The holiday season may be a time for joy and celebration, but for fans of horror, it’s also the perfect opportunity to explore the darker side of Christmas and New Years holiday. From murderous Santas to malevolent folklore creatures, the Christmas horror genre blends festive cheer with spine-chilling scares.
These films turn the season of goodwill into a season of dread, delivering everything from psychological terror to campy, over-the-top carnage. Whether you’re snuggled by the fire or braving the snow, this list of the 15 best Christmas horror films will add a sinister twist to your holiday traditions.
1. Black Christmas (1974)
Director: Bob Clark
Plot: Set during the Christmas season, a group of sorority sisters are terrorized by disturbing phone calls from an anonymous stalker. As the calls become more explicit, the women are picked off one by one by a deranged killer hiding in their attic.
Why It’s Memorable: Widely considered one of the first slasher films, Black Christmas is unnervingly atmospheric. Its use of suspense, eerie sound design, and the unsettling ambiguity surrounding the killer’s identity set a high bar for holiday horror.
2. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Director: Charles E. Sellier Jr.
Plot: Traumatized as a child after witnessing his parents’ brutal murder by a man dressed as Santa Claus, Billy grows up in a strict orphanage. As an adult, his buried trauma resurfaces when he dons a Santa suit and goes on a rampage, punishing those he deems “naughty.”
Why It’s Memorable: This controversial cult classic shocked audiences with its subversion of the Santa image, blending graphic violence with psychological horror.
3. Jack Frost (1997)
Director: Michael Cooney
Plot: After a notorious serial killer dies in a freak accident involving genetic material, his body fuses with snow, transforming him into a wisecracking, homicidal snowman. Armed with icicle weapons and twisted humor, Jack wreaks havoc in a small town.
Why It’s Memorable: A campy, absurd horror-comedy, Jack Frost is infamous for its over-the-top kills (e.g., the carrot scene) and ridiculous premise. It’s a guilty pleasure for fans of so-bad-it’s-good cinema.
4. New Year’s Evil (1980)
Director: Emmett Alston
Plot: During a live New Year’s Eve TV broadcast, a mysterious caller informs the host, Diane “Blaze” Sullivan, that he will kill someone at midnight in each time zone. As the countdown begins, Blaze becomes his ultimate target.
Why It’s Memorable: This slasher stands out for its time-zone gimmick and its focus on a rock-and-roll New Year’s Eve vibe, making it a unique blend of the holiday season and ‘80s horror.
5. Christmas Evil (1980)
Director: Lewis Jackson
Plot: Harry, a toy factory worker obsessed with Christmas, is pushed over the edge when his coworkers and neighbors mock his holiday devotion. Dressed as Santa, Harry embarks on a deadly spree, rewarding the “nice” and punishing the “naughty.”
Why It’s Memorable: More psychological thriller than traditional slasher, Christmas Evil examines the unraveling of a fragile mind during the holiday season. Its unsettling tone and dark satire on Christmas consumerism have earned it a cult following.
6. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Director: Jalmari Helander
Plot: In rural Finland, a team of archaeologists uncovers the frozen body of what appears to be the real Santa Claus—an ancient and malevolent figure. When children in the area start disappearing, a group of hunters must confront the dark legend.
Why It’s Memorable: This Finnish gem mixes folklore, fantasy, and horror, delivering a unique and chilling take on Santa Claus mythology with breathtaking cinematography and dark humor.
7. Gremlins (1984)
Director: Joe Dante
Plot: When Billy Peltzer receives a Mogwai named Gizmo as a Christmas gift, he accidentally breaks the creature’s strict care rules. This unleashes a horde of mischievous, deadly Gremlins that wreak havoc on his small town during the holidays.
Why It’s Memorable: With its blend of comedy, horror, and heartwarming moments, Gremlins has become a quintessential Christmas horror film. The Gremlins’ antics, coupled with their terrifying designs, create a festive yet frightful experience.
8. Krampus (2015)
Director: Michael Dougherty
Plot: A dysfunctional family loses their Christmas spirit, inadvertently summoning Krampus, a demonic entity who punishes the wicked during the holidays. With his army of sinister helpers, Krampus traps the family in a nightmarish blizzard.
Why It’s Memorable: Krampus masterfully balances horror and dark comedy, featuring impressive creature designs and a moralistic holiday tale rooted in European folklore.
9. Dead End (2003)
Directors: Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa
Plot: On Christmas Eve, a family driving through a deserted forest road experiences surreal and terrifying events, including a mysterious woman in white and ghostly apparitions.
Why It’s Memorable: Dead End relies on a minimalist setting to create a claustrophobic and unsettling atmosphere, with its dreamlike twists and psychological tension keeping viewers on edge.
10. The Children (2008)
Director: Tom Shankland
Plot: A family Christmas gathering turns horrific when the children succumb to a strange illness that drives them to murder their parents.
Why It’s Memorable: A chilling exploration of parental fear, The Children is an intense and visceral horror film that uses its snowy holiday setting to amplify the terror.
11. Better Watch Out (2016)
Director: Chris Peckover
Plot: A babysitter’s peaceful Christmas night takes a dark turn when intruders break into the house. However, the events spiral into unexpected and shocking territory, revealing deeper and more sinister intentions.
Why It’s Memorable: This clever psychological horror subverts expectations with a shocking twist, blending dark humor and genuine suspense.
12. The Lodge (2019)
Directors: Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala
Plot: Stranded in a remote cabin during Christmas, a woman caring for her fiancé’s children faces eerie occurrences tied to her traumatic past and the family’s dysfunctional dynamics.
Why It’s Memorable: A slow-burn horror that delves into themes of isolation, faith, and psychological fragility, The Lodge is deeply unsettling and emotionally intense.
13. Saint (2010)
Director: Dick Maas
Plot: In this Dutch horror-comedy, Saint Nicholas is reimagined as a vengeful, murderous bishop who returns during a full moon to punish the wicked.
Why It’s Memorable: This film combines holiday lore with slasher tropes, creating a unique, gory, and darkly comedic twist on the Santa Claus myth.
14. P2 (2007)
Director: Franck Khalfoun
Plot: A young woman working late on Christmas Eve becomes trapped in her office parking garage, stalked by an unhinged security guard.
Why It’s Memorable: With its claustrophobic setting and relentless tension, P2 offers a gripping survival horror experience.
15. To All a Goodnight (1980)
Director: David Hess
Plot: A group of students staying at a secluded boarding school over Christmas vacation becomes the target of a killer dressed as Santa Claus.
Why It’s Memorable: One of the earliest holiday slashers, To All a Goodnight combines classic slasher elements with festive cheer, offering a nostalgic horror experience.
Conclusion
Christmas may be known for its traditions of peace and joy, but these films prove that there’s plenty of room for thrills and chills, too. Whether you’re in the mood for campy fun like Jack Frost, psychological horror like The Lodge, or a slasher classic like Black Christmas, this list offers something for every horror fan. So grab your cocoa, turn down the lights, and prepare for a holiday movie marathon that will make you think twice about what’s lurking under the tree. Happy Horrordays!