Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation (1990)

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There is no connection between this and the first three films in the series, but that is not an automatic positive. The straight-forward, gruesome story has a plucky reporter with boyfriend troubles investigating the mysterious death of a woman, and getting caught up in a witches' coven led by Fima (Maud Adams, eons from her James Bond film appearances).

The lead actress is okay, Clint Howard plays the same nut-job role he always gets to play outside of his brother's films, and the movie keeps a tight pace. Take away the "Silent Night, Deadly Night 4" from the title, and this is just another straight-to-video gore-fest that was not good enough to get released in theaters. Sure, the gore involving giant bugs is good, but there is nothing special here.

"Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation" is severed head and shoulders above the first three entries in the series, but it still sucks. Also known as "Initiation: Silent Night, Deadly Night 4." Followed by "Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toymaker."

Stats:
(1990) 87 min. (*) out of five stars
-Directed by Brian Yuzna
-Screenplay by Zeph E. Daniel, Story by Richard N. Gladstein, Arthur Gorson, S.J. Smith, Brian Yuzna
-Cast: Maud Adams, Clint Howard, Neith Hunter, Tommy Hinkley, Hugh Fink, Richard N. Gladstein, Reggie Bannister, Allyce Beasley, Glen Chin, Jeanne Bates, Laurel Lockhart, Ben Slack, Conan Yuzna, Marjean Holden
(R)