Horror Movies for the Holidays

As we enter the home stretch leading into Christmas, I hope everyone is in good health and has all their Christmas shopping done, as now is the time to curl up in front of the TV/Computer and enjoy some Holiday Horror movies.  

Below you will find some lesser known movies that are out there.  This is not to put down some of the quality horror/slashers out there, but to instead open everyone's eyes to the what might be just outside the mainstream.

I hope you enjoy my list and of course, Merry Christmas!

Scrooge or Marley's Ghost (1901)
We kick this off with this silent film from 1901, the earliest known film adaptation of Charles Dicken's 1843 classic "A Christmas Carol".   As with many movies from this time period, pieces are missing, and this is the only known surviving footage.  In this 3:26 long clip, we see Bob Cratchit showing someone out of Scrooge's office just before they leave, and ends with Scrooge being shown his own grave. I've contended that A Christmas Carol is a horror story for many years, and this creepyness along of a silent movie proves my point.  I only wish we had the entire print.

Babes in Toyland (1934)
I know what you are saying, how is this Christmas classic a horror movie.  Are you afraid of clowns, creepy walking toys or characters that seem cartoons come to life?  If so, you will understand why this is on my list.  This is one of those subtle horror movies that you can show to the kids and watch them squirm a bit, but they will still enjoy the movie.  Would be a great Christmas Eve or Christmas Day movie used to introduce a younger generations to horror....but in a subtle way.

A Christmas Carol (1951)
As I earlier stated, A Christmas Carol definitely fits the mold of horror and macabre, and to me this is that definative film version.  Watching this after reading the Dicken's novel, you realize how directors in the past really tried to stay close to the source material vs today - where there has to be a "modern spin" on everything (aka - Bill Murry's Scrooged, which I also love).  Definitely check this one to revisit a story you think you know - it might surprise you.

Who Slew Auntie Roo (1971)
In the mid/lte 90's I lived in Europe and had many friends from the UK.  They turned me onto this cult classic.  The story follows an American widow living in the UK, who throws a Christmas party for 10 orphans every year.  If that is not the perfect setup for a Horror movie, I don't know what is - but when you can describe this as a mashup of a Christmas movie with Hansel and Gretle, you know you are info a treat.  Did I mention, it has a "Happy Ending"?

Home for the Holidays (1972)
A made for TV movie  produced by Aaron Spelling and starring Sally Field, I am sure you are asking yourself....why have I not heard of this movie?  It is another one of those under the radar Horror films of the early 70s that was quickly overshadowed by the better known (and produced) slashers towards the later part of the decade.  The acting is actually pretty good, given the production value, and I would suggest watching this as it was originally aired - while on the couch, snuggled with your significant other.

Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972)
Originally released as Night of the Dark Full Moon (also re-released in 1981 as Death House), this could be considered on the earliest slashers - as principle photography took place in 1970, but the film was shelved and post-production didn't take up until the summer of 1972.  The film itself is eerie, but the plot and editing is typical of the horror films of that decade.  It does beg the question - would you take possession of a family estate you inherited, especially if it had ties to mysterious deaths and was previously an insane asylum?

Black Christmas (1974)  
Originally titled Silent Night, Evil Night (and not to be confused with the aforementioned Silent Night, Bloody Night), this might be my favorite Holiday themed slasher.  It sets the standard of horror movies at the time, with a Girls Sorority, a Holiday Party, psychopath killer and an ambiguous ending (note - you will see these come up again later).
My first introduction to this movie was in 1978, and I remember the controversy surrounding its TV release (I was only 9 and that was the only way I was going to see it).  Two weeks prior to airing, on January 15th, there had been an actual double murder at a Florida State University sorority house.  This prompted Florida's Governor to ask NBC to not air the program because the plot was similar.  In the end, NBC allowed affiliates in Florida, Georgia and Alabama to air alternative content - and I was worried this would spread to the Midwest and I wouldn't see the film, luckily that did not happen.  Instead, I got to see the film, and fall in love with a pre-Superman Margot Kidder.  
Oh, and the real life murderer - it was Ted Bundy, who had been wanted since escaping jail (while awaiting murder trails) on Dec 30th 1977.

Last Stop on the Train (1975)
One of the things I love about old movies, is how they were released, re-released and in some cases re-re-released under different titles.  Last Stop on the Train is a perfect example, having been released under no less than 7 different english titles - Night Train Murders, The New House on The Left, Second House on The Left, Don't Ride on Late Night Trains, Late Night Trains, Last House Part II, and Xmas Massacre.  I am particularly fond of this movie - because it does give us the cinematography does give us some snapshots in the mid-70s of Munich and Innsbruck Austria.  The movie itself is a rough retelling of Wes Craven's "The Last House on the Left" (1972), and follows two girls riding a train through Germany on Christmas Eve and their run in with three criminals.  There are some rough scenes in this movie (the movie was banned in the UK until 1984), and I wouldn't recommend to children under 13.  That said, it does have some tense moments once you get past some of the slow pacing.

To All A Good Night (1980)
 As we go into the 80s, slasher films are really starting to pick up and hit their stride, and this one hits all the buttons.  Girls finishing school (Check), Christmas Party (Check), psychopath dressed as Santa Claus (CHECK).  With all these tropes checked, you have to wonder why this movie flopped?   I think it fell victim to a low budget and being compared to Black Santa.  There are some really good scares here, and its pacing is on par with many films of the early 80s - slow at first, a few jump scares/kills, slow and then a climactic (and in this case) twist ending.  

Christmas Evil (1980)
Ahhhh the 80s- where every movie had to have a tag line.  Christmas Evil's was actually pretty good - "1st came Halloween, then Friday the 13th, and NOW.....".  
In hindsight, that is actually how 2020 is turning out, so I am going to give this a HIGHLY RECOMMEND.  
With a plot that would put most other slasher movies of the same time period (and several today) to shame, this movie follows a young Harry Stadling from a traumatic event in his youth, to his obsession with Santa Claus and the murderous rampage he goes on. In all honestly, I would love to see this movie remade as a dark edition to The Santa Clause series- because I could really see Harry chasing down Scott Calvin so he could put on the suit.  Imagine how this would end.  
All in all, one of the better Christmas Slashers.
PS - this was another re-titled movie, originally called You Better Watch Out and Terror in Toyland.

 
Elves (1989)
If I learned one thing from Elves, it is that you do not perform an Anti-Christmas  pagan bloodletting ritual.....not in 1989, and definitely not in 2020, because it will awaken a Neo-Nazi elf trying to bring about a master race.  Yep, the plot is that ridiculous, and Elves really does signal the beginning of the end of slasher era.  Campy, funny at times, a few jump scares - IMO, this would be the one I skipped this year......unless you you really are into strange movies.  In that case.....Merry Christmas.