie was its own original. 

I wanted to reintroduce the world to Billy Chapman from my brain and tell you a little bit of a different story. That was the key. But I also wanted a story that lets you go along for the ride and doesn’t answer all the questions right away. Like, you’re wondering, what’s up with this guy? I kind of like him, but what’s his thing? Is he a good guy? Is he messed up? And then, who’s Pam? Holy shit, Pam is crazy! And then you realize, they’re meant to be. 

The kills in the movie, which is like, I say, the heart is so important, and the kills are maybe the backbone, you know what I mean? The backbone and the heart have to go together, and those kills need to reveal more about Billy as we go along, and each one does. Then you realize, okay, so he’s gotta do this, he’s got principles. It shows his arc through all the death. 

Image courtesy of Cineverse

Ruby, I love the addition of Pam and the connection she forms with Billy. What was your process for bringing her to life and shaping the dynamic she has with Billy? 

Ruby Modine: It’s somewhat frightening to tell you that becoming Pam was pretty easy [Laughs]. I have such a love for her, and we all have a little bit of Pam inside of us. I had so much fun because she loves ferociously, and she’s willing to do absolutely anything to protect the ones she loves. Becoming Pam was such a collaboration between Rohan and me because if we weren’t working with Mike on set, we were together running lines, creating backstories, throwing ideas around, and asking questions. She came to life in a way I had never experienced in my career. I’m just crazy about her, as you can tell. 

What do you hope longtime fans or newcomers take away from this reimagining? 

Ruby Modine: I hope so many people are Billy and Pam next Halloween!

Mike P. Nelson: Dude, that would be a huge win. We got a popcorn tin at AMC, and to me, that’s better than a trophy, that’s better than an award. A Halloween costume might even trump that. 

I really hope horror fans love this movie and come in to have a great time with it, and that they enjoy not only the blood and guts but also the story between these two characters, because it is a character movie. The plot is simple, but the film itself is about Billy and Pam. I hope that horror fans who watch these kinds of movies not only gravitate towards this, but even people outside the genre who might want to check this out, cause it seems different. I hope it bridges that gap.

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT is now in theaters.