7 Deliciously Dark Holiday Films1

By Aydrea Walden, Dec 22, 2011 in Offbeat, Pop Culture

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Holiday movies tend to be warm and fuzzy family affairs. They remind us that life is too short, and we should hold each other close, count our blessings, and appreciate life’s special moments while we’re here. Not all holiday films, however, emanate peace and goodwill. There are other holiday movies that remind us to hold each other close and count our blessings because life may be cut short by a psycho wielding an ax.

If you’re in the mood for something a little dark and a lot less saccharine this holiday season, you might want to check out Throwing Stones, a series where a group of high school students have to overcome their differences in order to survive when students end up missing during Saturday school. If you’re in the mood for something festive, you might want to water down the typically sweet holiday fare with something a little naughty… and bloody.

Throwing Stones – Don’t You Forget About Me

Here are some holiday-themed horror movies that will keep you cozy by the fire… and looking over your shoulder.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

Poor Billy Chapman. He watched a guy in a Santa suit murder his parents. This bit of trauma might have just sat idly in the back of Billy’s brain… except that the nuns who raised him forced him to play Santa in a toy store – a toy store that, fortunately for the now-deranged Billy, is stocked with an ax and a bunch of other stuff to murder people with.

Black Christmas (1974)

A sorority must deal with the nearby murder of a little girl, a series of threatening phone calls, and finally, a psycho stalking them one by one. If you’re wondering if someone ends up dead and preserved in saran wrap, the answer is yes.

Gremlins (1984)

Perhaps the most respectable movie on this list, this over-the-top holiday horror flick has a host of A-listers behind it. Produced by Steven Speilberg, written by Chris Columbus, and directed by Joe Dante, this film is equal parts adorable and scary. What started out as an awesome Christmas gift turns out to be the most deadly holiday the town of Kingston Falls has ever seen when a cute and cuddly Mogwai births a devious and destructive Gremlin.

Jack Frost (1996)

Not to be confused with the Michael Keaton family film of the same name, this Jack Frost is a cautionary tale about mixing serial killers, car accidents, snow, and genetic technology. Warning: if those four things do come into contact with each other, you’re left with a serial-killing snowman.

The Gingerdead Man (2005)

There are only two words you need to justify watching this movie: Gary Busey. If you’re still looking for a plot synopsis, here it is: The spirit of a killer is resurrected in the 6-inch body of a gingerbread man after sprinkling his ashes in cookie batter. Despite being so tiny, he still manages to kill a bunch of people, sever several limbs, and cook someone alive in a professional-grade oven. You’re welcome.

Christmas Evil (1980)

Originally called “You Better Watch Out,” this film chronicles the holiday havoc wreaked by Santa enthusiast Harry Stalding. He is dedicated to giving good kids the presents they deserve. Unfortunately, he is also obsessed with giving naughty kids what he thinks they deserve as well.

Sint (2010)

On December 5, 1492, a gang led by former bishop Niklas is killed by villagers who refuse to put up with the gang’s pillaging and killing sprees. Whenever the gang’s death date coincides with a full moon, they return as murderous ghosts. In this action horror film, Sinterklass (the horse-riding Bishop who is the Dutch equivalent of Santa Claus) turns into the mass-murdering Niklas when his annual ride coincides with the gang’s death anniversary.

Throwing Stones – Can You Here Me Now?

Throwing Stones – Broken Window Theory

Watch more episodes of teen horror series THROWING STONES

Aydrea Walden ten Bosch, a former news reporter, has also written for Nickelodeon, NBC/Universal, Hawaii Film Partners, Highlander Films, the Now Write! Screenwriting book series, Improv Olympic, The Second City Los Angeles and Disney. She regularly performs sketch and improv comedy and runs the satirical blog, The Oreo Experience, about her life and times as a super white black person.