‘Silent Night, Deadly Night' is considered to be a cult horror movie classic.
The original film was released in 1984 and it has been remade on two occasions – 2012 and 2025. The latest version is in cinemas now and is led by Rohan Campbell (‘Halloween Ends') and Ruby Modine (‘Happy Death Day'). The film also stars rising Canadian actor David Tomlinson (‘Fellow Travelers') in a pivotal role.
With the movie now in cinemas, I caught up with David to find out more about it, discuss his experiences on set, and to talk about his time on the critically acclaimed ‘Fellow Travelers'…
‘Silent Night, Deadly Night' is out now. What kind of reactions are you seeing to the film?
I'm seeing a lot of people are loving it, so I'm excited to see what happens.
This is the second time that ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night' has been remade. Did you have any hesitation about getting involved with a remake?
I purposely didn't watch the first film because I didn't wanna copy anybody. I wanted to just bring my own take to it. Honestly, when I auditioned, I didn't really know about it. I found out actually when I was on set that it was a remake. It was a good thing I didn't really know about it 'cause I probably would've been nervous going into it and knowing that it's a cult classic.
I will admit that I've never actually seen the original movie but it's such a cult classic isn't it? I understand that this film takes the premise of the original and does something different with it. It's led by Rohan Campbell, who is becoming a real star of the horror genre. What was he like to work with?
He's an amazing actor, honestly. When I was watching him in one of the scenes in the movie, I could see why he's been so successful. It makes a lot of sense. It's not easy to dress as Santa and be a convincing serial killer; that's very hard to pull off and he pulled it off. He's amazing. Ruby (Modine) was great too. I know it sounds cliche, everybody says this, but I couldn't have asked for more talented people to work with. When you work with people like that, I gotta be on my game. I gotta keep up with them. I tried my best.
You play the character of Max in the film. What do people need to know about him?
Well all I could say without spoiling anything is he's a police officer in town. He's contending with a brutal series of murders that are happening in this town around the holidays. I play Ruby's ex in it. Let's just say Max, he's not as cool as he seems to be. There's something up with that guy.
What was the most challenging aspect of making this film and playing this role?
It's hard to be somebody that you're not really like in real life. You kinda have to put yourself in their shoes and it's tough to be somebody that's not where you're used to.
There is a lot of gore in this film. How did you deal with that aspect?
It was just so much fun, honestly. I love it. I love watching those kind of movies. It wasn't gross to me at all. I know it sounds weird, but I like stuff like that.
We're both horror fans so what would you say is your go-to slasher movie?
Obviously the first ‘Halloween' set the bar for what they should be like. This movie (‘Silent Night, Deadly Night'), it's not just a slasher. It's like a horror comedy, which I think a lot of people will like because it's got a lot of different aspects to it and a lot of different genres all mixed into one. It's got horror, comedy, thriller, some serious subject matter and it's a Christmas movie. It's gonna be one of those movies everybody watches around the holidays. I think that's what sets it apart from the other slasher movies because I can't really think of like a slasher Christmas horror comedy.' Mike did a great job of making it that way and making it his own. He brought his originality to it and I think it's good. He did pay tribute to the original film, which a lot of fans from the original are gonna want to see, right? They're not gonna wanna see something completely different from the original. It does justice to the original but it's like its own little new version.
Beyond this film, you were in ‘Fellow Travelers' with Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey. That show really blew up in terms of critical acclaim. What was the experience like for you?
That was really my first bigger role I guess you could say. I was very excited to start. Matt Bomer was a great guy and a , great actor; he made me feel very comfortable when we were shooting. The first day on set, we were in the hallway and I was probably a bundle of nerves because it was my first really big role ever. Before that I hadn't done anything really big or professional before. Every actor when they don't really have anything on their resume and they wanna do such a good job, they just hope everything goes well. He was just so cool and so complimentary during the whole thing, that it made it very easy for me to do my thing.
Is there anything that you were able to learn from him during that experience that you've been able to take on to other roles?
When you go on a set that big, you learn things from him and you watch him and he teaches you the ropes a bit. The director, Dan, he's great too, and Ron. I met with them before to do a little chemistry read with Matt and they're really cool too. They're great. All of them combined was a very good first experience for a newer actor.
What's the future after ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night' looking like for you? Are you auditioning?
Yeah. I'm auditioning all the time. I'm just giving everything I have to my auditions and being over prepared like I always try to be. I have a couple of things coming out. I'm in ‘Boston Blue' and I'm in the new season of ‘ Cross' coming out in 2026.
The first season of ‘Cross' was huge. What was it like for you to be a part of something like that?
I try not to look at it that way. To be honest, I go in avoiding looking at the success of whatever show it is. I just pretend like it's not there and I do my thing and then I look afterwards. I don't really get all worked up but I'm honored and grateful to even be considered for a show like that. I'm very happy for its success.
What would you say is the ultimate role that you'd love to play?
It's always fun to be the bad guy, right? That's the most fun role.
Is there any particular franchise? Would you like to be a in a Bond movie or something like that?
I don't know about that. I'd love to. From what I've always liked to watch, an anti-hero, I really like to watch. The bad guys are always more fun to play and to watch. I really take anything. I'm not picky (laughs) .
Christmas is almost here. Will you be enjoying some down time and seeing the family?
Yeah, just with the family. Everything's gonna shut down in a couple weeks and, it's good to just unwind and hang out with the family and the dogs and have a good time. Go watch ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night' in the theaters.
Why should people check out ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night', over the holidays?
Because it's just so much fun. If you want to go have fun and watch a movie and see an eighties style slasher, horror comedy, but very much a thriller too, then, it's perfect. I can't really think of a better movie to watch around this time of year.
‘Silent Night, Deadly Night' is in cinemas now. Watch the trailer below:
