It wasn't the first Christmas themed horror film, but "Silent Night, Deadly Night" would prove to be the most controversial upon its wide release in 1984. Director Charles E. Sellier Jr.'s slasher film caused quite a stir with its provocative promotional campaign. Not only did the national PTA fight to have it pulled from theaters due to the potentially scarring image of a killer Santa, the film was given the best reward an exploitation film could hope for, a condemnation by Siskel and Ebert. It was so controversial in the UK, that it wasn't officially released there until 2009. Although tame by today's standards, it remains a favorite of Holiday gore hounds the world over.