Every* Christmas Horror Movie, Ranked

55. Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys (2004)

Plot: A group of puppets must put a stop to evil corporate toys in order to save Christmas.

If you aren’t a fan of Charles Band and Full Moon Entertainment’s brand of tiny terror opuses then you will not enjoy this movie. Heck, I even know some people who are fans of the Puppet Master and Demonic Toys movies that don’t like this one. But it has its fans as well, and if you’re in the right frame of mind, it’s an absolute blast. Corey Feldman also stars in this one and earns his pay cheque, but it’s still hard to watch him in this type of dreck knowing that he was once capable of greatness. (Kieran Fisher)

54. The Path (2012)

Plot: A paranoid husband spends Christmas with his wife and son at an isolated cabin, but when he suspects his wife is having an affair he loses control of his sanity and starts hallucinating.

Gustavo Salmerón’s strong performance makes this psychological thriller somewhat watchable; otherwise, it’s every bit as bland as the generic title. (Kieran Fisher)

53. The Blackout (2009)

Plot: Tenements of an apartment building are stalked by hungry creatures on Christmas Eve.

If you want to blackout from boredom, this movie will do the trick. It clocks in at roughly 80 minutes, but it feels closer to two hours. (Kieran Fisher)

52. Black Friday (2021)

Plot: Retail workers on the busiest day of the year find horrors even more deadly than the usual holiday shoppers.

Casey Tebo’s horror/comedy may not quite take full advantage of its terrific premise and setting, but there’s fun to be had here all the same. A meteorite crashes into a big-box store and begins to infect folks, turning them into murderous zombie-like jerks, and a handful of store employees are forced to take a stand if they want to survive. Devon Sawa, Michael Jai White, and Bruce Campbell are the familiar faces, and some inexpensive practical effects from Robert Kurtzman provides the grue. The film ideally would have tackled the idea of violent consumerism a bit better, especially of the holiday variety, but some goofy beats and minor gore make for a fun enough time.

51. The Brain (1988)

Plot: An alien creature shaped like a large brain takes control of humans through a self-help program and a willing villain.

This late eighties creature feature takes place during Christmas, but the holiday has zero bearing on any of the plot shenanigans. Still, that setting is enough to qualify it for this list! We get some fun enough action here alongside a lot of silliness, but the big draw are the practical effects starting with the title brain itself. It’s an entertaining presence that, alongside Re-Animator‘s David Gale, makes for a worthwhile but forgettable watch.

50. Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1971)

Plot: A sad widow trying to cope with the loss of her daughter throws a lavish Christmas party every year for ten orphans.

Have you ever you wondered what it would be like if someone took Annie, mixed it with Hansel and Gretel, and tossed in just a dash of Gothic horror? You have? Then this is the movie for you! If you don’t like those aforementioned things then you probably won’t dig this one. Or maybe you will, I don’t know you. (Chris Coffel)

49. Wind Chill (2007)

Plot: Two young people sharing a ride are trapped in a flurry of winter storms and supernatural vengeance.

Both lead characters are obnoxious pricks — although it’s hard to stay angry with Emily Blunt — but just as icy tendrils work their way into the car threads of real creepiness find their way into the story. What starts like When Harry Met Sally shifts into Twilight Zone territory resulting in an effective little chiller.

48. Films to Keep You Awake: A Christmas Tale (2005)

Plot: A group of kids find a woman dressed like Santa trapped in a hole, and they immediately go about proving just how naughty they can be.

Paco Plaza, one half of the [Rec] duo, goes solo on this not-so heartwarming tale of bad kids and worse adults. There’s some nasty fun to be had, and a late turn brings it even further into horror territory, but it pulls its punches a bit too frequently to leave a lasting impression.

47. A Nasty Piece of Work (2019)

Plot: An office worker is invited to his boss’ mansion for Christmas dinner, but the night devolves into a series of dark holiday games.

The second Christmas-themed entry in Hulu’s Into the Dark series — it follows 2018’s Pooka — leaves the supernatural behind for a tale of human cruelty, and the result is a nasty piece of work, indeed. Capitalism and class are the targets here, and while the horror elements are minimal in favor of black comedy there’s darkness in the laughs and actions of cruel and desperate people.

