It’s that time of year when becoming an official couch potato is not only acceptable but almost a holiday tradition. Wrapping yourself in a warm blanket, holding a steaming cup of cocoa, and getting lost in the world of television is the ultimate winter sport. Normally, this time of year is all about chocolate chip cookies and romantic stories, but if your rebellious side is calling for some spine-chilling thrill, don’t worry! There are a lot of Christmas horror movies ready to keep you company this holiday season.
So, set aside the sugarplum fairies and joyful Santas for a while. These films replace candy canes and cosy fireside settings with with blades and goosebumps-inducing fear. Buckle up as we enter the dark side of Christmas with these excellent horror movies.
Best Christmas horror movies you can watch this holiday season
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is a unique and enchanting stop-motion animated musical fantasy movie. For audiences of all ages, the film has become a cult classic and a beloved holiday favourite. The story follows Halloween town’s Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, who becomes tired of the boring routine of Halloween and stumbles into Christmas Town. Captivated by the pleasure and enchantment of Christmas, Jack resolves to take over and put his evil spin on the celebration. The film perfectly blends Halloween’s creepy charm with Christmas’ joyous spirit.
A Christmas Carol (1984)
A Christmas Carol has been transformed into countless films, plays, and other forms of media over the years. Initially written by Charles Dickens, the story has become synonymous with the holiday season, and it is beloved for its themes of redemption, giving, and the true spirit of Christmas. The 1984 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol featuring George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge is one of the most celebrated creations.
The main character, Scrooge, is a miserly and cold-hearted old man who despises the holiday season and everything associated with it. Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him of the repercussions of living a life solely for greed and self-interest. The strange incidents throughout the night help Scrooge to change for the better.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is a dark fantasy-horror film that takes a new and twisted approach to the traditional Christmas story, fusing folklore, horror, and a dash of black humour. The story takes place in Lapland’s isolated and cold setting, where an American archaeological team has discovered something enigmatic and ancient. As they delve further, they unintentionally awaken the real Santa Claus, but he is not a cheerful gift-giver. Here, Santa is represented as a scary, supernatural creature who prefers punishment to presents. But when a little kid named Pietari Kontio and his friends try to solve the mystery behind this wicked Santa, they find themselves fighting against a terrifying folklore creature.
The Curse of the Cat People (1944)
The Curse of the Cat People is a sequel to the 1942 hit horror film Cat People. With fantasy and drama elements, this movie is more evocative and psychological than a simple horror flick. The plot continues to follow Irena Dubrovna, played by Simone Simon, who had a pivotal role in the first film. In Cat People, Irena had a mysterious past and she believed that if she was emotionally aroused, she would transform into a panther.
Irena has died in the sequel, and her widowed husband, Oliver Reed (played by Kent Smith), has remarried and has a young daughter named Amy, played by Ann Carter. Amy, who is feeling disconnected and misunderstood, conjures up an imaginary friend in the form of Irena, who becomes a calming presence in her life. Though it is a horror film, it focuses on themes of childhood innocence, imagination, and the impact of societal expectations, which makes it stand out from the others.
The Lodge (2019)
The Lodge is an unnerving psychological horror film about grief, trauma, and the blurred boundaries between reality and mental anguish. Grace, played by Riley Keough, is about to become the stepmother to two children, Aiden and Mia, played by Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh. Richard Armitage plays Richard, their father and Grace’s fiancé. The family intends to spend Christmas in a remote lodge, but tensions mount as the children’s unresolved sadness over their mother’s death, along with Grace’s tumultuous past, create an uneasy atmosphere.
The Retaliators (2021)
The Retaliators is a thriller film released in 2021 that tells the story of a preacher named John Bishop, played by Michael Lombardi, whose family is brutally killed. In search of justice, Bishop joins forces with a journalist, played by Marc Menchaca, to find the truth behind the crime. As they investigate, they find a web of dark secrets and come across a vigilante gang known as The Retaliators.
The movie distinguishes itself by combining aspects of a horror film with a story that focuses on the music industry and incorporates real-life performers. Rock and metal bands such as Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, and Ice Nine Kills make appearances and perform in the film.
The Advent Calendar (2021)
The Christmas horror movie The Advent Calendar offers a blend of holiday cheer and suspenseful storytelling. The story revolves around a former dancer, Eva, who is now confined to a wheelchair. When her friend Sophie gives her an old wooden antique advent calendar before Christmas, she discovers that each window contains a surprise that causes real-life consequences: some good, but most of them bad. Now, Eva has to make a decision — whether to get rid of the calendar or to walk again even when it causes death around her.
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins is a 1984 dark fantasy comedy-horror flick. The plot revolves around a young man named Billy Peltzer, played by Zach Galligan, who receives a little creature called a Mogwai as a present for Christmas. However, three key guidelines must be followed: Keep the Mogwai away from bright light, don’t get him wet, and never feed him after midnight. Despite the warnings, the rules are accidentally breached, resulting in the development of mischievous and malicious creatures known as Gremlins. The Gremlins create chaos in the small town of Kingston Falls, triggering a series of humorous and horrific incidents. With its unique take on Christmas festivities gone wrong, the film expertly blends humour, horror, and holiday joy, creating a cult classic.
Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
Anna and the Apocalypse is a Christmas zombie musical film released in 2017. It’s a one-of-a-kind genre mash-up that combines elements of a coming-of-age story, a musical, and horror flick, all set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse.
The film follows Anna Shepherd, played by Ella Hunt, as she navigates high school life in the town of Little Haven. As Christmas approaches, the community is abruptly struck by a zombie epidemic, turning the holiday season into a survival struggle. The film addresses themes of friendship, love, and growing up as Anna and her companions battle the undead. The catchy musical pieces, along with the dark humour and horror components, provide an enjoyable and emotionally evocative viewing experience.
Silent Night (2021)
The 2021 Christmas horror movie Silent Night starring Keira Knightley (Nell) and Matthew Goode (Simon) revolves around a Christmas dinner they host at their country house for their former school friends and their loving partners. It eventually becomes clear that an environmental disaster is looming and that this supper will be their last night alive.
Black Christmas (1974)
Black Christmas is a 1974 classic Canadian horror movie. The movie carries the vibe of the slasher genre, noteworthy for its atmospheric tension, suspenseful pacing, and influence on subsequent horror films. The story takes place during the Christmas season at a sorority house, where a group of college students is getting ready for the holiday break. When the sorority starts getting threatening phone calls from an unnamed and frightening voice, the joyous environment takes a sinister turn. As the calls pile up, one by one, sorority sisters go missing, and the house spirals into fear.
Better Watch Out (2016)
Better Watch Out is a horror-comedy film that takes a fresh and witty approach to the home invasion thriller genre. Ashley, played by Olivia DeJonge, is a babysitter who is assigned to watch after 12-year-old Luke, played by Levi Miller, on a calm suburban evening during the Christmas season. The seemingly ordinary babysitting job, however, takes a dark and unforeseen twist as the night progresses.
(Main image: Silent Night/IMDb; Featured image: The Advent Calendar/IMDb)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which is the best Christmas horror movie?
Some of the best Christmas horror movies are Black Christmas, Gremlins, Silent Night, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Which is the highest-rated Christmas horror movie according to IMDB?
A Christmas Carol (1951) is the highest-rated Christmas horror movie with an 8.1/10 rating.
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