Seasonal Shockers

Despite all the associations of cheer and joviality, Christmastime also has a dark side to it. Pre-Christian solstice festivals regarded mid-winter as an important time, when the nights grow longer, and (similarly to Samhain) the veil between the world of the living and the dead becomes thinner. There's a strange British tradition of reading ghost stories at Christmastime that dates back to Victorian times. There's also many a ghost story connected to Christmas, such as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and many ghoulish tales by MR James were actually written specially to be read at Christmas. Even the idea of Santa Claus coming into your house through the chimney has a few creepy connotations. This notion certainly hasn’t been wasted on a few filmmakers who set out to sabotage the ‘seasonal cheer’ of Christmas with violence, blood on snow and all kinds of savage ‘slays.’ Below are a few of the best Christmas themed shockers to check out if you fancy giving yourself a fright this Christmas. You know, just to balance out all that bloody cheeriness.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring...

Black Christmas (1974). The residents of a college sorority house are terrorized by a stranger who makes frighteningly obscene phone calls and then murders the sorority sisters during Christmas break. Preceding the likes of Halloween and Friday the 13th, Bob Clark’s seminal seasonal shocker took inspiration from several Mario Bava body-count films and essentially laid out the blueprint for many subsequent American slasher movies. The unsettling atmosphere is enhanced by the use of Christmas carols and a bleak snowy landscape. Margot Kidder and Olivia Hussey are amongst the cast of likeable, complex and sympathetic characters. The real terror comes when we learn exactly where the phone calls originate from. The film’s original tag line had a point – ‘If this movie doesn't make your skin crawl... It's On Too Tight!’ An immensely creepy, atmospheric chiller. 

Black Christmas

Jack Frost (1996). This is the positively delightful tale of a serial killer who genetically mutates into an evil snowman after being involved in a traffic accident and some dodgy toxic waste, only to continue his killing spree with various ‘Christmas’ themed novelty deaths. If the themed deaths aren’t enough to get you into the Christmas mood, Jack Frost churns out some priceless Freddy Kruger-esque one-liners whilst despatching unfortunate victims, including Shannon Elizabeth in an early pre-American Pie role. Director Michael Cooney displays flair and innovation despite his ridiculously low budget and ridiculously ridiculous concept. It’s all played for laughs and proves to be a fun romp. Cooney would go on to write the mind-melting psychological slasher Identity.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984). Another seasonal ‘stalk and slash' shocker - with bells on. Silent Night Deadly Night sparked a bloody wave of controversy on its original theatrical release thanks to its unforgettable premise: a seriously unhinged (is there usually any other kind?) serial killer dressed as Santa Claus has deep and dark issues with ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ due to the fact that he saw his mother and father murdered by someone dressed as Santa when he was a kid. The concept proved a bit much for some, and prompted a mob of angry parents and film critics to protest against this ‘immoral and indecent’ film. Spoil-sports. The sight of ‘Santa Claus’ advancing towards his victims with an axe is memorable to say the least, and of all the psycho-dressed-as-Santa-slashers this one is by far the naughtiest. 

Curse of the Cat People

Curse of the Cat People (1944). This daring sequel to the Jacques Tourneur directed/Val Lewton produced moody classic Cat People (1942) revolves around Amy, the young daughter of Oliver and Alice Reed – survivors from the first film. Amy is a strange, lonely child who often becomes lost in her daydreams. She has trouble differentiating fantasy from reality, and has no friends her own age as a result. She makes an imaginary friend in the form of the ghost of her father's dead first wife, Irena. Unfolding more as a haunting study of child psychology, Curse of the Cat People takes place in part at Christmastime. Indeed some of the film’s most memorable and striking moments feature Irena (Simone Simon) standing in a snow-blanketed garden, while the climax unfolds on Christmas Eve as Oliver and Alice desperately search the neighbourhood for their missing daughter.

