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Christmas Horror Movies – Part 2

Christmas Horror Movies – Part 2

Have you seen all the Christmas horror movies in Part 1 of this post? Ready for another five films to liven up the holiday season?

As a horror fan, the Christmas season can get a little too merry and not enough scary. These five films showcase some of the best holiday horror on the market and are set to remain classics for years to come.

Gremlins (1984)

The Plot: After disobeying the care instructions for his strange and exotic pet, Billy Peltzer accidentally releases a hoard of miniature green monsters upon the formerly idyllic town of Kingston Falls. Billy must unite with his family, friends, and neighbors to stop these mischievous monsters before they take over the town and ruin Christmas for all.

This film is a spectacular showcase of practical effects and puppetry, and an eccentric mix of humor and horror. It is a holiday must-see for the horror-lover. It also reminds us of this important warning:

“So, when your washing machine blows up or your TV goes on the fritz, before you call the repair man, turn on all the lights and look under all the beds. ‘Cause you never can tell, there just might be a gremlin in your house.”

A Christmas Horror Story (2015)

The Plot: One festive radio host connects four tales of terror happening on Christmas Eve. A family brings home more than just a Christmas tree. Four students breaking into school during holiday recess get into the “spirit” of the holiday. A family learns that Krampus is more than just folklore. And, lastly, Santa fends off hordes of the living dead.

This film is like four Christmas horror movies in one. The stories interweave, each slowly building on the terror and tension. The zombies vs. Santa story-line has the most action of the bunch. The changling story has eerie imagery of a young boy who is not quite right. The Krampus story line will have you cheering when a little brat gets what he deserves. The student’s tale is a solid standard ghost story.

Better Watch Out (2016)

The Plot: On a quiet suburban street, a babysitter must defend a twelve-year-old boy from intruders, only to discover it’s far from a normal home invasion.

The less you know going into this film, the better. Thus, the trailer is not posted in this article and I would recommend going in blind. The film is a gory, brutal film that features strong performances from the child actors. Levi Miller stands out with his phenomenal acting skills – giving a chilling performance. The twists and turns make this film a nail-biter to the end!

Krampus (2015)

The Plot: When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max loses his Christmas spirit. This causes Krampus to descend onto the household, punishing the family with a menagerie of evil toys and elves. The family must come together and remember the true spirit of Christmas to survive this holiday.

This PG-13 Christmas horror movie is reminiscent of the “family horror” films of the 1980’s. It is dark and scary, but something you can watch with your 12-13 year-old family members as an introduction to horror. The film mixes horror and humor, and at its heart has a positive message regarding the importance of family bonds. It also includes amazing practical puppetry by Weta Workshop, and detailed set design.

Fans of the movies will also enjoy the companion comic book.

Rare Exports (2010)

The Plot: On Christmas Eve in northern Finland, an archeological dig unearths the real Santa Claus. But this Santa is not the jolly old man from picture books. When something begins decimating local reindeer herds, young Pietari and his father Rauno, a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being. Santa’s elves, however, will stop at nothing to free Santa from captivity.

This Finnish film is not just one of my favorite Christmas horror movies, but one of my favorite films in general. It is a wonderful blend of fantasy, thrills, humor, and heart. Unlike many modern films, the children and adults actually work together to solve their problems. The dynamic between father and son is charming and heartwarming. This film has less scares than others on this list, but it will be the perfect addition to your holiday movie list.

Enjoy Watching These and More Christmas Horror Movies!

What are your favorite Christmas horror movies? There are so many more than could be fit in this list of 10. Let me know on Instagram and Twitter @EmilyIsHorror

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Movies

Christmas Horror Movies – Part 1

Christmas Horror Movies – Part 1

With Halloween still eleven months away, and cheerful jingles being played ad nauseam since 12:01 a.m. on November 1st (if not earlier in some stores), for many horror fans, this is the slow part of the year.  However, the Christmas season is actually ripe with horror touches if you know where to look. Horror and Christmas actually have a long history together – from Krampus to the old tradition of telling scary stories on Christmas (remember that line from It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – “there will be scary ghost stories”). Many filmmakers have modernized that tradition to create amazing frightfully fun Christmas horror movies.

