Ah, the darkest time of the year. It’s a good thing that the streets are twinkling with string lights and strewn with holly and poinsettias to counter the lack of sunlight and onset of winter seasonal depression. The holidays mean many different things to many different people, hence the diversity of Christmas songs that range from folkloric to nostalgic to downright suicidal.
So whether you are seeking a film to help you cozy up alone, bond with loved ones, or escape from family time, here are six Christmasy horror movies to put you in an alternative kind of holiday spirit.
Black Christmas (1974)
Do not waste your time on the 2006 or 2019 remake; the original Black Christmas achieves levels of dread and vulgarity that the subsequent attempts failed to reach. A group of sorority sisters sticking around for the holidays are terrorized by obscene phone calls just as one of them goes missing.
Currently streaming on Prime, Tubi, Youtube, and more
Rating: 🔪🔪🔪🔪 (4/5)
Scare Meter: 😱😱
The Lodge (2019)
Despite taking place during Christmas, there is absolutely nothing jolly about The Lodge. This trauma-packed psychological horror will leave you as chilly as a remote cabin without any heat or power, which is where cult survivor Grace finds herself stranded with her fiancé’s two children for the holidays. It’s worth noting that the opening scene caused me to scream in the movie theater.
Currently streaming on Hulu
Rating: 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪 (5/5)
Scare Meter: 😱😱
Better Watch Out (2016)
Ashley is forced to protect her babysitting charge Luke during an apparent home invasion, which quickly goes wrong for the intruder. After all is (seemingly) revealed, the arrival of a second visitor creates deadly—yet festive—complications.
Currently streaming on Tubi, Prime, Peacock, and more
Rating: 🔪🔪🔪🔪 (4/5)
Scare Meter: 😱
Await Further Instructions (2018)
A Christmas family gathering quickly goes awry when the home is suddenly surrounded by thick black tar and ominous warnings of contamination begin to broadcast through the house. As the instructions issued by the voice become increasingly dangerous, the family members fight each other for survival.
Currently streaming on Tubi, Prime, Roku, and Pluto
Rating: 🔪🔪🔪 (3/5)
Scare Meter: 😱
Frozen (2010)
While 2010’s Frozen has no connection to the holiday season, it does feature the element of snow (and ostensibly winter) as the main antagonist, earning it a spot on this list. The film follows best friends Dan and Joe on their annual skiing trip, who are joined by Dan’s girlfriend Parker in a futile attempt to bond with Joe. After a botched plan for one last run before the lift’s weekend shutdown, the trio gets trapped on the chairlift near the mountain’s peak.
Currently streaming on Tubi
Rating: 🔪🔪🔪🔪 (4/5)
Scare Meter: 😱
Scrooged (1988)
Lastly, Scrooged is not technically a horror movie; it’s an 80s black comedy reimagining of A Christmas Carol. Bill Murray plays Frank Cross—Scrooge—who in this century is a wealthy but selfish television executive. Frank is visited by a series of ghosts reminding him how much he sucks as a businessman, boss, boyfriend, and overall human being.
While the ghosts he encounters are sillier than they are spooky, they are still supernatural! And the Ghost of Christmas Future is permanently branded in my childhood memories even though he now seems like a lawn ornament you’d find at Spirit Halloween.
Currently streaming on Prime
Rating: 🔪🔪🔪🔪 (4/5)
Scare Meter: 🫥 (not scary)
Check DoesTheDogDie for trigger warnings.