Whether it is snow, holly, sparkling decorations on a tree, glad tidings to all or celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is normally a happy time spent with family and friends. To a scriptwriter looking for a theme for a horror movie, logically, this season would be way down the list. But there are some that have seen the dark possibilities that the festive season can bring.
Unfortunately, many of those who have seen them get blinded by the dollar signs as they cash in on a notoriously quite cinematic season. For that reason, the choices for the discerning horror fan wanting some Yuletide fun are a little limited and will require some creative thinking to obtain any satisfaction. Just bear this in mind as you look through this list of horror-lite Xmas joys.
1. Gremlins.
Originally set for a Christmas release date, Gremlins actually debuted in the summer of 1984 and despite its festive setting, became a hit and has continued to find new fans ever since. Directed by Joe Dante, Gremlins sees an unusual pet being given to Billy by his father. Gizmo is a Mogwai, a cute little creature purchased from a strange Chinese shop, came with three rules: Keep him out of bright light, don’t get him near water and never, ever feed him after midnight. When two of the rules are broken, Gizmo gives birth to lizard-like little monsters that cause havoc at Christmas around Billy’s small hometown.
For good, honest fun you can’t go wrong with Gremlins. Director Joe Dante always looks as if he had great fun making this movie, as it’s packed with great set pieces (the kitchen Gremlins, the bar), plenty of movie in-jokes (E.T., various director cameo roles) and Pheobe Cates memorable ‘Why I hate Christmas’ speech. Honestly, is there anyone out there who wouldn’t want a Gizmo for Christmas?
2. Scrooged
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has so many TV and film adaptations it was hard to choose which one to feature. While Richard Donner’s low-brow 1988 version is nowhere near the best of the bunch, it does feature Bill Murray, who is superb in the role of Frank Cross, the emotionless ‘Scrooge’ TV executive. Plot wise it follows the basics, with some scary Ghosts of Christmas visitations and more or less avoids a sugary third act that could have so easily ruined the movie.
Fine, Scrooged is never going to win any awards or even be liked by everyone who sees it (especially Charles Dickens stalwarts), but for those who don’t mind disconnecting their brain, it frequently entertains. Murray carries the slower parts and naturally gets all of the good lines. No, it’s not scary, but it is pretty funny.
3. Silent Night, Deadly Night
Now we are into the more serious Christmas/Horror territory. Silent Night, Deadly Night’s main character dresses up as Santa and kills people in a variety of nasty (and quite innovative) ways. If that doesn’t sound like good stuff to you, I would advise avoiding this little movie. For anyone not concerned by the tradition breaker, what you will get is a standard slasher movie in the same style as Halloween and Nightmares in a Damaged Brain.
On release back in 1984, Silent Night, Deadly Night stirred up the emotions of those who thought that the sight of a traumatised individual dressing up as Santa Claus and axing other members of the cast was not in the Christmas spirit and protested outside screening’s of the movie. Avoid the three sequels and stick with the original, which viewed 20 years after its release, is not what its reputation would suggest. One for the more committed horror fan in search of Xmas thrills.
4. Black Christmas
Widely regarded as the best Christmas horror movie made, Bob Clarke’s 1974 offering actually pre-date’s John Carpenter’s Halloween and should really take the title of the first so-called ‘slasher’ movie. Set just before the Christmas holiday, the plot follows the now cliched set up of a psychopath stalking teens in a sorority house. Fans of the genre will see many of the devices used in modern slashers turn up here; the killers mask and the obscene phone calls for instance.
Director Bob Clarke made some great horror during the 70s, including the fabulously titled ‘Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things’, and his effective use of colour and the creepy, repetitive Christmas carol soundtrack ensure that Black Christmas is definitely the scariest entry on this list.
5. Tales From The Crypt
Way back in 1972, this British collection of mini-horror stories shares the same title as HBO’s remake and the various skeleton-introduced movies that emerged during the 90s. The segment that makes it worth featuring here is ‘All Through the House’ starring Joan Collins. Joan has murdered her husband and is naturally a little jumpy and her situation is not helped by a crazed Santa Claus stalking her! Several other segments make up the running time including one with Peter Cushing. If this version is hard to track down, HBO did remake the story as part of their recent successful show.
Of course, there are many other Christmas movies, including other horrors, but these few are the pick of the bunch. Honourable mention for non-horror movies goes to Bruce Willis’ bad day in Die Hard and John Landis’ Trading Places, both great films set at Christmas but without the sugar coating associated with the season. So there we have it, Christmas with a scream!
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