Christmas is a time of love, compassion, joy….the season of peace and goodwill to all. That doesn’t mean that we can’t have a bit of ghoulish fun during the Yuletide holiday though, and over the years a host of mean-spirited horror films have given viewers a much-needed tonic from all the sugary sweetness that usually takes precedence.
Horror and Christmas go together surprisingly well. With a history of Victorian ghost stories and the macabre legend of the Krampus, things that go bump in the nighttime snow are certainly nothing new. Here is a list of some of the best festive frights to indulge in this Christmas.
Updated on Aug 03, 2025, by Matthew Barber:The holiday season for 2024 is in full swing, and people around the world might be sitting down in front of the TV to embrace the Christmas festivities. That said, not everyone wants to sit through a Hallmark rom-com or watch A Charlie Brown Christmas more than a couple of times. They might prefer their Santa Clauses to come carrying axes. As such, a few more greatChristmas Horror movieshave been highlighted.
Horror fans have been invited toThe Shining’s Overlook Hotel for over 40 years to witnessJack Torrance’s descent into madness. Set during the holidays, the Torrance family takes a trip to the Overlook Hotel as patriarch Jack attempts to get his life back on track after being fired from his teaching job due to his temper.
What ensues is a tale of psychological torment, as the Overlook Hotel proves it’s not all it seems to be,housing deadly ghosts, demons, poltergeists, and, potentially the most deadly of all, Jack himself. As is iconic by this point, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” and a trip to the Overlook Hotel is a great option for anyone looking to add some terror to their Christmas.
Boasting infamous director John Waters as a fan,Christmas Evilmanaged to make the video nasties list, primarily due to the concept of a man dressed as Santa Claus committing murder.
Beautifully directed, and exploring far deeper themes than the average slasher,Christmas Evilis a surprisingly good movie. It even lends the main antagonist, Harry Stadling, some shades to his character.
By the mid-eighties,the slasher boomwas in full (axe) swing, and every holiday imaginable was getting the horror treatment.Silent Night, Deadly Nightwas 1984’s festive offering, and it brought a great deal of controversy with it.
Far from being the first movie to feature a killer Santa,Silent Nightwas perhaps the most high-profile film to do so. The ad campaign, which showcased its sinister Saint Nick in all his bloodthirsty glory, shocked audiences around America and cemented the film’s notoriety. Many sequels followed, most of which are pretty forgettable; still, the original is a cult classic.
A straight-to-video slasher from the late 90s,Jack Frosttells the story of aserial killer who turns into a snowmanafter a chemical fuses his body with snow. That tells viewers everything they need to know…
There are some(intentionally and unintentionally) funny moments and a few creative kills that keep the momentum going. The cheap-and-cheerful nastiness ofJack Frosthas gone on to become a cult favorite, and it even spawned an ever-more ridiculous sequel.
The mascot of the Holidays adds himself to the naughty list as he terrorizes a remote Midwestern town, racking up kills as he jingles all the way.Silent Nightfollows Sheriff Cooper, played by Malcolm McDowell, and Deputy Bradimore, played by Jamie King, as they attempt to stop the killer, Santa.
Killing off citizens deemed to be on this twisted Santa’s naughty list,Silent Nightshowcases kills involving a woodchipper, a flamethrower, and Christmas lights.Silent Nightis a slasher perfect for the Christmas season, one that does not take itself too seriously and does not hold back on the bloody gore.
A rare Christmas zombie musical,Anna and the Apocalypsegarnered rave reviews upon its release for its mixture of great characters, interesting concepts, and non-stop thrills.
The soundtrack is fantastic, blending musical and horror conventions together in an intelligent, and occasionally beautiful, way. The Christmas theme is always prevalent too, no more than when the title character wields a giant candy canefor some zombie-slaying mayhem.
When a bunch of kids begin to show disturbing behavior, after one child gets sick, the holidays become dangerous for the parents.The Childrenis set in a remote English estate where thekids turn into psychotic killers.
Set during the holidays, the tensions reach fever pitch in this cult British classic. Even with a lower kill count compared to some of the otherChristmas horror movies,The Childrenstands tall with its ability to turn a wholesome family setting into a nightmare.
Arguably one of the most original of the “killer Santa” movies,Rare Exportsis a Finnish film that mixes a clever blend of dark humor, fantasy, and horror that takes an interesting concept and runs with it.
The Santa featured inRare Exportsis THE Santa, not an impostor: a nasty, twisted old man with a blood lust. The movie keeps viewers guessing throughout, with touching characterizations and explorations of family alongside the thrills and chills.
Due to a lack of Christmas spirit, an unwitting family unleashesthe demon of Christmas from European folklore.Krampusfollows the Engel family who, after gathering for Christmas, descend into family squabbles. This results in them being stalked by the horned devil of Christmas.
Krampushas a bumper cast including Toni Collette, of Hereditary fame, and Adam Scott, of Severance and Parks and Recreation. Mix this cast with someChristmas kills involving elves, gingerbread men, and Krampus with his sack.Krampuscan provide some Yuletide scares for the whole family.
Don’t expose it to bright lights, don’t get it wet, don’t feed it after midnight. When these rules are broken, you get thehorror-comedy classicGremlins. Set during Christmas, Rand Peltzer looks to get a special gift for his son Billy and gets more than they bargained for.
This Christmas classic showcases the titular Gremlinscausing havoc after Billy inadvertently breaks the rules for his new pet Gizmo. With the murder of Santa, these mischievous little creatures can bring a horror-tinged laugh to the whole family at Christmas.
