Photo: Universal Pictures
The notion of watchinghorror movieson Christmas seems downright heretical. After all, the yuletide season is supposed to bring cheer and goodwill toward your fellow man. But there’s a certain segment of the population that likes to cut that mirth with some more subversive fun.
If you’re one of those people looking toadd a little spookinessto the holiday season, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re wanting some fun scares likeTim Burton’s musical movieThe Nightmare Before Christmasor something downright terrifying like the horror filmKrampus, we’ve rounded up just a handful of titles that explore the dark side of yuletide below.
Tales From the Crypt(1972)
Courtesy Everett Collection
WatchTales from the Crypton Tubi
Home for the Holidays(1972)
WatchHome for the Holidayson Prime Video
Black Christmas(1974)
WatchBlack Christmason Prime Video
Silent Night, Deadly Night(1984)
Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection
Another slasher, this one is probably most famous for creating a controversy when the movie-going public objected to the idea of someone dressing up as Santa Claus and killing people. And that’s not too surprising, considering how many children are already terrified of the regular, non-murderous Santa. Neither well-reviewed nor that successful financially,Silent Night, Deadly Nightultimately spawned four sequels and a remake.
WatchSilent Night, Deadly Nighton Prime Video
Gremlins(1984)
Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection
TheSteven Spielberg-produced film made $153 million, proving movie-goers' desire to see Christmas cheer mixed with mayhem. You might considerGremlinsmore of a comedy than a horror movie, but many of the films on this list blend scares and laughter. This one does both well, in addition to satirizing some of the more commercial aspects of theholiday season.
WatchGremlinson HBO Max
The Nightmare Before Christmas(1993)
Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Is it a kids' movie? An all-ages movie? AHalloween movie? AChristmas movie? The answer is yes, and Disney-sanctioned though it all may be,The Nightmare Before Christmasdoesn’t skimp on the creepy and scary. It’s rated PG, but it’s a fairly hard PG, you know?
WatchThe Nightmare Before Christmason Disney +
Santa’s Slay(2005)
Media 8 Entertainment
Based on the trailer and the fact that it stars pro-wrestler Goldberg as an evil Santa Claus, you might be inclined to pass on this one. However, that less-than-stellar premise belies the fact that this comedy-slasher boasts an oddly eclectic cast that includesFran Drescher,Chris Kattan,Rebecca Gayheart, Dave Thomas andEmilie de Ravin. Yeah, we thought that was surprising, too.
WatchSanta’s Slayon Prime Video
Black Christmas(2006)
MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale(2010)
Oscilloscope/Courtesy Everett Collection
After all this, it hardly sounds strange that a Finnish horror-adventure fantasy movie exists about reindeer herders fighting an undead Santa who, from beyond the grave, controls an army of “helper elves” who kidnap naughty children, does it? No, wait: Yes, that does actually sound super weird even still.
Watch Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale on Hulu
Krampus(2015)
Steve Unwin/©Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
The film centers around Krampus, a creature from Germanic folklore that acts as a sort of anti-Santa Claus, punishing the wicked. That’s essentially what this horned monster does in the movie. And while there are surely people shocked that such a movie would be released around Christmas, it’s just the most recent in a long tradition of festive horror.
WatchKrampuson Peacock
source: people.com