Here are some of the best films to add some scary to your merry Christmas: 

Chistmas Horror Movies: Part I

Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Plot: Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, becomes bored of the same old Halloween routine. When he wanders into Christmas Town, he is inspired and tries to take over the holiday from “Sandy Claws” for a year – with disastrous results.

While there is heated debate in my household as to whether this is a Christmas or Halloween movie (and we have called it a Thanksgiving film as a compromise), this is one of the most-referenced horror-Christmas family films. Its music is catchy and memorable, and the unique style of Tim Burton shines through this stop-motion masterpiece.

Sint (2010)

The Plot: On December 5th, 1492, bishop Niklas and his murderous gang are killed in a fire after townsfolk rebel against their evil ways. They place a curse on the town, causing their ghosts to rise from the grave every December 5th that has a full moon. Over the years, as the truth of the gang is forgotten, Sinterklass becomes the legend of a benevolent Dutch Santa Claus that gives presents to kids. In 2010, a full moon presides over the annual Sinterklaas festival, causing Niklas and his gang to go on a murderous rampage in the town.

This action-packed horror film from the Netherlands is a fun watch for groups of friends. It adds a wonderful twist onto the rich Dutch folklore of Sinterklass and creates beautiful horror imagery from the traditional depiction of Saint Nick. It is a lesser-known Christmas horror, but worth a watch for horror film enthusiasts.

Silent Night (2012)

The Plot: On Christmas eve, a murderous Santa Claus goes on a rampage. He knows if you’ve been naughty and will fatally punish you for your transgressions. Can Sheriff Cooper (Malcolm McDowell) and the Deputy stop the killer before they also get put on Santa’s deadly naughty list?

This is not the most cerebral or fantastic film on the list, but it is a fun gore-fest that delivers exactly what it promises. A loose retelling of the classic Silent Night, Deadly Night, and within the same franchise, it doesn’t deliver anything new, but it is a solid slasher flick. The kills are creative and disgustingly bloody. It also has tongue-in-cheek humor that adds a little sparkle to this popcorn flick. My friends and I enjoy the humorous lines, such as:

  • “Don’t put avocado on the burger!”
  • “Double ‘S’, double screwed”

Black Christmas (1974)

The Plot: During Christmas break, a group of sorority girls are stalked and murdered by a stranger.

Released in 1974, this Christmas horror movie is a seminal early slasher flick. It inspired filmmakers (like John Carpenter) for decades to follow. While not as gory as its successors, the subtle murders are still effective at sending chills down one’s spine. Its elusive killer is a complete stranger to the girls. The arbitrary killings make it all the scarier – anyone could be next – even you!

Black Christmas was remade in 2006 and a retelling is being released this December on Friday the 13th, 2019. None, however, can outshine the original.

P2 (2007)

The Plot: Working late on Christmas Eve, businesswoman Angela Bridges plunges into a deadly game of cat & mouse with her stalker.

While I was skeptical about the restricted setting of the film, director Franck Khalfoun does a wonderful job of keeping the film action-packed mostly within the setting of a parking garage. Actor Wes Bentley is perfect for the twisted parking attendant. This is a non-traditional Christmas horror movie for those looking for something a little different this holiday season.