46. Slay Belles (2018)

Plot: A trio of cosplayers with a YouTube page find themselves stalked by Krampus, and the chance they have is help from Santa Claus.

This one starts a bit rough, but once Santa and Krampus show up we get some real laughs and fun gags alongside a solid body count. Even better? Some kids bite it! If you know me you know that’s always a welcome addition in a horror film. Even beyond that, though, the film delivers the 3rd best Krampus in holiday horror cinema, and that’s no small feat.

45. There’s Something in the Barn (2023)

Plot: An American family moves to Norway, but the local Christmas holiday brings more than presents and cheer.

This should really have been a winner, as the setup is pretty stellar. A horror/comedy pitting a family against murderous elves who resemble pissed off garden gnomes? But a few gags and kills aside, the pieces just don’t come together here. The laughs rarely land, the script is a real issue, and the horror aspect mostly teases beats that never satisfy. Unfortunate!

44. I Trapped the Devil (2019)

Plot: A man tries to dissuade unwelcome visitors from discovering what — or who — he has locked downstairs.

This nifty little tale owes a minor debt to Charles Beaumont’s “The Howling Man” — adapted into a terrific episode of The Twilight Zone — but it delivers with some turns and thrills of its own. Scott Poythress makes a wonderful lead with a character who walks a fine line between madness and sanity, and AJ Bowen is always welcome on screen. The tale offers up some interesting questions as its secrets unfold, and some Christmas-tinged terrors follow.

43. Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987)

Plot: Madness runs in the family when the killer Santa’s little brother suits up for some slaughter of his own.

This follow-up to the infamous slasher is notorious in its own right for completely different reasons. A full half of the movie is recycled footage from the first film — half the damn movie! — and what’s leftover is just loony shenanigans. It’s undeniably entertaining, but we can’t in good faith reward it too highly knowing that what’s new here amounts to basically a short film (which aren’t eligible for this list). It’s fun, but it’s also too damn naughty.

42. It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023)

Plot: Think It’s a Wonderful Life, but as a slasher!

While it absolutely feels like a film where the title idea came first, there’s fun in the idea of blending a slasher with a holiday staple. A teenager stops a serial killer, gets depressed that no one seems to care, and soon wishes herself away — only to see what life without her would be like. Justin Long infuses his every scene with laughs and life, but sadly he’s kept offscreen for long stretches leaving us with a wobbly script that can’t support its own ideas (suddenly our killer knows mind control?) before wrapping up in a vaguely unsatisfying way. Still, Justin Long.

41. Body (2015)

Plot: Three friends sneak into a big, fancy house to party on Christmas Eve Eve, but the fun comes to a halt when they accidentally kill Larry Fessenden.

A small cast of characters and a (mostly) single location set the stage for a tight little tale about poor choices, murder, and the limitations of friendship. The threat here comes from within as the young women discover just how far they’ll go for each other and themselves. It isn’t always the same line.

40. Night Visitors (1987)

Plot: A quirky suburban family sees their Christmas Eve dinner interrupted by the arrival of four hoodlums with violent intentions.

This oddly endearing direct-to-video movie sets a delicate tonal balance right up front as the heightened nature of the family — they feel like they’ve escaped from a 1950s sitcom — is smashed into a motley crew of thugs. Things grow ever ominous, and it’s not hard to see this as an inspiration for the less entertaining Funny Games a decade later. The unease is balanced with dark humor, and the result is a surprising little movie you’ve never seen.

39. Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out (1989)

Plot: The villain from the previous movies wakes up from a coma and sets out to kill a blind teenage girl whom he’s formed a telekinetic bond with thanks to their mutual doctor’s strange experiments.

This movie was directed by Monte Hellman, who helmed the 1971 cult classic Two-Lane Blacktop. What the hell happened? Bill Moseley also wears a jar-like head device that hosts his brain. It’s pretty good. (Kieran Fisher)

38. Alien Raiders (2008)

Plot: Late night supermarket shoppers are taken hostage on Christmas Eve by a group of armed scientists looking for an alien infestation they’ve tracked to the store.

