Ho-ho-rror for the holidays: 15 scary watches for the dead of winter

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As the days get shorter and colder, people have always naturally come together around light and warmth to share scary stories. This was especially true during the holidays. In Victorian England, telling or reading ghost stories was a popular Christmas custom. In fact, the most famous Christmas story, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” written in 1843, is fundamentally a ghost story.

Nearly two centuries after Charles Dickens first shared spooky stories, modern television provides plenty of new chilling tales to keep the tradition alive – and perhaps remind us of the ghostly chains of Jacob Marley. Here are a few recommendations, starting with three from Mike Flanagan, a particularly skilled storyteller of the supernatural.

Entertainment & Arts

Travel time, whether it’s on a plane or waiting in an airport, is a perfect chance to enjoy movies and TV shows without feeling like you’re wasting time.

“The Haunting of Bly Manor” (Netflix)

I was completely captivated by this new take on Henry James’ classic, “The Turn of the Screw.” It’s a truly stunning modern gothic story. Like the original, it follows a young American woman, Dani, who takes a governess position at a huge, secluded estate called Bly Manor. She’s there to look after these two incredibly charming, but also strangely unsettling, children – Miles and Flora – along with the housekeeper, Hannah Grose, who is brilliantly played by T’Nia Miller. As you can imagine, things quickly take a tragic turn within those echoing halls, but what really sets this apart is how Mike Flanagan masterfully mixes what’s happening in the characters’ minds with genuinely spooky supernatural elements – even more so than James did in the first place.

“The Haunting of Hill House” (Netflix)

Before “Bly Manor,” this series reimagines Shirley Jackson’s famous story for a modern audience. Steven Crain (Michiel Huisman) has become a successful author, writing a book about the traumatic events his family experienced when renovating Hill House – a secluded mansion with a dark secret. Years later, Steven’s siblings still resent him for sharing their story, but more significantly, they’re all deeply affected by what happened in the house. Through increasingly frightening flashbacks, we see how Hill House continues to exert a powerful, haunting influence on them all.

“Midnight Mass”

Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford) returns to his remote hometown of Crockett Island after spending four years in prison for a fatal drunk-driving accident. He’s trying to start over just as strange things begin happening around the island, coinciding with the arrival of a new priest, Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater), who’s working to restore the local church. “Midnight Mass” is known for a shocking mid-season twist and delivers plenty of scares while thoughtfully examining the power and potential dangers of religious belief.

“Krampus” (Peacock)

This Christmas, the hopelessly messy Engels family finds themselves terrorized by evil gingerbread men, mischievous elves, and possessed toys. A scary monster from European legends – typically sent to punish misbehaving kids – is behind it all. Consider it a much more frightening alternative to getting coal in your stocking!

“Mama” (Amazon)

This is a deeply moving and disturbing film about trauma, family, and the lingering effects of tragedy. Five years after his brother committed a violent crime and kidnapped his daughters following financial ruin in 2008, Luke Desange (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) locates the girls living in a secluded cabin. Victoria (Megan Charpentier) and Lily (Isabelle Nélisse) are wild and neglected, and Lily claims a mysterious ‘Mama’ helped them survive. While adjusting to life with Luke and his partner, Annabel (Jessica Chastain), the girls struggle to let go of whatever force protected them in the wilderness.

“Doctor Sleep” (Netflix)

Mike Flanagan returns with another Stephen King adaptation, this time tackling “Doctor Sleep,” the sequel to “The Shining.” The story follows Dan Torrance (Ewan McGregor), now an adult struggling with alcoholism, who attempts to control his powerful psychic ability, known as “the shine.” When he unexpectedly connects with a young girl named Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran), who possesses a similar gift, they find themselves facing a terrifying group of psychic vampires led by the menacing Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson). This group is preying on children with special abilities, and Dan and Abra must fight to stop them. Expect strong acting, shocking twists, and a familiar final destination.

