This Christmas, when you finally get sick of all the traditional movies that are sure to be running over and over again on TCM, take a moment and kick back with some of the best holiday movies the horror genre has to offer.
While it is hard to find a ‘good’ Christmas horror film these days, here’s a look back at some of the best that Hollywood has churned out over the years.
5. Jack Frost (1996) - A serial killer dies in a car wreck and comes back as a murdering snowman to get revenge on the sheriff who caught him. Simple movie, simple plot, and a heck of a lot of fun to watch.
4. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) - A little boy watches his parents get mudered by a guy in a Santa suit. Years later, he’s all grown up and gets a job in a department store as jolly old Saint Nick himself (oh the irony), and goes on a killing spree that leads back to the orphanage where he was raised. What more do you need from a slasher flick?
3. Child’s Play (1988) - What’s worse than getting a doll for Christmas? How about one that talks smack and wields a knife? When serial killer Charles Lee Ray invades sweet, adorable Chucky, all hell breaks loose and it’s up to Andy and his mom to stop him. Spawning numerous sequels, the original Child’s Play is still a cult-favorite to this day.
2. Christmas Evil (1980) - A young boy is scarred for life when he finds out Santa isn’t real. As he gets older, he becomes a toy-maker and is obsessed with the behavior of children and the quality of toys that he makes. Eventually he snaps though, and goes on a holiday rampage dressed in, you guessed it, a Santa suit.
1. Black Christmas (1974) - During Christmas break, a serial killer makes a bunch of disturbing phone calls to a sorority house, terrorizing all the sisters, and killing them off one by one. Chilling atmosphere, a great performance from Olivia Hussey, and a score that will haunt your dreams for days afterwards, Black Christmas definitely is tops when it comes to holiday horror movies.
There you have it. Five movies to turn your eggnog red and make you wish it was still Thanksgiving. Who needs Miracle on 34th Street when you have classics like these that will put the kids to bed early? Just be sure that they wake up in the morning to open presents.
Comments
I clicked the link prepared to say "What about Jack Frost?" :) Seems like I watched a remake of Black Christmas about a year ago, but it was pretty bad.
Deck the halls with spleens and kidneys, fa la la la la la la la la. Great list. I foresee a Black Christmas this year, and why not? Blood is red, right?
Jack Frost is on my annual Christmas movie viewing list! (And I'm not talking about the one starring Michael Keaton!) You've rounded out my holiday viewing pleasure, and I look forward to Christmas Eve when the kiddies are tucked away safely slumbering, awaiting old Chris Kringle to make his appearance. I will be bundled up in my "Snuggie" (leopard print no less!) munching on cookies and celebrating in my own unique way! Thank you for this article!
It's a tad kitschy-cutesy, but Joe Dante's GREMLINS falls at least on the fringes of Christmas horror movies. (In a related musical vein--no pun intended--I recommend King Diamond's "No Presents for Christmas," by the way.)
Man, I just watched Gremlins twice in the last month, and totally forgot about it.
The part where the old lady opens the door, and they're all wearing sweaters and earmuffs and reading from carol books slays me every time.
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