Ignore the film’s horrible title as this is much better than its name suggests. Imagine an entertaining hybrid of Die Hard and The Thing set in a supermarket and you get the idea. (Kieran Fisher)

37. Hide & Seek (2010)

Plot: A group of old friends are locked in an abandoned shopping mall, forced to play the titular game by a deranged Santa wearing a pair of killer shades.

The Boo Crew was initially incredulous of my exuberance for this slice of Indian Christmas Horror. Once the third act hits of this tale about a Killer Santa (but not really) in a mall (but who is surprisingly not a Mall Santa) your brain disconnects and is set off to orbit as a wave of impossibilities washes over you. Not since Christmas Evil have I been so pleasantly bemused by a holiday horror finale. And just when you finally reach those two delightful music videos during the closing credits, you’ll realize that Hide & Seek is as pure as the driven snow. (Jacob Trussell)

36. Good Tidings (2016)

Plot: A trio of murderous Santas take over a courthouse, but they didn’t count on push-back from some homeless locals.

Essentially a home invasion flick, albeit one set in a public office building, this is a fairly nifty little thriller that delivers some solid performances and setups despite its low budget. Its biggest strength is the presence of the Santas themselves as their appearance and silence brings a level of creepiness to their actions.

35. Christmas Eve Dinner (2011)

Plot: A dinner party on Christmas Eve is interrupted by a stranger dressed as Santa Claus who holds them all hostage and forces them to confess to terrible secrets.

In the last few weeks, I’ve watched a number of terrible Christmas horror movies in hopes of unwrapping a new Christmas treat. For the most part, I received nothing but coal, but when I opened up this lovely French package (original title is La nuit du Reveillon) I discovered a modern holiday classic. This movie is tense from the opening scene and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. As the story unfolds the stakes continue to rise, and the suspense builds until it all comes boiling over. This should be on everyone’s Christmas list. (Chris Coffel)

34. Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972)

Plot: A man returns home for his inheritance, but the locals are understandably worried when his arrival coincides with a string of murders.

The low budget here will undoubtedly be a turn-off for some, but if you give it time the film quickly works some unsettling magic. From some disturbing flashbacks to eerie phone calls that predate the ones in Black Christmas this is an effective and atmospheric slice of holiday horror. The mystery at its core is surprisingly compelling leading to a satisfying denouement too. Plus a young Mary Woronov!

33. Night Train Murders (1975)

Plot: Two women are harassed on a train by a group of rapists as they head home for the holidays.

This is more or less The Last House on the Left set on a train, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. More than that, though, it takes that film’s ugliness and pairs it with some surprisingly attractive cinematography. (Kieran Fisher)

32. Calvaire (2004)

Plot: A singer en route to a gig during the holidays gets stranded in a strange town and held captive by a lonely old inn owner.

Belgian’s Calvaire falls into the deranged locals sub-genre popularized by movies like Deliverance and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but with its surreal pitch black humor and European art-house flavor it makes for quite an odd, worthwhile experience. (Kieran Fisher)

31. Blood Beat (1982)

Plot: A young man takes his new girlfriend to his home in rural Wisconsin for Christmas with his family, but little does he know she’s possessed by the spirit of a Japanese samurai warrior.

I watched Blood Beat for the first time and went to bed very confused. I spent the entire next day thinking about it and watched it again. A second viewing didn’t really clarify things, but it left me mesmerized. This movie is bonkers, and it will blow your mind. A samurai shows up in the middle of nowhere with no explanation, and you don’t even question it because the entire movie is nuts. And best of all the entire thing is set to a rad 80’s synth score. The fine folks at Vinegar Syndrome will become a permanent fixture on my Christmas card list for putting this one out on Blu-ray. (Chris Coffel)

30. The Curse of the Cat People (1944)

Plot: A lonely young girl befriends the ghost of her father’s dead first wife.

