By Christmas horror films offer a delightfully twisted blend of festive cheer and spine-chilling terror, creating a unique subgenre that is both entertaining and unsettling. The juxtaposition of joyful holiday traditions with sinister undertones amplifies the scares, making these films a perfect treat for horror fans who enjoy their thrills with a side of tinsel and sleigh bells.
From marauding monsters to killer Santas, these stories subvert the warm and cosy expectations of the season, delivering memorable scares and black comedy that linger long after the credits roll. They invite us to laugh, scream, and question the darker side of holiday mythology, all while basking in the glow of twinkling Christmas lights.
Standouts in this subgenre include Krampus (2015), where Michael Dougherty crafts a mischievously spooky tale about a family under siege by the titular creature and his eerie minions, perfectly blending festive spirit with supernatural chaos. Gremlins (1984) remains a quintessential classic, balancing comedic mayhem with genuine scares as a small town is terrorised by mischievous creatures during the holidays.
Robert Brian Wilson in Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Meanwhile, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) taps into the folklore of Santa Claus with a uniquely Scandinavian twist, offering a haunting yet heartfelt exploration of holiday legends. Whether it’s the gothic chaos of Batman Returns (1992) or the brutal chills of Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), these films prove that Christmas horror is as diverse as it is thrilling, making it an irresistible staple for fans of both genres.
Krampus
Dir. Dougherty (2015)
Writer/director Michael Dougherty, the cinematic mastermind who perfectly captured the spirit of Halloween in 2007’s Trick ‘r Treat, gives Christmas a similar treatment with Krampus. It’s very reminiscent of Gremlins, from the Krampus’s marauding minions to the fact that young lead Emjay Anthony resembles a miniature Billy Peltzer. Trust me, this one will become a seasonal staple.
Gremlins
Dir. Dante (1984)
Speaking of Gremlins…Joe Dante’s seminal 1980s classic has long been the go-to treat for Christmas horror aficionados who like their gore with a heavy dose of black comedy. Plenty of death and destruction—but at least the dog lives! A truly mischievous romp with plenty of thrills, Gremlins scares as well as it entertains, while never pandering to holiday sentimentality.
Batman Returns
Dir. Burton (1992)
While Batman Returns isn’t a traditional horror movie, it’s absolutely the darkest pre-Nolan manifestation of the caped crusader. The film uses Gotham’s violent mythology and gothic aesthetic to assault its Christmas backdrop, resulting in haunting juxtapositions (from bombs in presents to terrorists attaching a tree-lighting ceremony, and even parents abandoning their child in a sewer!). Danny DeVito’s Penguin is disgustingly unnerving and Christopher Walken is chilling as the sociopathic Max Shreck.
Silent Night, Deadly Night
Dir. Sellier (1984)
The grittiest of all Christmas horror movies brought protesters out in droves when it hit theatres in 1984. Parents were infuriated by the concept of an axe-wielding, blood-thirsty killer in a Santa suit. The rape and blatant criticisms of Christianity surely didn’t help. This one definitely isn’t for the kiddies.
Black Christmas
Dir. Morgan (2006)
Don’t hate me fellow horror fans, but I actually preferred the 2006 remake of Black Christmas to the 1974 original. Writer/director Glen Morgan’s version has a smart and stylised quality that puts it in the same league as films like Wes Craven’s Scream. With a complex mystery at its core, Black Christmas is challenging and chilling. Definitely not appropriate for family-time viewing.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Dir. Burton (1993)
Tim Burton’s holiday favourite is another film that gives Christmas the Halloween treatment. The Nightmare Before Christmas captivates those of us old enough to nostalgically recall claymation TV specials from the 1970s and 1980s. More than any other on the list, this one is a treat for the entire family. It’s evil enough to make us horror fans chuckle without giving our nieces and nephews night terrors.
Sheitan
Dir. Chapiron (2006)
Horror fans looking for something truly perverse to watch this holiday season can venture into French Extremity with Sheitan (the Arabic word for “Satan”). A group of kids have a Christmas Eve from hell when an enigmatic young woman invites them to her family’s country estate. Vincent Cassel is disturbing yet utterly hypnotic as the affable and volatile groundskeeper Joseph: at one moment charming, the next moment terrifying. This one also sports some vicious gallows humour.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Dir. Helander (2010)
From the land of Santa Claus, this Scandinavian chiller provides top-notch entertainment, with more genuine heart and authentic scares than any other film on the list. Often intense, and sometimes downright melancholic, Rare Exports is nonetheless utterly infectious and ultimately triumphant; great for the whole family. Even if you don’t have time to peep this one during the winter holidays, put it on your “Must Watch” list. You won’t be sorry.
The Children
Dir. Shankland (2008)
Those craving straight-up emotional devastation can check out The Children. When families gather for Christmas, children bring light and joy to all, right? Not this time. A mysterious illness puts the youngsters off-kilter, eventually transforming them into sadistic killers. The Children delivers extreme brutality without revealing too much, allowing our own minds to fill in some very disturbing blanks. Despite the title, this is another one that’s definitely not for the children.
Dead End
Dir. Andrea/Canepa (2003)
Travelling on Christmas Eve can be a nightmare; for the family in Dead End, a trip to grandmother’s house becomes a maddening descent into perpetual darkness. A near miss on a snowy highway sends the clan down an unfamiliar back road where they’re stalked by a variety of ghostly visions including a mysterious black car. And you thought travelling with your family was stressful!
Christmas horror movies – what are your favourites?
See more from Josh Millican on Top 10 Films:
Top 10 Horror Movie Vacations From Hell | 10 More Horror Movie Vacations From Hell | Top 10 Horror Films from France | Top 10 Horror Films from Scandinavia
See Also: The Greatest British Horror Films of All Time
Really liked Dead End. Good list, Josh.
Krampus is a lot of fun. Brilliant list Josh.
Great to see Dead End – definitely underrated. Eager to see Krampus.
Just watched Krampus and can safely say it deserves its place on this list. SOOO Much Fun!
Great article. Krampus is a new Christmas fave for me. It has the right shades of grey and black that go so nicely with the gooey festive period.
Lethal Weapon and Die Hard would be good additions too