7 Horror Movies Set On New Year’s Eve (& Where To Watch Them)

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For a long time, horror movies frequently used holidays as a backdrop for their stories. After hits like Black Christmas, Halloween, and Friday the 13th, we saw a wave of films centered around holidays like Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and even April Fool’s Day – there was even one set during graduation! New Year’s Eve is no different. While it might not be the first holiday you’d associate with horror, several scary movies have taken place on this day, and the best ones are listed below.

The main challenge was that the story had to largely happen on New Year’s Eve. While the characters in The Shining are at the Overlook Hotel when the new year begins, it isn’t a significant part of the plot. The following films, though, absolutely depend on New Year’s Eve to work, whether that’s a good thing or not.

7) Iced

The story of Iced is pretty straightforward. A group of friends get together for a ski trip, but they don’t know who invited them. The reason? The person who sent the invitation is a murderer, and they’ve brought everyone together to get revenge for something that happened years ago. It’s essentially a slasher film with overly dramatic dialogue, and it feels similar to I Know What You Did Last Summer, though that movie came out about ten years later.

While not a masterpiece, Iced does a couple of things well. It includes a few interesting shots showing the killer’s perspective through their broken ski mask. And, uniquely, the killer actually uses an icicle as a weapon – a surprisingly rare choice in slasher films.

Stream Iced for free with ads on Tubi.

6) End of Days

While the movie can be slow-paced, it’s difficult to deny that End of Days had a really interesting premise. Gabriel Byrne is perfectly cast as the Devil, who comes to Earth with a sinister plan: to have a child with a specific young woman. If he succeeds before midnight on December 31st, 1999, it will result in the birth of the Antichrist.

The problem with End of Days is that it spends more time on the detective (named Jericho Cane, which is quite funny) protecting a young woman, rather than exploring the deeper, potentially unique themes it hints at. While it’s understandable they wanted to showcase Schwarzenegger, it unfortunately detracts from the film’s potential. Despite this, End of Days does create a strikingly ominous atmosphere, and Gabriel Byrne delivers a fantastic performance.

5) End of the Line

As a horror fan, I’d describe End of the Line as a really intense take on Clive Barker’s ‘The Midnight Meat Train.’ It’s got that same core idea, but cranks up the religious fanaticism – it’s all about a cult who decide they’re justified in killing anyone who doesn’t share their beliefs. Pretty grim stuff!

The story unfolds primarily within the tight, enclosed space of a subway, creating a sense of tension. Surprisingly, the film’s low budget works in its favor, enhancing its dark and unsettling mood.

Stream End of the Line on Screambox.

4) New Year’s Evil

Following the success of films like Halloween and Friday the 13th, many slasher movies were made. New Year’s Evil was one of the first, and much like Graduation Day which came out the following year, it’s primarily enjoyable for fans of 1980s slasher films – it likely won’t appeal to a wider audience.

The story centers around DJ Diane Sullivan, who gets a threatening phone call similar to the one in Black Christmas. The caller claims a young woman will die in each time zone as the new year begins, and Diane is revealed to be his last target. What’s more, she will ultimately recognize her attacker.

Stream New Year’s Evil on MGM+.

3) Terror Train

Okay, let’s be real, Terror Train isn’t Jamie Lee Curtis at her absolute horror peak, but it’s still a really solid watch. Roger Spottiswoode, who later directed Tomorrow Never Dies, directs with a confident hand and a definite style. What I really appreciated was the killer’s clever trick of switching masks with each victim – it added a unique and memorable element to the film.

The entire movie unfolds on a train, filled with pre-med students celebrating the new year. But their party turns deadly when someone begins targeting them. Terror Train is less a standout slasher film and more of a fascinating look at its cast, featuring Jamie Lee Curtis, director Roger Spottiswoode, Hart Bochner (known for Die Hard), magician David Copperfield playing himself, and singer/actress Vanity, who also starred in films like The Last Dragon, Action Jackson, and 52 Pick-Up.

Stream Terror Train for free with ads on The Roku Channel.

2) Ghostkeeper

Ghostkeeper tells the story of Jenny, Marty, and Chrissy, who are snowmobiling in the Rocky Mountains for New Year’s Eve. When a blizzard hits, they seek shelter at a remote inn that feels like something out of a horror movie. They discover the inn isn’t entirely empty – an elderly woman claims to live there with her two sons.

This beloved horror film feels like a mix of Psycho, The Shining, and Burnt Offerings, with the added creepiness of a Wendigo. It’s a well-made, suspenseful movie that’s surprisingly good, even if it’s not flawless.

Stream Ghostkeeper on Prime Video.

1) Dead of Winter

In the film Dead of Winter, Mary Steenburgen, known for her role in Step Brothers, impressively plays three different characters. She first appears as Julie Rose, an actress who is killed at the very beginning of the movie. Then, she portrays Katie McGovern, a struggling actress who gets the part because she looks remarkably like the deceased Rose.

We find out about the third element later in the story. However, before that’s revealed, both we and the character Katie realize there isn’t a movie at all – it’s all an elaborate trick. Dead of Winter is full of surprising plot twists that actually land well, but the film truly shines thanks to Steenburgen’s excellent lead performance and a surprisingly different role from the normally charming Roddy McDowall (known for Planet of the Apes and Fright Night).

Stream Dead of Winter on MGM+.

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2025-12-31 22:14