Unlike the 1942 original, this loosely connected sequel isn’t a horror movie per se. It is, however, a haunting portrait of loneliness and the power of a child’s imagination which often blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Not quite as excellent as the stunning original, but it isn’t far off, either. (Kieran Fisher)

29. Jack Frost (1997)

Plot: A brutal serial killer is brought back to life as a snowman and seeks revenge on the sheriff responsibly for bringing him to justice.

No this is not the movie with Michael Keaton — that movie is actually much scarier. What we have here is a much more joyful romp about a killer snowman. Sure this is dumb and silly, but it’s also a lot of fun and a slice of 90’s B-movie glory. There’s a decent amount of gore and plenty of puns which check all my required boxes. We haven’t even talked about the fact that the snowman uses his nose as a penis. Personally I’m just glad to see someone other than Santa get to participate in a seasonal slay. (Chris Coffel)

28. Silent Night (2012)

Plot: A killer in a Santa costume targets a small town.

Unoriginal premise and mistaken thoughts about it being a Silent Night, Deadly Night remake aside, this is a fun and bloody Christmas slasher. The kills are gory, the Santa is creepy, the cast is recognizable, and at one point Mr. Claus busts out a flamethrower. That image alone is worth the price of admission.

27. Home for the Holidays (1972)

Plot: Four adult sisters are summoned home to commit a murder, but someone else is way ahead of them.

This TV movie from the screenwriter of Psycho is most memorable for featuring a sassy Sally Field, but it works well as a legit slasher with effective red herrings and lots of yelling in the rain. Fans of tense family gatherings and killers in galoshes should give it a watch.

26. Sheitan (2006)

Plot: A group of friends looking to party on Christmas Eve follow a girl to the country for a good time but find a decidedly bad one instead.

Think The Invitation but with more dong and you’ll be in the right mindset for this blackly comic French thriller that slowly ramps up the absurdity and odd behavior until finally committing to it all being harmless fun or murderous madness. It’s a gem of WTF shenanigans, and key to its success is an absolutely off the rails performance from Vincent Cassel. He’s the fun uncle you always wanted, but at the same time there’s a real risk he’s going to diddle you behind the Christmas tree.

25. A Christmas Horror Story (2015)

Plot: An anthology of horror stories that take places on Christmas Eve starring William Shatner, as a radio DJ who serves as narrator and host.

I love a good anthology and this one applies. Not every story works, but they come so quick that if you don’t enjoy the one currently on screen it’s ok because you know another one is right around the corner. The weak spot here is a found footage-esque story about a couple of high school kids investigating two murders that occurred on campus. Luckily the other three stories pick up the slack with the final one about Santa fighting zombie elves wrapping things up in exciting fashion. Plus Shatner is always welcome at my Christmas parties. (Chris Coffel)

24. The Day of the Beast (1995)

Plot: A priest discovers that the Antichrist will be born on Christmas Eve and embarks on a sinning spree so he can gain entry to the devil’s circle and confront the evil.

Spanish director Álex de la Iglesia has gained cult icon notoriety thanks to his eccentric black comedies. The Last Circus and Witching and Bitching are perhaps his most well-known, but this is the movie that put him on the map in the first place.The Day of the Beast is absurd and extremely blasphemous at times, but that’s what makes it so special. (Kieran Fisher)

23. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Plot: A British family is terrorized by a ghostly presence.

James Wan‘s wonderfully creepy follow-up to his own ghostly gem would rank higher on this list if it was purely about quality, but its Christmas content is pretty minimal. There’s enough in its setting to warrant inclusion here, but it never really plays a role in the story itself. Still, it’s Christmas horror, and it is fantastic. Wan crafts terrifying set-pieces both in the family’s haunted house and around the Warrens themselves, and both Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga once again deliver with a beautiful relationship that adds to the horror.

22. Deadly Games (1989)

Plot: A madman in a Santa Claus costume stalks a little boy who’s home nearly alone on Christmas Eve.

Also known as Game Over as 36-15 Code Pere Noel (in its native France), this is a fun blend of a kid’s playful imagination and the real-world intrusion of a sadistic and insane killer. The body count’s low, but the style and creative visuals are in full-on MTV mode, and it never shies away from the suspense.