Christmas Horror Movies: Part 2

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post continuing our Christmas horror movie list. When posted, you can see it here:

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Events Movies News

Fears & Beers: “A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child”

Fears & Beers: “A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child”

Uniting horror lovers year-round, Screamfest presents A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child for their latest Fears & Beers event on Tuesday, April 16th, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. The event takes place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters (6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028). Tickets are $16.00 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

The fifth installment of the popular franchise focuses on Alice (Lisa Wilcox), a survivor of the fourth, who believes Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) has been eliminated for good. She optimistically hopes to start a life with fellow survivor Dan (Danny Hassel). The nightmares begin soon enough, though, and Alice learns she is pregnant. When her friends start dying, Alice suspects that Freddy is using the fetus within her as a weapon. Can she fight the demon while protecting her unborn child?

Fears & Beers events include a screening, Q&A, trivia, prizes, and more. They are wonderful events that bring together horror fans from around the area for an evening of socializing and fun. Each ticket includes a free beer for all guests over 21.

This month’s event includes screening of the 5th installment of the Nightmare on Elm Street series, a Q&A with Lisa Wilcox, Kelly Jo Minter, and other cast (TBA) moderated by Brian Collins of Birth.Movies.Death , and the usual socializing at the theater bar.

I hope to see you there!

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Categories
Art Entertainment

The Horror Photography of Joshua Hoffine

The Horror Photography of Joshua Hoffine

If you type “horror photography” into your search bar, the first site that appears is for Joshua Hoffine. You might not know him by name, but you have probably seen his work.

Hoffine’s photography mixes the horrific with the fantastic. Each image seems to come directly from our collective nightmares – from the thing under the bed to what lurks just around the corner. His art not only contains macabre antagonists, it also features elaborate sets that blur the line between reality and fantasy. The locations seem almost familiar, but include just touches of something off.

While creating these fascinating shots, Hoffine also includes friends, family, and even his own daughters to bring his vision to life.He constructs the movie-like sets and allows his subjects to act out the scene in front of the camera, causing each photograph to tell an all-to-familiar scary tale.

The images have been a source of nightmares and inspiration to many people in the horror/haunt industry. Visit Hoffine’s official website at: http://www.joshuahoffine.com/#/1 to see his entire collection.

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Categories
Film Friday Movies

“Jack” Short Film

“Jack” Short Film

Drew Daywalt is an expert in creating eerie short films. His youtube channel is full of creepy little movies that are sure to please any horror fan. Mockingbird and There’s No Such Thing never fail to creep me out, even though I have seen them dozens and dozens of times by now.

In Jack, Daywalt sets up the beginning of a horror tale in less than 60 seconds. Made for the Santa Barbara MINUTE Film Festival, this piece achieves its goal and makes us want 60 minutes more to find out the rest of the story. It is a wonderful inspiration and example of making every second count in your film.

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Categories
Events News

ScareLA Call for Films 2015

ScareLA Call for Films 2015

Attention filmmakers! ScareLA is now seeking submissions for their 2015 screening room. Both shorts and features are accepted, and you are able to submit as many of your films as your heart desires. Only the best of the best will be screened!

Do you have a film that embodies a Halloween and Haunted Attraction theme? Would you like a shot at screening it during a convention to be seen by the most die hard haunt, horror, and Halloween fans from across Southern California? Dig up your screener and send it in to the ScareLA staff!

Filmmakers whose works are chosen to be screened will receive two one-day admissions to ScareLA and bragging rights. Last year the most popular screenings had 50-100 audience members and with a new venue, more space, and more attendees, expect that number to skyrocket in 2015.

To submit your film, go to: http://scarela.com/scarela-film-submissions/  Fill out the easy submission form for the ScareLA Call for Films 2015 and you’re done!

I hope to see you all there. Happy Hauntings!

2024 Halloween Shopping

September 4, 2024 No Comments

Happy Halloween shopping 2024! For over two decades now, the Halloween shopping season has been my main time for household and clothing purchases. Each year, I love to shop around

Read More »

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February 16, 2024 No Comments

Take part in a spirited séance aboard the historic – and haunted – Queen Mary with 57 Ghosts. From Master Magician and Apparitionist Aiden Sinclair, this 90-minute immersive experience takes

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