Horror and the holidays go surprisingly well together, and there are a few underrated combinations of the two genres worth watching before the year ends.Christmas horror films have become increasingly common throughout the years, coming from places all around the world. Such a vast presentation of Christmas horror films ensures a consistently refreshing take on the chilling combination. Threats in these films range from evil Santa Clauses to supernatural or bizarre figures who are determined to put a damper on the most wonderful time of the year.
The Christmas season is associated with joyous celebrations, butthe best Christmas horror moviesbreak through and gain popularity with audiences that endure for years. Movies likeKrampusandBlack Christmassuccessfully take the cheery imagery associated with the holiday and fuse it with suspense and terrifying acts of murder. Though the underrated horror holiday films haven’t gained as much attention, they still deliver an equally effective supply of terror, tension, and festivities.
10Santa’s Slay (2005)
Directed by David Steiman
In several Christmas horror movies, Santa Claus is portrayed as a violent, murderous figure, contrasting what many know the figure to represent. InSanta’s Slay,Santa Claus' origin is explained as being a child of Satan, embarking on a killing spree one day a year. However, when he’s defeated by an angel, he’s forced to deliver presents on this day instead. Santa’s sentencing ends in 2005 whenSanta’s Slaytakes place, and he continues to wreak havoc on a Canadian town.
Santa’s Slay’s differing history of how the titular character came to be is unique, and the terrifying characterization of Saint Nick is pulled off well by actor and WWE wrestler Bill Goldberg. There are moments where the pace and thrills of the film do sink, but the intense and creative methods of slaying are worth checking out for horror fans who prefer slashers to thrillers.
9The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982)
Directed by Stephen Carpenter and Jeffrey Obrow
The graphic details of the murder scenes inThe Dorm That Dripped Bloodwere cut down substantially, and the film still received a bit of backlash in the United Kingdom.The slasher film takes place on a college campus during Christmas breakas a group of students stays behind to clean up a residence hall that is set to be demolished. While on campus, these students are killed by an unknown figure.
Even with its trimming of murder scenes, the violence inThe Dorm That Dripped Bloodis still quite intense. Having earned criticism for its writing and performances, the horror film has been positively noticed for its special effects and chilling score. The film pales in comparison tothe ’80s slashersit wishes to emulate, but it has enough redeeming qualities for horror fans looking to be captivated by a bloody mystery.
8Christmas Evil (1980)
Directed by Lewis Jackson
Gaining a cult following the decades after its release,Christmas Evilis still underrated when it comes to Christmas horror films as a whole.Christmas Evilfollows a man (Brandon Maggart), impacted by his childhood trauma, who makes himself believe he is Santa Claus. However, as Santa, his mission isn’t solely to deliver gifts to children but to murder those he feels have wronged him. While there are plenty of disturbing horror moments throughout the film,Christmas Evilworks well as a character study of a traumatized man.
Maggart delivers one of the more compelling performances in the film and gets audiences to sympathize with him despite his harmful and frightening actions. The ending ofChristmas Evilis an additional surprise, topping off the unexpected and odd nature of the film.
7All Through The House (2015)
Directed by Todd Nunes
Filmed over a month, the indie horror filmAll Through the Househas an equally campy and terrifying premise that’s reminiscent of those from decades earlier.All Through the Houseis set in a neighborhood where a young child mysteriously vanishes from her home. Years later, when a 20-something-year-old girl returns to the neighborhood for the holidays, she’s welcomed with the threat of a serial killer disguised as Santa terrorizing the residents.
Though the tepid performances inAll Through the Housetend to take audiences out of the experience now and again, the story unfolds surprisingly well. There is a strong sense of suspense throughout the film, and the steady special effects support the horror atmosphere. It’s easy to see whyAll Through the Househasn’t gained as much attention as other horror films set during Christmas, but there’s still enough substance in it to keep audiences entertained.
6Home For The Holidays (1972)
Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey
Produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions,the made-for-television horror filmHome for the Holidayspremiered in 1972 and has been largely underrated since. The film revolves around the wealthy Morgan family, with the patriarch suspicious that his second wife is poisoning him. He calls his four daughters for help in the days leading up to Christmas and tells them they must kill her before she gets the chance to harm others.