21. Santa’s Slay (2005)

Plot: Once upon a time Santa Claus was forced to give up his evil demonic ways for 1000 years and spread festive cheer, but now his punishment is over and he can get back to doing what he does best.

Starring professional wrestler Bill Goldberg as the slaughtering Saint Nick, Santa’s Slay is some of the most fun you’re ever likely to have with a holiday-themed horror comedy. The film opens with our man massacring a Jewish family as they sit down to their Christmas dinner and the offensive shenanigans doesn’t let up from there. It’s a crime against Christmas that this movie didn’t lead to a franchise. (Kieran Fisher)

20. Babes in Toyland (1934)

Plot: A lecherous prick with a bad back blackmails Little Bo Peep into marrying him, and when that plan goes south he unleashes a horde of boogeymen to punish her, Laurel & Hardy, and their fellow storybook characters.

I know what you’re thinking. Is this really a Christmas movie? The evidence seems clear that the answer is a resounding yes — Santa Claus makes an appearance, it plays on television every year at this time, and it’s on this list of Christmas horror movies. Of course, that raises a second question. Is it really horror? (Stop questioning me!) Again, the answer is yes as not only is the boogeyman attack legit terrifying, but Stan Laurel eats one of the Three Little Pigs and the jittery Mickey Mouse will haunt your dreams.

19. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

Plot: After watching in horror as his parents are murdered by a man in a Santa suit, a boy grows up to go on a Christmas killing spree of his own.

It’s amazing to look back at the uproar this film caused. In comparison to other slashers, the film isn’t extraordinarily gory, and it wasn’t even the first killer Santa. Yet this somehow managed to piss off the right set of moms, and they had it pulled from theaters after about a week. I’m just happy it’s finally available on a good Blu-ray because this is an awesome Christmas horror flick. I like to think of it as a direct parallel to Halloween with Billy in the role of Michael and Mother Superior filling in for Dr. Loomis. (Chris Coffel)

18. The Sacrifice Game (2023)

Plot: A teacher and two students at a private school over Christmas break are visited by three killers.

The “home invasion” premise of Jenn Wexler’s latest feature is already enough to warrant a watch, but the film has more than a few Christmas tricks up its sleeves. Things aren’t always what they seem, and that twisty narrative keeps things moving in unexpected directions towards a pretty fantastic finale. The seasonal dressing is plentiful from the production design to the lighting, and the horror doesn’t skimp on the bloodletting and gory trappings.

17. Dead End (2003)

Plot: A family gets lost on an isolated stretch of road while traveling to visit their in-laws for the holidays.

Don’t let the generic plot synopsis fool you. This movie is unique, but the less you know about it going in the better. Horror comedy is often a tricky genre to pull off, but this is one of the rare occasions where a film manages to be both laugh-out-loud funny and downright creepy. There’s a constant eerie presence throughout that’s quite unsettling, and the gradual crumbling of the family unit as the terror unfolds makes for some unforgettable moments. Lin Shaye and Ray Wise bring their respective A-games as the mother and father, and their casting alone should be enough to sell you. (Kieran Fisher)

16. Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022)

Plot: An animatronic Santa Claus repurposed from the military goes on a bloody holiday rampage.

Joe Begos’ films tend to embrace a gritty indie aesthetic, and while you might not think that would pair well with such a vibrant holiday, you’d be wrong. The filmmakers took over a small town for the shoot, and it adds an unexpected scale to the thrills and action. What starts as a grungy comedy turns quickly into The Terminator Christmas special as the robot Santa starts hacking and slashing his way through both naughty and nice townspeople with only a determined final girl standing in its way. Santa Claus, bright Christmas colors, sweaty sex, a kid who bites it… this is what the holiday is all about.

15. Scrooged (1988)

Plot: Bringing a mean-spirited edge to a famously mean-spirited man, Scrooged updates the Christmas Carol mythos for the late-80s, warts and all.

