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Top 10 Christmas Horror Flicks

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 3 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #4440 in Entertainment, #121486 overall

Rated R. (Control what you see)

Ten "Christmas" Horror Movies that Make Halloween Envious

 

It's not that I'm anti-Christmas, because I'm not, but I love weird horror movies, and what better setting for a horror film than Christmas, a season that's supposed to be peace on Earth and good cheer? Well, I'm not the only freak out there, because there are plenty of Christmas-themed horror movies out there, and here's my list of ten of the best--in no particular order.

2007 Loves Horror at Christmas Time! 

If you're looking for the Top 10 Christmas Horror Films, just scroll down a little further. I wanted to put in a little note about how 2007 seems to definitely be bucking the trend.

Many of the horror movies on the list were banned because they were put out around Christmas with a definite Christmas theme. This year we see two releases in December, one of which (AVP-2) is being released on Christmas day.

With Sweeny Todd, Demon Barber, and AVP 2 (which looks very apocalyptic), it seems like Hollywood is also beginning to love horror during Christmas time. It's a trend we can only hope continues :)

Johnny Depp in Sweeny Todd, Demon Barber 

Well, the tradition of horror movies at Christmas time being a big deal seems gone, as Johnny Depp stars in this incredibly interesting Holiday horror flick.

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AVP 2 Trailer 

Being released on Christmas day, AVP 2 looks like a very apocalyptic movie for the season. I can't wait to see this one myself!

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Tis the Season to Be Slashing... 

Like I mentioned earlier, I'm not against Christmas. If there's a holiday I have a serious beef with, it's probably Valentine's Day, but that's a rant for another time. I'm a huge horror movie afficiando, and part of any good horror film is setting.

And what a better time for a horror flick than Christmas? And before anyone gets extremely offended, I'm pointing out that the best time for a horror flick is Christmas exactly because Christmas is supposed to represent everything that is good and nice and safe. Add in an ax wielding maniac dressed as Santa or some crazy cannabilistic Elves, or a battle with Santa vs. Satan, and we have a great setting!

Also on the darker note, Christmas does have its own dark underside: there are more suicides that time of year than any other, so the thought of a horror movie based around Christmas I don't think should be that offensive. Not any more than turning a cherished religious holiday into a commercial one.

Besides, these have moral values...like don't murder your spouse on Christmas Eve or your kid will let in a psychotic Santa Claus serial killer who wants to get you for revenge sake. See? Aren't we all happier now?

Some of these are great horror movies, some are hilariously bad or campy (Gremlins, anyone?). For those many of us who don't have families, are young, are just plain straight out weird, this isn't an insult to Christmas--it's another way to enjoy it.

Anyway, for the horror flick fan, some of these are hilarious and ridiculous, some have great rants about Christmas (see "Gremlins") and others are truly scary and incredibly disturbing. Here's the full list, so enjoy!

Clip of Silent Night, Deadly Night 

Some people find this clip from Silent Night Deadly Night funny. It is a little over the top, but in the context of the full movie, it becomes incredibly creepy and disturbing.

Silent Night, Deadly Night

Hilarious clip from "Silent Night, Deadly Night"

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Silent Night Deadly Night 

This movie is still banned in many nations

This spawned a whole series of spin-offs (I believe it went up to Silent Night, Deadly Night 5 last I checked) but the first one was meant to stand alone and it is incredibly disturbing. Small boy sees parents murdered by hitchhiking Santa, grows up in orphanage with abusive nuns, hates job and is forced to dress as Santa and then snaps.

As a warning, this may be one of the most disturbing horror movies ever made, so if you're into the light hearted, make fun of the movie, do not watch this one. If you want to see an incredible horror script, this is it.

This film came out during the Christmas Season and was heavily protested before being yanked out of theatres. In addition, this movie is so disturbing that it is a cult classic among die hard horror fans and this movie is still banned in many countries.

As for the sequels: some people think #2 was okay. Everyone agrees the last three suck, but can be hilarious from the "I can't believe how bad this is" stand point.

Silent Night, Deadly Night

Perhaps the most disturbing horror movie of all time. It was yanked from theatres and is still banned in several countries around the world a full 30 years later.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 10/13/2008)

Silent Night Deadly Night / Silent Night Deadly Night Part 2

The original, with the only sequel that most fans agree generally didn't blow chunks.

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Silent Night Deadly Night 3

Admit it, you buy movies to make fun of them sometimes. It's okay, we all do it. Besides: zombie santa serial killer.

Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)

Silent Night Deadly Night 4

And Hollywood is still out of control....

Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)

Silent Night Deadly Night 5

Admit it, you want to see the killer toys.

Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)

So Terrible It's Hilarious 

Rampage from Silent Night Deadly Night 2

Terrible acting, terrible special effects, maybe the funniest (stupidest?) horror movie rampage ever. This scene is a Mystery Science Theatre 3000 Scene waiting to happen.

Silent Night Deadly Night 2 Rampage-No Text

Rickys Garbage Day Massacre Rampage without any text.

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Black Christmas, 1974 

We're talking about the original, not the crappy remake.

Black Christmas is also one of the scariest and most disturbing horror movies out there, and not just among Christmas Horror Movies, but among horror movies as a whole. The remake was terrible, in my opinion, and everything added made it worse, the back story made no sense, and it just didn't do it.

The original was a pre-cursor to the films that made the "He's calling from inside the house!" urban legend mainstream in American folk lore.

And we are talking about the 1974 original version of Black Christmas, not the incredibly super crappy remake. Compare the two if you want. The original is great, the most recent one, IMO, is just stupid unless you hit the mute button at a party and play video sherades.

Gremlins 

This movie is just fun...and has some classic anti-Christmas rants

Why is a PG rated movie like Gremlins on this list on Christmas themed horror flicks? It's technically horror, it's really funny, and I don't think it attacks Christmas so much as the artificial "holiday culture" that honestly annoy most of us, but we're not willing to say.

This is also a nice change of pace from the first two mentioned, since those 2 Christmas horror flicks are really dark and disturbing. Stephen Speilberg really made a worthy Christmas "horror" classic with this movie, and it is simply a hilarious, fun, movie that still works for the Christmas season.

Gremlins

A fun holiday "horror" movie. Even in the eighties at age eight I thought this was hilarious.

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 10/13/2008)

Gremlins (Special Edition)

Special Edition of Gremlins on DVD

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Gremlins (Special Edition) / Gremlins 2 - The New Batch

Two Gremlins are better than one...

Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)

I Love gremlin Mug

This will bring some laughs from children of the Eighties.

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/13/2008)

Gremlins Trailer: Does This Bring Back Memories? 

I even forgot that Gremlins a Stephen Speilberg movie! This is being re-released for the Christmas season. After watching it again the other day, I forgot how incredibly entertaining this movie is. Definitely an A+ grade!

Gremlins

Gremlins trailer

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Silent Night, Bloody Night (1974) 

Silent Night, Bloody Night shows that there's just something about making religious Christmas hymns evil that creates just a great title for a horror flick. This one is an excellent Christmas time horror movie, and will definitely make your hair stand on end. Among Christmas horror fans, this movie usually ranks around #3.

In other words, here's another "Christmas movie" that's not for the kids.

Christmas Evil (1980) 

One of two Christmas horror movies released on the year I was born. The other, To All a Good Night is as crappy a movie as it is good a title. For those who don't follow, it's a 99 cent rental on Halloween to make fun of.

Christmas Evil is actually an excellent movie about a boy who is scarred when he finds out Santa isn't real, and he puts so much effort into wanting to be the real Santa that when everyone's criticism goes too far, he simply snaps, and the ax murdering begins!

Christmas Evil

The classic on DVD!

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 10/13/2008)

Christmas Evil

Another option to get this exceptional Christmas horror flick!

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A List of Christmas Horror Links 

Some articles, some discussion, and some variety.
Amazon's list of Christmas horror flicks
Has all my mentioned films, and then some B movie crap that they also have on file.
Top 5 Blog Discussion
A blog discussion on the top 5 horror Christmas flicks.
List of Classic Christmas Horror Flicks
It's not a complete list, but including this one it's one of the best three I've found online of Christmas horror flicks.
Horror Blog
Blog on horror films, movies, and other parts of the genre.

Don't Open Until Christmas! 

A good British twist on the whole psycho Santa thing...

Don't Open Until Christmas! is a great Christmas horror movie. This British film takes a common Christmas horror movie theme and turns it around. Instead of having a guy in a Santa suit going nuts, this time a psycho is going around killing Santas. And porno stars.

Yet the shooting is done so no nudity is ever revealed, while the psycho seems like a stabbing version of Ted Kazinski--completely anti-commercialism. So a psycho serial killer gets even with Santas for taking Christmas away from Jesus...or something. Probably or something, but this is a very entertaining film, nonetheless.

Don't Open Till Christmas

This one is hard to find, but among fans of the Christmas horror flicks, this is a must see movie!

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 10/13/2008)

Tales From the Crypt (1972) Featuring Joan Collins 

It has Joan Collins. What else do you want from me????

A series of horror stories, the first is the most Christmas oriented, though this entire film is quality and deserves some good watching time. Not to be mistaken with the more modern Tales from the Crypt movies.

Tales From the Crypt / Vault of Horror (Double Feature)

A great double feature for double the horror pleasure!

