These Are the 7 Scariest Christmas Movies Ever Made
Christmas can be scary for a lot of reasons. Just thinking about trying to park at the mall is enough to send shivers down your spine. And horror filmmakers have known this for years -– that there's delicious possibility in the subversion of all of the warm and fuzzy holiday tropes. There's just as much darkness around Christmas as there is twinkling lights (just look at statistics about depression) and that darkness is perfect for the cathartic prism of horror. It's with this feeling of holly jolly horror that we look at the seven scariest Christmastime chillers.
'Gremlins' (1984)
Infamously, Gremlins" was much scarier -- Billy's mom was murdered by the gremlins (and her severed head thrown down the stairs), gremlins ate Billy's dog, and an extended sequence set in a McDonald's had gremlins dining on overweight fast food patrons. But the final "Gremlins," while largely regarded for its huge heart and Amblin-y charms, still packs a wallop. There are moments that are genuinely unnerving and its middle section, when the transformed gremlins emerge from their cocoons and wreak havoc, is brilliantly staged horror craft.
'Krampus' (2015)
In 2007, writer-director It's a Wonderful Life," but with way more bloodshed.
'Better Watch Out' (2017)
If "Olivia DeJonge) with disastrous result. The film is at turns scarier and more surprising than you'd ever imagine. (Certainly more-so than the trailer would suggest.) If you've seen some of the others on the list, unwrap this brand new package.
'Christmas Evil' (1980)
This is one of Christmas Evil" a man, scarred by a memory of his father (dressed as Santa) groping his mother, grows up to work in a toy factory and, eventually, murder lots people. Slimy and cheaply made, it's both thrilling and oddly affecting.
'Silent Night, Deadly Night' (1984)
This Silent Night, Deadly Night" has pretty much everything you'd want from this type of film; there are certainly better Christmas horror movies, but this one hits all the right gore-soaked notes. (Shout Factory has a new edition of the film out, with a bevy of special features alongside an unrated director's cut.)
'Black Christmas' (1974)
Still the high watermark for Christmastime horror, "the remake is pretty good.
'Rare Exports' (2010)
This gonzo Finnish horror comedy has a freewheeling spirit all of its own, both frightening and surreal. It concerns a kid who stumbles upon an arctic excavation site. Seems like they've turned up the ancient tomb of the real Santa Claus, who is considerably nastier than we've come to believe. "Rare Exports" mixes thrills with playful weirdness, the best example of which is the "elves" that assist the resurrected Santa (hint: they're naked and very shriveled). This is a cult classic in the making.
