Are you tired of sappy Christmas films? Let’s be honest, not everyone wants to watch Home Alone, A Muppet’s Christmas Carol and Elf every year, and if you’re anything like me, you’re quite happy to embrace a spot of horror over the holidays.
Halloween and Friday the 13th might have the monopoly on franchises, but how often does Christmas get a horror overhaul? I’ve already looked at Krampus from 2015, so here are four other Christmas horror films you might want to try!
Black Christmas (1974)
Black Christmas was remade in 2006 but the remake almost unilaterally only gets one star anywhere it’s reviewed. In fact, a lot of people even forget that the remake exists. So do yourself a favour and watch the original instead, which at least features Margot Kidder being totally awesome.
You’ve heard that famous urban legend, about the baby sitter who gets threatening phone calls, until she realises the murderer is in the house with her. Well Black Christmas takes it one step further, and sets the story in a sorority house. A deranged murderer lurks in their house, stalking and killing them in turn.
It’s tense, and helped set the stage for the slasher cycle that would make an appearance in 1978 with Halloween.
Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972)
Two years earlier, more Christmas mayhem kicks off when a man inherits a former asylum-turned-family home. Problem is, the inmates aren’t far away. Silent Night, Bloody Night has a slightly convoluted plot, involving family secrets mixed up with town secrets, but I’ve seen worse and it definitely makes the most of its Christmas Eve setting. It’s definitely not a film where you’ll see the twist ending coming.
It’s another tense, atmospheric gem that benefits from its pre-slasher status.
“All Through the House” from Tales From The Crypt (1972)
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Amicus portmanteau films, because the segments can often be, quite frankly, utterly bonkers. A lot of their films, including Torture Garden (1967), The House That Dripped Blood (1971) and Dr Terror’s House of Horrors (1965), have an overarching narrative which links the loose short stories together.
The basic plot of Tales from the Crypt sees five strangers encounter the Crypt Keeper, who tells them all how they’ll die. “All Through the House” is genuinely bizarre, featuring a murderous Joan Collins being chased around her house by a homicidal Santa. Not really something you see every day. It’s only ten minutes long, and I found it on YouTube too!
Treevenge
Speaking of YouTube, there is one last little gem I’ll share with you. It’s definitely NSFW and it’s only 16 minutes long, but have you ever wondered if Christmas trees can feel? Wonder no longer!
Have you seen any of these films, or do you prefer more traditional Christmas fare? Let me know in the comments!
Ghosts & goddesses
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I’ve seen the lot – Tales from the Crypt currently on the Horror channel loop! Yes – Amicus were totally out there.
At Christmas I like a nice proper, scary, horror. They just don’t make them any more. I have ‘Dead Silence’ (early James Wan/possessed doll I suspect) and ‘A Christmas Horror Story’ from this year lined up. I think ITV might have a ghost tail lined up. But E.L. James-like would be nice.
Merry Christmas!
Do you mean MR James-like?
I finally got around to seeing Treevenge — THAT WAS AMAZING.
Now I just need to see all the others.
Glad you liked it!