It’s that time of year again, and many of us will be revisiting familiar Christmas favorites like Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Elf. While those movies are classics for a reason, there’s a whole other side to holiday entertainment. Some people actually prefer a darker, more unsettling experience during the holidays, and horror movies offer a surprisingly festive way to get that feeling.
Halloween is famous for horror, but you might be surprised by how many scary Christmas movies exist! While they aren’t as mainstream, these seven lesser-known films are great options if you’re looking for something different to watch during the holidays.
7) Black X-mas
The original Black Christmas from 1974 is considered the first major Christmas horror film and helped establish the slasher genre. While it’s been remade a few times, many fans enjoy the 2006 version, Black X-mas, the most. Directed by Glen Morgan, the film initially received a mixed response from critics, but it’s recently been appreciated as a delightfully over-the-top horror movie.
6) Dead End
Fabrice Canepa and Jean-Baptiste Andrea directed the 2003 horror film Dead End. It’s about a family driving to a Christmas Eve celebration who unknowingly pick up hitchhikers, triggering a terrifying chain of events. Critics have highlighted the film’s unpredictable plot and intriguing mystery, praising how the Christmas setting adds a unique element to the horror.
5) Better Watch Out
Chris Peckover’s 2016 film, Better Watch Out, is a thrilling take on the home invasion genre set during Christmas. It centers on a babysitter who has to protect the house she’s watching from intruders. What sets it apart from other Christmas horror movies is that it focuses on the characters’ minds and realistic suspense, rather than supernatural elements.
4) Inside
Released in 2007, Inside is a particularly harrowing horror film directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury. It centers on a pregnant woman who fights for survival against a dangerous attacker after her husband dies.
The movie is getting a lot of attention for its extreme violence, and many people are debating if it goes too far. Despite this, critics generally liked the film, making it a good choice for a scary Christmas movie.
3) Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
I stumbled upon this amazing Finnish film called Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale back in 2010, directed by Jalmari Helander – the same guy who brought us the incredible Sisu in 2022. It’s a really unique Christmas story about two boys who think some miners have accidentally dug up the real Santa Claus. But let me tell you, this isn’t the jolly old man we all know! What they unearth is a truly terrifying creature who causes all sorts of trouble.
Rare Exports is a funny and scary movie that blends dark comedy with horror. If you enjoy Christmas-themed horror or the work of director Jalmari Helander, it’s definitely worth watching.
2) Anna and the Apocalypse
Released in 2017, Anna and the Apocalypse is a fun and scary Christmas musical directed by John McPhail and starring Ella Hunt. Set in a small Scottish town during the holidays, the film follows Anna and her friends as they battle a surprise zombie outbreak. While trying to help others, the group must also fight to survive as the world around them falls apart.
Combining zombies and musicals is unusual on its own, but Anna and the Apocalypse takes it a step further by adding a Christmas setting. This makes it a truly one-of-a-kind film, different from typical heartwarming holiday movies. While the concept sounds strange, the movie is surprisingly touching, with excellent songs and acting.
1) Krampus: The Naughty Cut
Lots of low-budget Krampus movies are available online, but the 2015 film Krampus really stands out as a well-made Christmas horror story. Directed by Michael Dougherty and starring Toni Collette and Adam Scott, the movie centers on a family struggling with constant conflict. Their son’s loss of Christmas spirit inadvertently summons Krampus, who then torments them.
Although the movie Krampus was originally released with a PG-13 rating, many viewers are unaware of a superior version. In 2021, Shout! Factory released a special 4K Blu-ray edition that included an R-rated cut, titled Krampus: The Naughty Cut. This version is a significant improvement over the original in almost every aspect.
The extended cut of Krampus, called The Naughty Cut, ramps up the violence and swearing, giving the film’s horror a sharper edge. It’s the best way to experience Krampus, so if you’re planning to watch it, this is the version you should choose.
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2025-12-24 01:14