Horror moviesare all about taking things we find comfort in and distorting and perverting them to tap into our deepest and darkest fears. This idea creates numerous subgenres within horror that pinpoint specific elements, all in an effort to scare us. No subject is safe from horror, even the holidays we celebrate each year with our friends and family. Christmas, in particular, is one holiday commonly used by Hollywood to inject horror and suspense.
Silent Night,Bloody Night(not included on this list) is credited with being the first theatrical Christmas horror film made in the United States. However, it was not until 1974 and the release ofBlack Christmas(included on this list), that the sub-genre really began to take form and gain popularity. Three decades and more than 100 Christmas horror movies later, the concept is as strong as ever. With 2023 seeing a rash of new Christmas-themed horror movies. To prepare you for the season, we have compiled 15 of the best Christmas horror movies to add to your holiday rotation.
The Gingerdead Manis the classic tale of a crazy killer, Millard Findlemeyer, being executed, cremated, and his mother mixing said ashes into a batch of gingerbread cookies, which are then contaminated with blood and jolted to life by an electric surge during cooking. It’s a pretty timeless tale, as the now-sentient killer gingerbread man embarks on a festive murder spree.
Why It’s a Great Addition
I think we can all firmly agree thatThe Gingerdead Manwill not be the best holiday movie you will ever watch. It is nonetheless a great addition to your holiday movie lineup, as you are sure to get a good laugh out of it while surrounded by your friends and family.
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Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Fear has always been used by parents around the holidays to scare their children into behaving well because, of course, Santa Claus is always watching.Silent Night, Deadly Nightfinds a young boy named Billy whose parents fall victim to a criminal dressed as Santa just after being warned by his elderly grandfather that Santa punishes the naughty. Now in adulthood, Billy finds himself on a murderous rampage after becoming Santa Claus at a local toy store, determining his victims' fate by whether they have been naughty or nice.
Why You Should Add it to Your Rotation
Silent Night, Deadly Nightis a unique take on the holiday horror movie and offers up some truly skin-crawling moments. The crazed aesthetic of the film is enough to entice any fan of terror and make them think twice before they decide to be naughty or nice.This 1980s classicwill forever live on as one of the most controversial slasher movies ever made.
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Red Snow (2021)
Slashers and supernatural creatures are staples of Christmas horror films, but vampires are an often underutilized horror icon injected into the holidays.Red Snowtells the story of Olivia, a vampiric romance novelist, who finds herself trying to survive the holidays as she faces off with real-life vampires at her late mother’s cabin in Lake Tahoe. By the end of the film, Olivia is now a successful author, but has she sacrificed part of herself to do so?
Red Snowis a uniquely entertaining Christmas horror movie because, as mentioned earlier, it uses vampires as its main antagonists, something not often used in the holiday horror genre. The dark humor throughout the film adds an extra layer of entertainment to this blood-soaked and snow-covered Christmas flick.
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A Christmas Horror Story (2015)
A Christmas Horror Storyis a horror anthology movie that tells four terrifying yet festive tales in one feature film. Over the course of the movie, audiences are treated to ghosts, changelings, zombies, and Krampus himself. The stories unfold as a local radio DJ named Dangerous Dan, played by William Shatner, spins his hits while ignoring calls about an incident at the local mall, an incident that is the focal point of the fourth and final story of the film.
The anthology aspect adds a refreshing layer to the movie as it provides viewers with four unique tales. With our attention spans at an all-time low, the change in stories helps for a better flow of watching. The over-the-top nature of the sequences throughout the film makes this a highly entertaining entry into your holiday horror lineup.
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The Advent Calendar (2021)
The Advent Calendar
The Advent Calendaris a unique take on the holiday horror film as it finds a now disabled former dancer Eva receiving an antique advent calendar as a gift from her friend. Each day, as a new window is opened, Eva faces new rewards and challenges that lead her down a dark road full of repercussions. The French film will take you on a fairly dim journey through a story set around a usually cheerful holiday.
Why You Should Add It
The movie is a great addition to your lineup because, unlike the others on this list, the movie is a refreshing change in tone. Where a lot of Christmas horror films lean into the silliness of the idea,The Advent Calendarcommits to its tone and does not let up.
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Krampus (2015)
Imagine having such a bad Christmas that you summon the festively sinister demon Krampus to unleash terror on your family. That is exactly what Max does in the 2015 Christmas horror comedy,Krampus. It boasts a hilarious cast featuring the likes of Adam Scott, David Koechner, and Toni Collette.Krampuswould receive a fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed more than $60 million worldwide at the box office.
Why We Love It
Krampusis a highly entertaining and fun movie to add to your holiday viewing traditions. Successfully blending tones and committing to its over-the-top story, the film evokes memories of classic B-level films of the ’60s. The scary yet silly moments add a rewatchability to the movie as you watch it Christmas after Christmas.
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Krampus Director Shares Ideas For Christmas Horror Movie Sequel
Krampus director Michael Dougherty reveals an idea for a follow up film, and its steers from the first film’s focus.
Better Watch Out (2016)
Better Watch Out
Better Watch Outweaves a nightmarish tale of a babysitter named Ashley who is taken hostage during a home invasion. Through a series of twisted events, Ashley quickly learns that the break-in is no ordinary crime, as the true intentions of her capture are revealed. Led by what critics praised as a charismatic group of young actors,Better Watch Outwould receive universal praise for its dark holiday tone.
Fans of child-led holiday films likeHome Alonewill find a particularly familiar tone toBetter Watch Out. Everything about the movie and the actors starring in it feels authentic and real. If you are looking for a more psychological addition to your holiday movies, then this is the film for you.
Inside (2007)
The French film,Inside, takes place over Christmas in France. On Christmas Eve, Sarah prepares to give birth despite surviving a car crash that killed her husband. When a mysterious woman knocks on her door that night, Sarah unleashes evil upon herself and her unborn child as the visitor is hell-bent on claiming Sarah’s unborn baby. With one critic citing the movie as “the most visceral slasher film of all time”,Insideis both fresh in its approach and unabashed in its tone.
Why You Should Add it to Your List
Insideis not a movie for the faint of heart or light of stomach. If you can handle it or if you enjoy raw and intense horror thrillers, then this film will make an excellent addition to your holiday rotation. It is stylish, shocking, and scary and will certainly make you question whether to answer a knock at the door on a cold Christmas Eve.
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Hosts (2020)
Hostsis a movie that will make you second-guess inviting the neighbors over for Christmas dinner. When a family invites the young couple from next door, nothing can prepare them for the demonic entity that comes with them, as the couple are themselves, “hosts”. The film proceeds to focus on the horror inflicted by the young couple on the neighboring family, and rarely takes its foot off the brakes.
Why it Should Make Your Rotation
If you can weather the storm through the slow beginning,Hostswill certainly become one of your favorite new holiday horror films. Full of metaphors, the smart writing helps propel the brutal story forward. The movie is full of fun, gore, and violence to fulfill the holiday appetite of any horror fan.
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Silent Night (2021)
Silent Night
Featuring a refreshingly unique story and top-notch performances by Matthew Goode and Keira Knightley.Silent Nightfollows a Christmas dinner party thrown by Simon for his friends and family that also serves as a last supper of sorts as an impending catastrophe brings on the end of the world. However, the intentions of Simon may not be all that they seem. The film received mixed reviews upon its release.
Like other films on this list, the unique premise is enough to draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat. Something about the holidays makes commonly used movie tropes feel just a little bit fresher. The delightful performances given by the leads are another aspect that keeps you engaged. Like a lot of Christmas horror films,Silent Nightshows just how terrifying spending the holidays with friends and family can be.
