12 Fun Christmas Horror Movies to Lighten Up the Holidays

I have to give this film a lot of credit for helping me become a podcaster and someone that loves low budget/obscure horror films in general. I remember seeing the DVD case for this movie poking out of a bargain bin at a discount department store when I was 16 and laughing about how stupid it sounded. Just seeing that case ignited a passion that I have kept now well into my thirties. This film is the quintessential Christmas slasher film. It has one of the best origin stories of any slasher, in my opinion. If you haven’t seen it, the story is a young boy witnesses some tragic Santa-related murder, and then grows up to commit…you guessed it, Santa-related murder! PUNISH! NAUGHTY!

In case you ever want to see WCW/WWE’s Bill Goldberg as Santa, riding a giant buffalo, and offing people in Christmas-related ways, this is the film for you. Some of the jokes are dated and not that amusing, but the deaths are hilarious, the backstory is actually really cool, and the film has an animated segment that clearly references old school Videocraft International specials. This one is chock-full of one-liners and is a lot of fun.

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This year was a first-time Anna and the Apocalypse watch for me, and I absolutely loved it. It’s a Christmas zombie breakout musical. Think Shaun of the Dead mixed with Dear Evan Hansen. The songs are incredibly catchy, the choreography is great, the gore is awesome, and the story has plenty of the heart-felt emotion that a lot more recent zombie flicks have been contributing to the genre. I really need a live tour of this to see.

Think a French murder-Santa version of Home Alone before there was Home Alone. Patrick Floersheim portrays a brilliantly psychopathic Santa. Alain Lalanne, who is now a visual effects artist on huge films (Avatar, Edge of Tomorrow) is a force to be reckoned with in the fortifying of his home and creating Christmas-themed weapons. His child mullet is straight up legendary, too. There is a dog death in this one though, so you’ve been warned.

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I recommend going into this reboot with an open mind. It’s not the original, and it shouldn’t be expected to be the same thing. It does reference the OG a lot with some of the deaths and lines, but overall, the story is different, but enjoyable. I don’t want to spoil this one being that it’s so new, but let’s just say that there’s a supernatural element added to give the story a whole new spin. I liked it.

This is the grown-up aborted fetus slasher home invasion Christmas flick you’ve always wanted to see. Dee Wallace (Cujo, The Howling) leads as a matriarch that has the family home for Christmas and gets an uninvited guest from her past. The plot is silly, but the deaths are brutal and wild, and Wallace always brings her A-game.

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I promise that this will be the only Full Moon Features film on this list. I wouldn’t exactly say the film is good, but it’s a riot. You have a great cameo from Gary Busey and get to watch an ugly, maniacal cookie murder people. It’s very much in the Child’s Play realm (much like Jack Frost) of stories. It also has like four sequels if you want to be a B-movie completionist, like me.

This is one of the original slashers as we know them today. In fact, John Carpenter was inspired by Black Christmas when creating Halloween. There is no real known motive behind the killer’s actions, only pure psychopathy. Great performances, good music, and an ending you may not expect from a slasher flick. Some things are a bit overdone and dated, but understanding this is a ’70s film and a trailblazer in the genre is important when going in.

This film is an extremely interesting spin on a holiday home invasion film. Another one that I can’t go into much detail without spoiling. All I can really say is that the film is worth the watch for a single scene alone, and those that have seen it know what I’m referring to. Lots of demented holiday cheer. Prepare to walk away wondering if you feel good about what you watched.

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A film that doesn’t need me to hype it up, as you have most certainly seen it. Some people complain that Gremlins isn’t a Christmas movie, but just takes place during Christmas. I refute with Gizmo wears a Santa hat, and just let people enjoy things the way they want to. This should be a holiday must-watch on all your lists, let alone just horror.

Yes, this is another murder-Santa film, but it has a lot of awesomely silly moments in it. It might be one of the oldest slow-burn horror films I can think of. When it does burn, it immediately goes to 11 on the crazy scale. There are plenty of characters you want to see get just deserts, and the ending is amazing. This would be a perfect film to watch on Christmas.

Such a great follow-up for Michael Dougherty after Trick R Treat. A horror comedy filled with excellent actors like Toni Collette, Adam Scott, and David Koechner. Tons of fun little Christmas monster to wreak havoc. Gingerbread cookies, elves, demonic toys, and a giant new interpretation of Krampus with Santa’s skin suit draped across him. We’re also treated to a badass animation segment. Another yearly must-watch for me.

As I said before, these may not be your favorites, and some aren’t even mine, but I enjoyed them all and recommend them all to you. What’s your favorite Christmas horror flick? Happy Holidays!

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