‘Tis the season for warm beverages and Christmas horror movies. Luckily, there is a seemingly never-ending supply of festive frights, with more joining the ranks yearly. 2022 saw Violent Night turn David Harbour into a vicious (and hot) Santa, while Joe Begos’ Christmas Bloody Christmas had Twitter clutching its pearls over language. 2023 gave us It’s a Wonderful Knife —Justin Long at his most chaotic—and stone-cold chiller The Sacrifice Game, helmed by Jennifer Wexler. Alice Maio Mackay’s kickass Carnage for Christmas recently arrived on Shudder as Terrifier 3 continues to slash its way through its audience. So, with all of these newer titles carving their way into our holiday horror viewing traditions, it feels appropriate to honor the ones that came before. This is why I am here with a streaming guide that doesn’t care if you’ve been naughty or nice.
Check out my five Christmas horror picks for this weekend!
Black Christmas (dir. Bob Clark)
Where You Can Watch: AMC+, Peacock, Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Shudder, Sling TV, and Tubi
The young women of a sorority home are stalked by a stranger during Christmas break. While many movies have tried to capture the energy of Bob Clark’s classic slasher, few have reached the high bar it set. This Canadian chiller starring Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, and Andrea Martin was ahead of its time in addition to bringing the nightmare fuel. More recent movies struggle to handle abortion conversations as well as this classic did. Also, the last 20 minutes are a roller coaster of terror, leading to a terrifying ending. This unsettling, iconic, and creepy film is arguably the greatest Christmastime horror in cinematic history. It is a must-watch, especially if you plan to partake in scary festivities this season.
If you’re a completionist, you could stream the other two projects that share the Black Christmas title. The 2006 iteration is on The Roku Channel, Sling TV, and Tubi. Meanwhile, the 2019 version is on Max.
Christmas Evil (dir. Lewis Jackson)
Where You Can Watch: Fandango At Home, Plex, The Roku Channel, Sling TV, and Tubi
A man who found out in his youth that Santa is not real has a nervous breakdown and goes on a Christmastime killing spree. Christmas Evil had me at a toy factory worker who snaps! You have not lived until you have seen this kid find out St. Nick is fake because his parents couldn’t wait until the Santa costume came off to get frisky. Knowing that’s what sets him on a murderous rampage 33 years later makes this movie even wilder. Sure, there are some fun kills. It also has all the weird charm of a 1980s holiday slasher. However, it is the family drama that does it for me. Growing up to be the Santa you want to see in the world and then stabbing people is a whole mood.
Silent Night, Bloody Night (dir. Theodore Gershuny)
Where You Can Watch: Fandango At Home, Plex, Prime Video, Sling TV, and Tubi
A killer stalks a lawyer and his girlfriend staying in a house that used to be an asylum. This movie should not be so fun, especially for what it is. Yet, it keeps finding its way into my holiday horror pile. What can I say? I like it when a killer with an axe goes to town during the holidays.
If you enjoyed this 1972 vibe and always wondered what happened next, you’re in luck. Silent Night, Bloody Night 2: Revival is on Tubi, and Silent Night, Bloody Night 3 hits the streaming streets on December 25. So, if you time it just right, you can have yourself a very bloody Christmas. While I doubt the sequels will spark nearly as much joy as the original Silent Night, Bloody Night, I feel obligated to find out the hard way.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (dir. Charles Sellier)
Where You Can Watch: VOD
Nuns raise an orphan who grows up to be a murderous toy-store Santa Claus. A tale as old as time, right? This film has the most chaotic beginnings of any movie on this list. 1984 was really a year of anything goes because the child characters were not the only ones traumatized. Many of us have never recovered and that’s why Silent Night, Deadly Night is a holiday horror viewing requirement. The movie spawned four sequels and a remake, so there seems to be an audience for these violent shenanigans. So, it’s a bummer it’s not streaming on one of the usual suspects this year. However, you can find the original sequels on Tubi and a few other apps. That’s five movies to watch as you eat gingerbread men and think about being less naughty next year.
I don’t know if I’m metal enough to binge all five in one sitting, but I salute anyone who attempts that.
Who Slew Auntie Roo? (dir. Curtis Harrington)
Where You Can Watch: Pluto TV
An old woman invites two orphans to her mansion for the holidays, but they soon suspect she has sinister intentions. This spin on Hansel and Gretel has everything. Mummified remains, cannibalism accusations, and Shelley Winters. While this movie is not a slasher full of blood, it matches the chaotic vibes of many of the movies on this list. I was late to this 1971 gem, but now it is one of my holiday staples. It is very much along the lines of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte by allowing an older woman to be the problem. However, it’s also a winter wonderland that is delightfully weird for its time. Even the ending throws one more curveball for the road, leaving the audience wondering what Mrs. Forrest’s intentions truly were. Who Slew Auntie Roo? is for the weirdos, and I am one.
I know this is a list of Christmas horror classics, but I also have to point out that Dead End is on Plex, Prime Video, and Tubi. More importantly, my favorite Christmas thriller, The Long Kiss Goodnight, starring Geena Davis, is currently available on Pluto TV.
If you’re also feeling the holiday spirit this year, you can find me sipping beverages and watching bloody things at @misssharai.
Categorized:Streaming Guides
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