Don’t Open ‘til Christmas (1984). A murderer is causing panic on the streets of London, as he begins a killing spree solely targeting anyone dressed as Santa Claus. Scotland Yard’s Inspector Harris has been given the unenviable task of tracking down the psychopath. It would seem that he's going to have his work cut out for him. This somewhat dreary horror is a seemingly endless series of scenes in which various characters dressed as Santa Claus are murdered in increasingly grisly ways. After a while it all begins to fade into one repetitive Santa massacre. Not even a bizarre cameo from Caroline Munroe can elevate proceedings. If Santa leaves this in your stocking, throw it back up the chimney after him.

Tales from the Crypt

Tales from the Crypt: ‘All Through The House’ (1972). Five people get lost and become trapped in a mysterious crypt. Events become increasingly creepy when they encounter a strange crypt keeper who relays to them stories of how they died. One of the tales concerns Joanne (Joan Collins), who makes the mistake of murdering her husband at Christmas time while an escaped lunatic dressed in a Santa Claus outfit is on the loose. She attempts to cover up her husband’s murder by making it look like an accident. Little does she know said lunatic has sneaked into her home and has a nasty surprise for her… Basically, she needn’t have gone to all that bother covering up her husband’s murder. Taut, chilling and darkly humourous, All Through The House is the definite highlight of this top anthology.

Gremlins (1984). Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) is given a small creature called a Mogwai by his father for Christmas, with strict instructions to keep it away from bright light, never get it wet and perhaps most importantly - never, EVER feed it after midnight. Of course young Billy and his clumsy pal Pete (Corey Feldman!) accidently soak poor Gizmo who spawns a litter of similarly cute fur-balls. Billy accidentally feeds them after midnight and before he knows it, they’ve mutated into mischievous and dangerous critters that wreck havoc throughout the small town Billy calls home, ruining Christmas for everyone. Can Billy and his girlfriend Kate (Phoebe Cates) stop the gremlins before the town becomes a bloodbath!? Perfect nostalgic Christmas viewing from Joe Dante, which at times is pretty darn scary – (well it was when I was 8) especially when Billy’s mother searches the house when she hears strange noises - only to be attacked by 'something' in her Christmas tree. Playful, devilishly funny and fun to watch at any time of the year, Gremlins will always have a place on the DVD shelf in my heart.

Nightmare Before Christmas

Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, is bored with doing the same thing every year for Halloween. When he discovers Christmas Town he is so taken with the idea of Christmas that he persuades the residents of Halloween Town to help him put on Christmas instead of Halloween. Alas, they don’t quite grasp the concept and as a result some rather ‘alternative’ gifts are delivered to unsuspecting children at Christmas. Can Jack put things right before the idea of Christmas is tarnished forever? Equal parts macabre and joyously sweet, Nightmare Before Christmas is a visual delight that is creator/co-writer/producer Tim Burton through and through. Undead reindeer, a coffin sleigh and gruesome toys that attack their recipients maybe aren’t features you’d associate with the usual Christmas movies, but this is a smart, delightful and compelling Christmas movie that unabashedly states that we should be proud to be who we are no matter what time of year it is. 'Gawd bless us, every one'.

Christmas Evil (1980). This is the story of a young boy who is scarred for life when he sees his mother being groped by a licentious Santa Claus (his father). When he grows up, a nerdy/creepy loner, he becomes the foreman of a toy factory and is obsessed with the quality of his toys. He tries to keep up the Christmas spirit and maintain Christmas’s magical atmosphere, but when all he is met with is hypocrisy and cynicism, he loses his mind and goes on a yuletide killing spree. Played more for laughs than for scares, Christmas Evil is a low budget blackly comic delight with a few nods to other genre classics thrown in for good measure. John Waters adores it.

For more choice holiday faves, why not head on over to Paracinema... The Blog and remind yourself why Home Alone 2, Die Hard and Batman Returns are just so darn watchable at this, the most wonderful time of the year...

Merry Christmastime!