DES MOINES, Iowa —

Forty-one years ago, as the holiday season approached, ads for a decidedly unconventional Christmas movie began to appear. Most notable was its poster, which featured a snow covered rooftop and chimney, with Santa’s arm the only part of him not already inside. The catch? Santa was holding an axe.

This was what began the turmoil that was Silent Night, Deadly Night .

Parents complained about how the imagery frightened (or potentially could frighten) their children, so they picketed theaters and got themselves on the news. This, as you probably saw coming a mile away, had the adverse response and the movie made some money, despite being a particularly not-well-made cash grab in the Holiday-Themed Horror genre of the day.

Yet, the controversy led to the title alone b

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