Surviving Holiday Loneliness With Lauren Hannon From Black Christmas (2006)

As December snow falls, we’re wrapped in the warm embrace of red and green lights. But is it the most wonderful time of the year? Depends on who you ask. For many, reunions with family are long overdue chances to bond over dinner and the ritual of gift giving can heighten their sense of joy. For others, it’s a time in their lives that reminds them of what’s missing. Lauren Hannon is one such character who has the latter experience, but despite her barbed exterior, examining her inner world really endears me to her and I hope to share what I find to be so compelling. So as we amass our Secret Santa gifts under the Christmas tree, join me here by the fireplace at Delta Alpha Kappa as we unwrap Lauren’s character in the 2006 reimagining of Black Christmas.

Fans of the original Black Christmas from 1974 may correctly assume that Lauren is based on Barb, portrayed by Margot Kidder. She has a sharp wit and cynical disposition, often seen with a drink in hand. She has blithe dismissal for Heather’s desire for standard Christmas traditions, writing them off as neo-pagan magic. The tree itself has roots tied in celebrating the Winter Solstice, mistletoe is written off as being a conception charm, and the big man himself, Santa Claus, is written off as a voyeur who watches you year round in order to make sure you live up to his standards.

On the surface her cynical sarcasm may lead some people to see her as mean or unapproachable, but if you’re willing to dig deeper, these bitey defense mechanisms are actually a protective mask. A way to bite first, so that someone doesn’t have the opportunity to bite her back later. It’s a way to cope with feeling abandoned or disconnected from people in her life during the time of year when the world most insists on togetherness.



We learn through the context of her conversations that Lauren’s family life isn’t the best. After she provokes Heather about running home for the holiday, Heather bites back “At least my family wants me to come home”. Lauren’s one of the sorority sisters who’s staying in the Delta Alpha Kappa house over the break because she doesn’t have anywhere else to go. When the plot progresses to the point where the girls realize that some of their friends are either dead or missing, it’s revealed that Lauren’s mother is the closest relative in proximity to them. In at least one version of the script, it doesn’t matter anyway, as Melissa states “She’s in Bermuda with some guy”.

One scene that’s very telling is when Lauren tells Melissa that she’s been more of a sister to her than her own sister. To which Mel responds “yeah, Dick Cheney’s a better sister to you than your own sister” indicating that Lauren’s sister has the same detached disposition as her mother. But the bright side of this scene is that we get to see the found family in her life through her time on campus. At this point in the feature Lauren has overdrank to the point where she’s become sick and needs help getting around. This is where her vulnerabilities shine through, as she’s put herself in a position where she needs to be taken care of and Melissa fills that role in her life. You get the sense that she’s her closest friend here, she tells Lauren she loves her and helps her into bed.

The sorority house, while far from perfect, has become a place of connection and shared experience. Throughout the night we see bits of light that contrast with the darkness. Lauren playfully finds a way to help Kelli get people downstairs to open presents, and sometimes her sharp wit is pointed in the right direction. When the group starts getting harassing phone calls, she’s one of the people who argues back with the caller and tries to get them to hang up. Later when Kyle sneaks into their house via Megan’s room, she’s the one who points out they received a call from Megan’s cell, casting suspicion on him. It’s worth noting that despite her rough edges, she shows up when it counts.



If you’re someone who feels similarly isolated during the holidays, there are meaningful takeaways from Lauren’s story. Seeing someone do an imperfect job at navigating internal struggles feels resonant and relatable. Many of the film’s conflicts involve the external struggles of surviving the night, not only the dangers within the house but the inclement weather conditions that prevent help from coming elsewhere, so it’s just nice to see a character who has to deal with their own internal storm on top of that. Even if you’re unable to enjoy a traditional holiday experience, you can still seek out the Melissas in your life, the friends who are the lifeboats in your life. Feeling alone doesn’t mean you’re unloved.

Clair’s Secret Santa gift for Lauren was a snowglobe that played Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, and even though it’s not a gift she would show appreciation for, there’s still something unspoken about participating in the ritual of gift giving that bonds you to the giver, the intention of the exchange. As the viewer, the snowglobe is a bittersweet gift to think about in that moment because we know Clair is no longer around to give it.



I actually had the opportunity to ask Crystal Lowe about her memories of playing Lauren, which helped inform my thought process for much of this deep dive. I’ll leave you with this quote from her that really sums up the core of the character:

“Deep down inside she’s got a real soft spot, but she’ll never show it to you. It would take somebody really really special for her to open up and show who she actually is, because she really doesn’t let people in close to her, and she protects her space as much as she can.”

As we end this holiday season and look ahead to the coming year, I hope more people make the conscious decision to spend more time with the people who love them. Even if it’s your chosen family instead of your biological family. You never know when a glass unicorn on your nightstand could lead to your downfall, so make your time count.