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 10/13/2008)

Tales From the Crypt (1972)

The classic original with Joan Collins!

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Santa Claws (1996) 

Also known as "Tis the Season"

Santa Claws, also known as Tis the Season is a raunchy Christmas horror flick where a psycho Santa decides to teach people a lesson about not being naughty by killing every porn star he can get his hands on.

Yes, this is the "old school" horror plot, but as long as you go in expecting that, this movie isn't half bad.

Santa Claws

Santa + Porno Stars + Slasher Movie. I guess it all makes sense.

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Santa Claws

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 10/13/2008)

Santa Claus (1959) 

Santa Claus is a Mexican film that is surreal, bizzare, and just flat out weird by even today's standards. To avoid confusion, many fans of this film will refer to it as Mexican Santa Claus versus Satan.

Satan, in a red leotard, is tempting children to do evil and Santa will fight him, using magic potions to stop him. No, I'm not making this up.

[DVD] Santa Claus (1959) by Movie Classics

Maybe the most bizzare Christmas film ever. Not horror, but definitely bizzarre and surreal.

Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)

Santa vs. Satan 

A clip set to funny music from 1959's Santa Claus (hard to find a clip on this one) where Santa and Satan are using magic to fight over a little girl and see if she will make the right decision or not.

Satan Vs. Santa

Satan vs. Santa!!!!

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Jack Frost (1996) 

Not a very jolly figure in this one...

Jack Frost makes this list because there really have only been 9 good Christmas horror movies, and someone has to hold the 10th spot until another film comes along to bump it off.

Jack Frost is about a serial killer who becomes genetically mutated in a car accident (??) ((I know, it sounds like a really bad plot from a "Blaster Master" type Nintendo game)) and dies, but comes back as a serial killer snow man.

No, I'm not making this up, either. But if you want a horror film that causes you and your buddies to bust a gut laughing during a scene that's supposed to be scary, it doesn't get any better than this one. The sequel even includes the words "Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snow Man."
Amazing. Truly amazing.

Jack Frost

If you want a great party favorite for movie sherades, this is it.

Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 10/13/2008)

Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman

"Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman." I don't have anything left to say.

Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 10/13/2008)

Why Was Jack Frost 2 So Hilarious? 

This clip of Jack Frost 2 shows why this horror movie is the type of terrible horror christmas film that is so bad it's hilarious.

Jack frost 2

A really strange film

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The Total list of Christmas Horror Movies (not in order) 

Feel free to contact me so I can add any I missed or don't know about.
  • Silent Night, Bloody Night
  • Black Christmas (Original)
  • Black Christmas (Crappy Sequel)
  • Christmas Evil
  • Silent Night, Deadly Night I
  • Silent Night, Deadly Night II
  • Silent Night, Deadly Night III
  • Silent Night, Deadly Night IV
  • Silent Night, Deadly Night V
  • Tales from the Crypt (1972)
  • Jack Frost
  • Jack Frost 2: Revenge of a Killer Mutant Snowman
  • Don't Open Until Christmas
  • Day of the Beast (Dia de la Bestia)
  • Elves
  • Santa Claus 1959 (Mexican Santa vs. Satan)
  • Gremlins
  • To All a Good Night

Have a Horror Gory Christmas! 

Are these great? Are you shocked? Are you glad to see such a bizzare list of "Christmas" movies, or am I just a terrible human being? Let me know!

Mike

Rock! I can't say if you're a terrible human being or not, but thank you for sharing the holiday spirit - "Jack Frost" looks like a can't miss.

Ho, ho, ho! [enter slashed porn star]

Posted November 24, 2007

Christmas Horror Movie Blogs 

Christmas themed horror flicks are becoming a fantastic tradition.
Horror Movie a Day: Oct. 7 - Black Christmas
Oct. 7: Black Christmas (1974) A horror classic that is far more obscure than it should be, Black Christmas is a terrific early entry in the filmography of Canadian director Bob Clark, who is best known for A Christmas Story, ...
morgan32 @ 2008-10-13T07:24:00
My second movie was Mirrors. I'm aware that it's a remake of some Japanese horror. These tend to be either brilliant or just plain weird. Also, this particular film got a 15 cert, which is often a bad sign for horror movies. ...
Top 5 Halloween Movies
I limited the list to horror films only; there are a few non-horror movies that I associate strongly with Halloween, most notable among them Batman Begins, the best Halloween superhero movie ever made. (Although I think The Dark Knight ...
The Stories Behind Three Classic Halloween Movies
Needless to say, I'm already in the mood for spooks and spirits. To help get you in the mood, though, we'll explore the guts of classic horror movies you might find yourself watching on October 31. ...
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