Buzz
Christmas, traditionally a time for family bonding, has its fair share of drama. And with drama often comes violence. This may be the reason Christmas and Horror pair so well in cinema. There are several memorable, and some less so, films that weave holiday cheer into their tales of terror. As we face this 2020 season, perhaps these movies serve as a chilling preview of what could be in store this Christmas.
Here are ten of the creepiest, most bizarre, and top-rated Christmas horror movies ever made.
10. Krampus
The modern celebration of Christmas blends many cultural traditions, but some characters never made the cut. One such figure is Krampus, a sinister creature from Austrian and German folklore, who doesn’t exactly fit into the jolly spirit of the season. Krampus, with his horns, goat-like legs, and a bundle of birch sticks to punish naughty children, is terrifying. The most misbehaved children are taken away in a basket, whisked off to Hell by the monster himself.
In 2015's Krampus, the notorious figure who punishes misbehaving children arrives just as a family gathers to celebrate Christmas. A snowstorm traps the family together for longer than expected, which becomes a nightmare in itself. Meanwhile, Krampus begins his invasion of the home, and not all the presents left under the tree are as merry as they appear.
9. Home Alone
Home Alone is considered one of the quintessential Christmas films of modern times. It’s a light-hearted comedy – at least from a child’s perspective. However, when viewed through an adult lens, it reveals itself as something far more sinister.
The plot centers around the lovable yet sociopathically clever Kevin, who is left behind during Christmas. He sets a series of elaborate traps to ward off two bumbling burglars. Over the course of one night, he shoots them, drops heavy objects on them, burns them, forces them to walk on sharp glass, and sends them crashing down icy steps.
In reality, Kevin would have likely killed the burglars numerous times over. Kevin is a truly destructive child who should never be trusted with the safety of vulnerable people.
8. Await Further Instructions
For most, Christmas is a time of joy, but for some, the idea of returning to their childhood home brings nothing but dread. In 'Await Further Instructions,' one man returns to his family with his girlfriend, only to face his racist grandfather who is not happy about his partner’s race. As you might expect, things take a dark turn.
But no one expects the arrival of an external force that traps everyone inside for days with no escape. With cryptic messages appearing on the television, the family’s tensions start to rise, and survival becomes their main focus. Forget the dry turkey; things are much more dire.
7. Dead End
While spending Christmas with family can be a nightmare, nothing beats the stress of a long holiday drive with relatives. When someone mentions a shortcut, you know you’re in for a tense, disorienting experience—and you’re bound to get lost.
In Dead End, a seemingly innocent shortcut on Christmas Eve leads a family into a remote and eerie forest. When they stop to help a woman and her baby, things quickly take a sinister turn, and soon, the situation escalates into bloodshed.
6. Gremlins
Before gifting an animal, remember that pets are a lifelong commitment, not just a temporary present. If you gift someone a Gremlin, your life may not be as long as you'd hope.
In Gremlins, a seemingly harmless creature named Gizmo causes chaos. If Gizmo gets wet, he spawns more mogwai, and if they eat after midnight, they turn into the terrifying Gremlins. Predictably, Gizmo gets wet, and after a midnight feast, the creatures wreak havoc on the town.
The sequel to Gremlins is one of the wildest movies from the late 80s, where no idea seems too outlandish. The film features a variety of bizarre Gremlins, including vegetable gremlins, bat gremlins, lightning gremlins, and even strangely sexualized female gremlins.
5. Jack Frost
Be cautious with your Christmas wish list. If you ask Santa for a movie titled Jack Frost, make sure you're clear about which one you mean. He might bring you the touching 1998 film starring Michael Keaton, or he could gift you the 1997 horror flick about a murderous snowman.
In the horror version of Jack Frost, a truck transporting a serial killer named Jack Frost is en route to his execution when it collides with a truck full of “genetic material” during a snowstorm. As any scientist would agree, that's the quickest way to turn a human body into snow.
No one is safe from this terrifying snowman, who targets his victims in bathtubs and even under Christmas trees.
4. Rare Exports
If you discover a massive mound of ice that has been constructed over centuries to keep something trapped inside, blowing it up with dynamite probably isn't the best idea. That's the lesson at the heart of Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.
When researchers begin explosively investigating a site in the remote Lapland, they soon uncover more than they bargained for. While the team digging on the hill meets their doom when something escapes its frozen prison, the local farmers fare a bit better. They capture an unusual old man in one of their wolf traps, a man who bears an uncanny resemblance to Santa Claus...
It's safe to say that the creatures unleashed from their icy prison are not the kinds of visitors you'd want sliding down your chimney on Christmas—or any night of the year.
3. Better Watch Out
Grand American homes are always a picturesque setting in Christmas films, as big families gather to celebrate the holidays. They also make the perfect backdrop for horror films, providing villains plenty of hiding spots.
A masked intruder begins to terrorize a babysitter and her charge during Christmas, and what initially seems like a charming grand house soon turns sinister. As the title of the film hints, sometimes the most unexpected threats are the ones you need to fear.
This is the film to watch if you're looking for a more grounded, realistic take on the horror of being 'Home Alone.' After watching this, you'll definitely think twice before using the phrase 'home alone.'
2. The Children
There's nothing quite like spending Christmas with children. Their infectious excitement for presents and boundless energy can melt even the coldest of Scrooges. However, leave it to a horror movie to shatter that innocence.
In The Children, a family sets off to enjoy a festive holiday in the snowy countryside, indulging in traditional activities like sledding. While the adults are busy sipping wine and taking drugs, the children start showing signs of illness. But this isn't just the common cold—any child who contracts the illness begins plotting the deaths of the adults around them.
As the trailer ominously declares, "You brought them into the world. They will take you out." Bah Humbug.
1. Silent Night, Deadly Night
Normally, people aren't too thrilled when a stranger breaks into their home in the middle of the night—even if they claim to be bringing gifts. Yet, Santa Claus gets a free pass, often receiving cookies and milk left out for him. However, sometimes it's not the jolly Saint Nick that arrives.
In Silent Night, Deadly Night, we meet someone donned in a red-and-white suit with a large beard who sneaks into people's homes under the cover of night. But instead of bringing presents, he wields a deadly axe.
The movie kicks off with the tragic murder of a family by Father Christmas, and the story only gets darker from there. Let's just say this Santa seems to believe in punishing the naughty far more than rewarding the nice.