Roger Ebert called Scrooged “one of the most disquieting, unsettling films to come along in quite some time.” And he wasn’t wrong: Scrooged is a miserable viewing experience. And I think what makes Scrooged so unsettling to folks like Ebert is its lack of tongue in cheek. There’s a sincerity to its meanness that makes people uncomfortable. But once you get onboard with its surreal take on a classic story, Scrooged offers a wild, ugly ride well-worth taking. Also we all know the real metric for Christmas Carol adaptations is the spookiness of the Ghost of Christmas Future, in which case, Scrooged’s cyborg reaper full of tormented souls is a showstopper. (Meg Shields)

14. Black Christmas (2006)

Plot: An escaped murderer causes mayhem in a sorority house that used to be his family home.

To most horror fans, Glenn Morgan’s remake of Bob Clark’s seminal holiday slasher film doesn’t do the original justice. But for a blood-soaked, sleazy good time this hits the spot despite never making good use of a talented cast who probably needed the paycheck. Now, did someone order a helping of mommy cookies and a big glass of milk? (Kieran Fisher)

13. The Lodge (2019)

Plot: A widower brings his possibly unstable girlfriend along for a remote Christmas celebration with his kids.

No film is for everyone, and that’s especially the case with this endlessly grim slowburn. The filmmakers behind 2014’s Goodnight Mommy return with another tale of untrustworthy children, questionable adults, and inevitable violence. Riley Keough takes the lead here with a fantastic performance as a woman with a dangerous past facing an unexplained nightmare — is she crazy? are there ghosts about? or is something even more devious afoot? — and the slow-building terror builds to an impressively devastating end.

12. Saint (2010)

Plot: Whenever there is a full moon on December 5th, Saint Nick returns to SLAY.

Dutch director Dick Maas is like the Santa Claus we grew up believing in as kids. I mean this in the sense that, with each new movie, he delivers a wonderful gift. Saint is so good that they should have renamed Yuletide season ChristMAAS as a thank you. (Kieran Fisher)

11. Inside (2007)

Plot: A pregnant woman still reeling from the car accident that killed her husband is targeted on Christmas Eve by someone who wants what’s inside her.

Any hope of enjoying this ridiculously gory French shocker hinges on two things: being okay with tremendously bloody carnage and being forgiving of some stupendously stupid characters. If both of those apply to you then you’ll want to strap in for this intensely violent slasher sooner rather than later.

10. The Children (2008)

Plot: A holiday get-together turns bloody when a mysterious infection sees adorable tykes transform into killers.

Holiday or not, this British chiller remains the smartest, most suspenseful, and best movie about killer kids. The murders are disturbing and believable, the parents’ anguish and agony over the prospect of fighting back against their own children is palpable, and the ending is absolutely terrific. It tackles the idea of parental love in fascinating ways, both with the little ones and a teen caught in the middle, and even without the layered themes, it’s still a crazy good horror thriller.

9. Krampus (2015)

Plot: A boy’s anger on Christmas Eve lands his family in Krampus’ sights.

There aren’t very many Krampus movies despite the character’s inherent ripeness for holiday horror, but while most filmmakers are content to go the lazy route with him leave it to the director of Trick ‘r Treat to fully embrace the darkly imaginative world he inhabits. A fun and talented cast shares the screen with vicious creations from the wizards at Weta, and once the film turns the corner from family comedy to creature feature there’s no turning back. Sure the ending is iffy, but getting there is good fun.

8. Better Watch Out (2016)

Plot: A babysitter and her lovelorn, preteen charge face off against an unwelcome visitor over the Christmas holiday.

Home invasion movies can feel pretty familiar, but this slick and funny thriller is a smart riff on the formula delivering suspense, laughs, and a highly satisfying face-off. It’s bright and cheerful, even during its dark and twisted beats, and it feels every bit like a bloody and far crueler Home Alone. That’s all more than enough to warrant its inclusion here, but in addition to nailing a fantastic ending the film also serves as a delightful take-down of male entitlement.

7. Christmas Evil (1980)

Plot: As a little boy Harry is traumatized when he discovers Santa Claus isn’t real, and when he grows up to work at a toy factory a nervous breakdown isn’t far behind.

