It’s that time of year again where we take a look at some of the naughtiest movies around: Christmas horror! Whereas Halloween is second to Christmas in terms of “favorite” holidays, Christmas is second in terms of scares, which is weird considering this jolly holiday is all about kindness, giving, and family and friends. But sometimes we forget that the spirit of the season is also a prime reason behind the stressors that lead us to do very naughty things… like murder.
Take 2017’s Better Watch Out. A babysitter (Ashley) tasked with watching over a boy (Luke) who is deeply infatuated with her ends up fighting for her life when the boy decides to finally make his move. It’s a playful thought for a pre-teen to vie for the love of an older girl he’s known all his life, but the way Luke goes about it is absolutely insane. Getting his friend to pretend to be a murderer to keep them in the house, setting up traps to keep her from escaping, and going so far as assaulting her when his advances are obviously rebuffed are not normal thought processes a 12-year-old should have. And at Christmas no less! It seems that the winter season has the strange ability to compile all the stressors of the year into one day, squeezing and squeezing until they explode out like a paper mache volcano. What makes it worse is seeing everyone else happily enjoying the holiday. No wonder more crimes like robbery (and some pretty nasty family murders) happen this time of year. More vacation time just sitting around stewing over that year’s failings.
Even if you aren’t surrounded by family and friends, you still may end up hurting yourself or someone else. The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015) follows two Catholic boarding school girls, Rose and Kat, as they await their parents picking them up for an early spring (still winter) break — Yes, technically this takes place in February but it’s still the middle of winter so we’ll just say it’s a Christmas movie. Both of the girls’ parents haven’t shown up to pick them up yet, and they must stay a few days longer until they arrive. Unfortunately, Rose is dealing with a possible teen pregnancy and Kat is slowly losing her mind and finds solace in a demon. Yup, a demon: one that possesses Kat and starts a chain of murders that stains the halls of the boarding school. You see, loneliness, and to a degree seasonal depression, is just as deadly as outright craziness. While it is a myth that suicides rise at Christmastime (they actually peak a few months later), it’s not impossible. Your time’s probably more well-spent keeping an eye on those dark corners in the basement, lest a “lonely” entity try to be your friend.
Sint (2011) is a tale of what may happen when those types of baddies decide to seek revenge on the public. Members of a medieval Dutch gang led by a former bishop are murdered by an angry mob, only to come back years later following the whitewashing of their gruesome deaths. While the community celebrates “Sinterklaas” with caroling, gift giving, and other festive activities, the ghosts of the medieval gang stalk and kill townsfolk and destroy the sanctity of such a lovely holiday. Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman (2000) is another revenge flick with our favorite killer snowman, though this time we take the usually snowy scenery and exchange it for a tropical island! Extremely campy, especially compared to another “monster” movies like Sint, Jack Frost 2 still captures the Christmas spirit, somehow making a murderous holiday disaster fun for everyone — well, everyone watching at home, at least.
While all of these films show a typical Western idea of how winter holidays are celebrated, we of course know that there are many different ways to celebrate; that’s why anthologies are an especially good way to bring horror into your Christmas season. All the Creatures Were Stirring (2018) is one such anthology, with stories of deadly workplace drama, shopping-turned-evil, and disputes with family and friends — all wrapped up in a Christmas first date. You see, no matter the amount of pretty twinkling lights, tinsel, or the newest toys on the market, Christmas is still a scary time for all of us. Whether you’re battling end-of-the-year blues or trying something new before the actual new year, there’s still that air of mystery and fear that can make your anxiety levels go through the roof. And when that happens, some people just can’t handle it.
Christmas is still the reigning champ in happiness and good times, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have its issues. And though it seems like a far cry from the horror holiday we all know and love, Christmas still shares a lot of the same ideals as Halloween.
What’s your favorite Christmas horror movie? Leave us a comment and let us know!
Looking for more Xmas picks? Check out Bloody Disgusting’s ultimate guide to Xmas Christmas horror, or read our own Xmas Special from 2019.
