It's time to goth up those halls, jingle the skull bells, and or whatever your heart desires this holiday season. The holidays are typically seen as a joyous time for some, but not everyone, so try to respect when someone says they don't like this time of year. There are quite a number of reasons not to, especially when money is extremely tight for a lot of folks and the world is…certainly in a state. But we're not here to rant about that, are we? We're here to talk about holiday horror and yes, horror is all year round for some of us.
Holiday horror is self-explanatory, it's horror that's set during respective holidays. Christmas, X-mas, or other December-based holiday horror is one of the more popular subgenres. It takes what people often associate with having a great time and adding a horror spin. Therefore, people are typically having the worst possible time during a holiday horror film set in this time of year. If you're someone who enjoys a macabre spin to their holiday season, this list might be a delight for you.
There are countless horror films to watch that take place during this time of year. Some of them aren't great and some of them are classics. But one thing that I can assure you in this list is that you'll find at least something to enjoy. Please keep in mind that this is nowhere near everything, and I've listed only a handful that you could watch.
Black Christmas (1974)
It's a horror classic across the board, not even just as a holiday horror film, either. Black Christmas follows a sorority house in which is dealing with a killer who is picking them off one by one. There's no major backstory for the killer in this one (only in that not-so-great remake from 2006), and that's part of what makes it so terrifying for the girls. It's also a film that's quite important to bodily autonomy depiction in horror. Rather than a character experience conflict about an unwanted pregnancy, Jess (Olivia Hussey) is firm in not wanting to have a child with her boyfriend.
Black Christmas not only masters the art of building tension as well as creating believable characters, it still manages to hold up today. Just like nearly any film from back in the day, there are aspects that would be updated in a modern day reimagining, though it's still a relevant film due to its subject matter. And it was also filmed in Canada, believe it or not! Thus making it a Canadian holiday horror film that has cult status.
Gremlins (1984)
The mogwai are so cute, until they're causing problems. Gremlins follows the disastrous events that occur when Billy (Zach Galligan) receives a mogwai named Gizmo for Christmas, but fails to listen to the instructions he was given for taking care of him. It's a black comedy horror film, therefore it's not too serious by nature. And it's also a staple for '80s horrors, especially creature features. Not to mention, it really embraces the holiday it's set during.
For those who love cute creatures and antics, then Gremlins will certainly be enjoyable for you one way or another. It's also rated PG, which means it's a great gateway horror film for younger folks in your life to watch. If you want a holiday horror film that's got comedy and creatures, then you're in luck here. Also, Gizmo is very cute!
Better Watch Out (2016)
*Some spoilers ahead*
In terms of holiday horror that angers people, this is one of those. Better Watch Out follows a babysitter named Ashley (Olivia DeJonge), who finds herself having to keep the kid she's babysitting from a home intruder. Only everything isn't what it seems, and nothing good can come from that. What unfolds after the twist is incredibly infuriating, and it's meant to be. Rather than Ashley being forced to deal with some disgusting man trying to harm her and kid(s), the call is coming from inside the house (so to speak).
Better Watch Out's villain being a 12-year-old who feels entitled, and is leaning heavily in toxic masculinity, rape culture etc, is deeply uncomfortable. Though, it's also not far-fetched in the slightest, which makes it all the more scary. Instead of spoiling what occurs in this film, it's wise to watch for yourself to see how you feel about it. But you've been warned about how horrible its villain is. And the performances won't let you down in the slightest.
The Lodge (2019)
Sometimes kids are doing too damn much, and then there's the worst imaginable consequences as a result. The Lodge follows a soon-to-be stepmom who goes on a vacation with her fiancé and his kids, but everything goes wrong when they become stranded. The unsettling vibes in this film will make you squirm, and the decisions of some of the characters will have you shaking your head.
The Lodge isn't a fast-paced film in the slightest, it takes its time building to the uncomfortable climax. And it reminds us how far people will go because they are unable to communicate their feelings. Just like other holiday horror films, there's not a single promise that everything will be okay for all the characters. In fact, the ending is quite bleak in terms of the likely outcome. It's a good watch for folks who want the perfect vibes.
The Sacrifice Game (2023)
A holiday horror film set in the ‘70s in a boarding school is sometimes a fun time, right? The Sacrifice Game follows two girls and a teacher who stay behind during Christmas break at a boarding school, only for a trio of killers to show up with the intention of summoning a powerful demon. But everything isn’t what it seems and their plans aren't as smooth sailing as they want them to be.
As far as Shudder originals go, The Sacrifice Game is a little gem that happens to have some twists. There's something about throwing audiences for a loop the way this film does. And while it might not be the most perfect film, it's still entertaining for what it is. Plus the ‘70s holiday aesthetics are relatively on point in this fiilm. Therefore, if you’re looking for something set in the '70s, you might enjoy The Sacrifice Game.
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