Black Christmas

The ending of Black Christmas remains haunting and deliberately ambiguous. Throughout the film, the identity of the killer, often called “Billy,” is never fully revealed, adding to the sense of dread. Jess, the last survivor, manages to kill her boyfriend Peter, who she believed might be responsible for the murders, with a fire poker in a moment of desperate self-defense. The police arrive and, assuming Peter was the culprit because of his unstable behavior and suspect actions, leave Jess alone and sedated, believing the danger has passed. However, as the credits begin to roll, the horrifying reality is left in the air: Billy is still in the house, lurking unseen. The ringing of the phone just before the film ends suggests that the killer remains alive and uncatchable, a symbol of the ongoing horror. This unresolved ending underscores the film’s nihilistic tone and the terrifying thought that evil can persist beyond the story’s closure, leaving viewers with a chilling reminder that the threat is still out there, even after the apparent resolution. The film’s decision to keep Billy’s backstory and motives vague amplifies its psychological impact, making it a pioneering work in the slasher genre that values mood and mystery over explicit explanations. Ultimately, Black Christmas leaves us with a disturbing question: is the killer truly gone, or is he simply waiting in the shadows for his next victim? The film’s open-ended conclusion continues to influence horror movies, emphasizing that some terrors are best left undefined.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44