This is one my favorite three Christmas movies of all time and with good reason. On the surface, this may just appear to be a cheap exploitation movie hoping to cause a stir with a killer Santa, but when you peel back that top layer you find so much more. We see a man who has been on the brink of a breakdown his entire life finally burst at the seams. The movie keeps everything open-ended allowing the audience to decide what exactly happened. It’s sort of similar to Vampire’s Kiss or American Psycho in that way. Is what we’re seeing real, or are we merely peering into the mind of a madman? Stocking stuffer bonus: This is John Waters’ favorite Christmas movie and it marks the onscreen debut of Patricia Richardson. (Chris Coffel)

6. Scrooge (1970)

Plot: Ebenezer Scrooge is an asshole who gets haunted into becoming a decent person — also, there’s singing!

Wait, this is a musical with a happy ending? What’s it doing on a horror list? Well, apart from all the non-horror feathers in its cap, Scrooge has a very fucking fun Ghost of Christmas Future sequence. Never underestimate the power of dark, faceless shroud! Also can we talk about that surprisingly creepy crimson hell sequence? That jagged, snow-coated cemetery? A tour through hell led by an impossibly sassy Alec Guinness? Sign me the fuck up! (Meg Shields)

5. Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)

Plot: A teenager with big dreams about escaping her little Scottish town sees her plans interrupted by the zombie apocalypse.

This funny, bloody, toe-tapping zom-com is not only the best Scottish zombie musical ever made, but it’s also one of the most entertaining horror comedies you’re likely to see. Strong words, I know, but its high placement here will be vindicated once you’ve seen it. The songs are memorable, and the characters have you caring about their fates in ways unusual for comedic horror movies.

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Plot: Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, gets bored of doing the same thing every year and attempts to takeover Christmas.

This movie is like an awesome band that has annoying fans. You have to be sure to separate the work from the rabid fan base. If you can’t do that you’ll drive yourself mad, but if you can manage to separate the two it becomes very hard to deny how truly wonderful this movie is. I watch it at minimum two times a year — once at Halloween and once at Christmas. The stop-motion animation and details within the film are out of this world, and composer Danny Elfman delivers some of his greatest work. You should take this journey into the dark abyss of Tim Burton’s mind every December, but for the love of Baby Jesus please don’t say he directed it because he doesn’t live a double life as Henry Selick. (Chris Coffel)

3. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

Plot: Santa Claus is unearthed from his icy tomb in the mountains of Finland and he’s not playing nice — and neither are his naked elves. It’s up to a kid to save the day.

After exploring a similar premise in two short films prior to Rare Exports, writer/director Jalmari Helander brought the story to life for a feature-length holiday gem. Blending dark fantasy elements with a good old-fashioned kids’ adventure yarn, this is perfect spooky seasonal viewing the whole can enjoy family. (Kieran Fisher)

2. Black Christmas (1974)

Plot: A foul-mouthed wacko terrorizes and kills sorority sisters while jacking up their phone bill.

The number of movies that can be considered Christmas classics can be counted on three hands, and amazingly two of them are from the same director. (Movies, not hands.) Bob Clark not only gave us the delightful family comedy, A Christmas Story, but he also directed this memorably creepy slasher that’s been oft-imitated but rarely equaled. Clark uses the confines of the sorority house to great effect and combined with the killer’s unsettling voice it works to build tension, atmosphere, and holiday cheer.

1. Gremlins (1984)

Plot: A boy fails to follow the three simple rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of mischievous monsters on his unsuspecting little town.

Joe Dante is one of the most underrated directors to ever work in Hollywood, and this may very well be his masterpiece. If you’re looking for a Christmas movie that will scare you while still having that warming heartfelt emotion of the holidays and the ability to make you laugh, then look no further my friends. The best part about Gremlins is that despite it being over 30 years old the effects hold up incredibly well. The way each gremlin comes to life, each with their very own distinct personality, is pure movie magic. Gizmo is just as iconic and synonymous with Christmas as Rudolph or Frosty and twice as cute. And while we’re on the subject of cute icons we have to mention this film has Dick Miller, and if you have Dick Miller you have gold. Over the years there have been a lot of good Christmas movies, horror and otherwise, but none can bring more joy to the world than Joe Dante’s Gremlins. (Chris Coffel)

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!

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