Home for the Holidayshas an impressive cast made up of actors like Sally Field, Julie Harris, and Eleanor Parker, each contributing a convincingly frightened performance.The suspense delivered in the made-for-TV slasher is on par with some beloved theatrical horror movies, which isn’t always expected of a TV film. WhileHome for the Holidaysdoes have its dated elements, its story is packed with plenty of twists and turns to keep audiences invested until its surprising ending.
5Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1971)
Directed by Curtis Harrington
Though it never quite hits its horror notes as effectively as films likeHush…Hush, Sweet CharlotteandWhat Ever Happened to Baby Jane?,Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?falls into the same horror subgenre, which sees older women at the center of a film, terrorizing others around her. InWhoever Slew Auntie Roo?, the older woman in question is Rosie Forrest (Shelley Winters), known as the titular nickname by the local community. Every year, Auntie Roo throws a Christmas party for a nearby orphanage.
Despite her outward generosity,Auntie Roo harbors a dark secret that comes to light when she kidnaps an orphaned girl who attends her Christmas celebration.Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?is somewhat based on the classic “Hansel and Gretel” fairy tale, and while the film isn’t as gruesome or shocking as other Christmas horror movies, it does provide a suspenseful and uneasy atmosphere that lingers for much of its runtime.
4Deadly Games (1989)
Directed by René Manzor
Deadly Games, known originally as3615 code Père Noël, is often seen as a horror rendition of the American Christmas filmHome Alone, which was released a year later. The two films have a few similarities, namely in their protagonists.Deadly Gamesfollows a young boy, Thomas (Alain Lalanne), who is crafty and highly knowledgeable about action films. On Christmas Eve, Thomas communicates online in hopes of reaching Santa Claus but unknowingly comes in contact with a dangerous killer.
When the dangerous killer attempts to harm Thomas when he’s left home alone with his blind grandpa,the young boy puts to use his crafted traps to catch the bad guy.Deadly Gamesisn’t nearly as frightening as other horror films, but it still mixes a handful of scares with its fun concept. Despite his life-threatening circumstances, Thomas never loses his imagination and playfulness as a young kid, which makes him an endearing lead in audiences' eyes.
Directed by Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa
The horror elements inDead Endare gradually introduced, easing audiences into the film’s overarching mystery. InDead End, a family is traveling along a seemingly never-ending road when they come across a mysterious woman and her baby. After offering the woman help, the family members are attacked one by one. The horror film’s premise isn’t too original, butthe constant curveballs thrown at audiences keep it feeling fresh and thrilling.
Dead End’s writing is clever and the suspense built up throughout the film is effectively chilling. There isn’t a heavy amount of blood splatter or acts of violence as seen in other Christmas horror movies, butDead Endis still a rewarding film. The dynamics between the on-screen family feel genuine and make their deadly interactions with one another all the more frightening.
2Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Directed by Jalmari Helander
Blending fantasy, comedy, and horror is the Finnish filmRare Exports: A Christmas Tale. Based on director Jalmari Helander’s early 2000s short films,Rare Exportspulls from folklore and alters the history and purpose of Joulupukki, a Finnish Christmas figure often pooled with Santa Claus. In the film, elves assist the Santa character to kidnap children and offer them to their leader. In this way,Rare Exports' Santa is closer to malevolent Christmas figures like Krampus.
Rare Exportsincludes a slight critique of capitalism and features just enough dark humor to entertain audiences without ever detracting from its creepy and dread-filled moments. Considered to be one ofthe best killer Santa horror movies,Rare Exportsgets the most out of its Nordic setting, utilizing the icy backdrop to support its grim story.
1Anna And The Apocalypse (2017)
Directed by John McPhail
Differing from other Christmas horror movies mentioned,Anna and the Apocalypseadds another genre into the mix — musicals. The film is led by Ella Hunt, the titular high school student who, along with her friends, is dealing with expected high school troubles. However, these problems quickly take a backseat to the zombie outbreak taking over the town of Little Haven. Set during the Christmas season,Anna and the Apocalypsesees its characters banding together to stay safe from the growing number of zombies.
The amalgamation of genres inAnna and the Apocalypseworks surprisingly well. The Christmas background is never lost, and the brutal horror and fun musical elements never overshadow one another. The performances in the film are effective as well, with Hunt and the supporting actors hitting the necessary dramatic and musical beats.The music inAnna and the Apocalypseis catchy and serves a greater purpose in the film, pushing forward the narrative and adding to its poignant themes.
