Welcome to Knockout Horror. It’s Christmas Eve and the second to last day of our Awful Advent feature. I hope you have all of your last minute stuff sorted and don’t have to brave the crowds. If your December was anything like mine. You will have been busy getting frustrated at rude people in shops. Why not take the weight off and spend some time in front of the TV with a Christmas classic? Today we are taking a look at Richard Donner’s Scrooged.
Now, I know what you are thinking and you are right.. Scrooged isn’t really a horror movie. It’s more of a dark comedy if anything. Despite this. I have always found the story of A Christmas Carol to have some serious horror vibes. I mean, we have ghosts, a dead dude, hauntings, a spirit with his jaw hanging off, a child dying due to polio.. That is some fairly serious horror shit. Plus I needed a movie for Christmas eve so why not go with the most adult version of the story?
I am sure most of you know the plot of this movie. Miserly television exec Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is visited by three spirits in an attempt to stop him being such a relentless asshole. It’s A Christmas Carol for the 80s so you know what to expect.
A Modern Retelling of a Classic
As many of you will know, Scrooged is a modern retelling of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Well, I say modern but the film was made nearly 35 years ago. Still, you get the point. Set in the big city, this movie was A Christmas Carol for the yuppie era. Out were the tall hats and mutton chops, in were the pricey suits and mullets. Focusing far less on the charity aspect. Scrooged’s main character is a self centred bastard. He is concerned purely with his work and succeeding at any cost.
Scrooged came about due to the desire to make a comedy version of A Christmas Carol. Bill Murray, who had taken a break from acting after the success of Ghostbusters, liked the idea. The thought of playing a funny version of Scrooge appealed to him. He just didn’t happen to think the script was particularly good. He finally signed up and Richard Donner was set to direct. The two met, realised they could get along and that was that.
Little did the pair know that the development of Scrooged would prove to be a nightmare for all involved. Murray was depressed and demanding on set. Used to adlibbing and working without guidance. Murray demanded numerous changes were made and frequently went off script. Donner had never worked with an actor like Murray before and the two clashed. Murray would call Scrooged the most miserable production of his life. Feeling that the movie didn’t live up to its potential. A fact that was probably true.
A Miserly Network President
As mentioned above, Scrooged follows mean television network president Frank Cross. The film sees him trying to navigate the production of a live version of A Christmas Carol. All while being visited by a group of ghosts determined to have him change his ways. These aren’t your traditional Dickensian ghosts, however. We have a cigar chomping New York cab driver. A maniacal fairy with a penchant for breaking noses. And a death like hooded figure with a stomach full of gremlin type creatures. These ghosts are mean, somewhat violent, and not taking any of Cross’s bullshit.
Scrooged plays on many of the facets of the original story while bringing them right up to date. It’s excellent stuff. Scrooged offers a fantastic alternative to traditional versions of A Christmas Carol. Naturally, Scrooged is far more of a comedy than anything else. Despite this, it is packed with dark elements. Themes of poverty, depression, loneliness and destitution are all present. They are portrayed in a realistic and sombre manner. It can actually be quite sad at times.
The fact that Scrooged manages to be so comical is quite impressive. The background of the story is so dark but there are legitimately hilarious moments. It is a mix of Bill Murray being Bill Murray, slapstick violence and just good old fashioned comedy. It frequently makes you laugh your ass off. Carol Kane’s depiction of the Ghost of Christmas Present is particularly brilliant. I remember watching this movie as a kid and finding her absolutely hilarious. Many of the characters will elicit belly laughs. Elliot is fantastic, as is the Ghost of Christmas Past. It’s a genuinely funny movie.
A Few Horror Scenes
As I mentioned above, calling Scrooged a horror movie is quite a bit of a push. I really only included it as I love A Christmas Carol and wanted to include a version. Scrooged is the most suitable for adults and does some things a little different. It really does have horror elements, though. In fact, I think many of the movie adaptations of A Christmas Carol do. The Disney version starring Jim Carrey is particularly scary, in parts. I remember watching it in the cinema with my fiancée back in 2009. At least a couple of parents walked out with upset looking children. Scrooged is similar and manages to make at least a few of the scenes quite disturbing.
The general mood of Scrooged is quite a lot more depressing than most versions of the story. It is hard not to notice a sense of bleakness over the production. Something which adds to the story. It definitely lacks some of the feel good parts of more traditional iterations. Again, it is not really a horror but it is suitably dark and moody.
A Christmas Classic
Scrooged was not warmly received and much of that is down to the fact that it isn’t a particularly great movie. Still, despite the initial mixed reception, the film has been reappraised in recent years. This has happened to many movies over the years, particularly Christmas films. Black Christmas is another good example of a Christmas movie that was mixed on release. Nowadays it is considered essential viewing and an important progenitor of the Slasher genre.
Over the years Scrooged has become a Christmas classic. People who are looking for a darker version of A Christmas Carol love it. It’s a bit more adult and a bit cheekier than many iterations. It’s the only retelling where you will find swearing, violence, wicked humour, and scantily clad ladies. Scrooged is also a good opportunity for fans of Bill Murray to get a hefty dose just in time for the Christmas season. For fans of horror, it is the obvious choice. Its darker tone is very fitting and some of the creepier scenes really stand out.
Excellent Acting and a Fantastic Cast
Scrooged features excellent acting throughout. The cast here is absolutely stellar and they all do a wonderful job. Cameos from Lee Majors, Robert Goulet, John Houseman and Robert Mitchum are welcome. It’s Bill Murray as Frank Cross that steals the show. Despite it being obvious that he maybe wasn’t feeling particularly festive while filming. Murray’s razor sharp wit and scathing line delivery are perfect for the role. He his hilarious and absolutely relishes playing the mean spirited network president. While his redemption never feels quite as genuine as other previous Scrooge characters. He is utterly enjoyable.
Carol Kane and David Johansen are excellent as the ghost of Christmas present and past. Kane is maniacal and a total scene stealer. She guarantees laughs every second she is on screen. She committed so much to the role that she actually broke Murray’s nose with a toaster. Something that actually genuinely upset her a lot. John Glover is suitably sleazy as Brice Cummings. Bobcat Goldthwait is excellent as the down on his luck Eliot Loudermilk. He has some really funny moments.
Alfre Woodard, as Cross’s assistant Grace, is great. She is very convincing as the sympathetic and kind hearted single mum. Karen Allen is very fitting as Cross’s girlfriend Claire. Murray wanted the pair’s relationship expanded on more than originally called for. I think the film benefits from having more of Allen. Her ability to portray a caring, warm hearted character is a nice change of pace. We all know Scrooged has far too many asshole so it makes for a nice contrast. There are far too many great performances to go over them all. It’s a great cast and they all do a great job.
Should You Watch Scrooged?
If you are a fan of the story of A Christmas Carol, Scrooged is essential viewing. It’s a great movie for horror fans as it is just that little bit dark and it is littered with fantastic performances. Often hilarious, occasionally a bit drab and low energy. It is a mixed movie that earns a special place in people’s hearts for being a Christmas film that feels just that little bit adult.