“Crimson Peak” (Amazon)

This is a classic Victorian ghost story about Edith (Mia Wasikowska), a young writer who marries the enigmatic Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). He persuades her to move with him to his crumbling, remote estate, claiming he wants to use a new invention to restore the family mine. There, she meets Thomas’s unsettlingly close sister, Lucille (Chastain), and begins to experience a series of frightening events, frequently while wearing a long white nightgown.

“The Conjuring” (HBO Max)

The first movie in The Conjuring series is still considered the strongest. When Roger and Carolyn Perron, along with their five daughters, move into a large, remote farmhouse, unsettling events begin almost immediately. Desperate for help, Carolyn contacts paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga). They uncover a history of witchcraft connected to the property, revealing a curse on the house and surrounding land. Director James Wan masterfully crafts some truly iconic and visually impressive jump scares, and the film also offers a fun glimpse at early 1970s style.

“His House” (Netflix)

Rial and Bol, refugees from South Sudan who lost their daughter during their escape, are given a dilapidated house in a prejudiced neighborhood in the U.K. As Rial starts experiencing visions of her daughter and a strange man, she discovers the house is haunted – not just by a spirit, but by the painful memories of their past. The story could be seen as a commentary on the challenges faced by immigrants, but at its heart, it’s a genuinely compelling ghost story.

“The Ritual” (Netflix)

Four friends go on a hiking trip in Sweden to mourn the loss of a friend who died in a robbery. When one of them gets hurt, they venture off the marked path and into a dark, unsettling forest. This proves to be a terrible decision, as they soon encounter disturbing signs, escalating terrors, and a growing danger involving a dangerous cult and an ancient creature lurking in the woods – a clear warning that they should have stayed on the trail.

“Penny Dreadful” (Amazon)

John Logan’s series brings together classic monsters like Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway), his creature (Rory Kinnear), Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney), Dr. Jekyll (Shazad Latif), and Count Dracula (Christian Camargo) in a thrilling and entertaining take on Victorian-era gothic horror. While the monsters are a draw, many viewers also tune in for Eva Green’s captivating performance as the psychic Vanessa Ives, and Patti LuPone’s appearance in the second season.

“The Outsider” (HBO Max)

This miniseries is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. It begins with the discovery of a young boy’s body in the woods, and all clues suggest Terry Maitland, a popular Little League coach (played by Jason Bateman), is responsible. However, Maitland seems to have a solid alibi. As the town and his wife (Julianne Nicholson) struggle to understand what happened, Detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) and investigator Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo) work to uncover the truth behind this terrifying crime. Be warned: the series opens with a very disturbing scene and offers scares on multiple levels.

“The Terror” (AMC+)

This anthology series begins with a haunting take on the real-life mystery of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, two ships lost during an 1845 Arctic expedition to find the Northwest Passage. Featuring strong performances from Jared Harris, Ciarán Hinds, and Tobias Menzies, the first season is a deeply unsettling story of a crew descending into madness. The second season, titled “Infamy,” shifts the focus to Chester Nakayama (Derek Mio) and his family, who face both real and supernatural horrors while imprisoned during World War II. It’s a superb example of historical horror.

Entertainment & Arts

From classic mysteries unfolding in single episodes to complex, interwoven plots, whether charmingly gentle or shockingly brutal, set in the past or present, Agatha Christie’s home understands a fundamental human need: we all seek stories that help us understand events that seem random and meaningless.

“Sleepy Hollow” (Hulu)

The series Sleepy Hollow reimagines the classic tale in present-day New York. Ichabod Crane, a former soldier from the Revolutionary War and acquaintance of George Washington, is resurrected after 230 years, only to find the terrifying Headless Horseman has returned as well. He teams up with local police lieutenant Abigail Mills to stop the Horseman’s reign of terror. Originally airing on Fox, the show is a fun, lighthearted series with comedic moments stemming from its time-travel elements and playful approach to history, balancing the spooky atmosphere with family-friendly entertainment.

“La Forêt” (The Forest) (Netflix)

A young girl has disappeared from a village close to Belgium’s dark and mysterious Ardennes Forest. Gaspard Decker, a new detective played by Samuel Labarthe, teams up with local officer Virginie Musso (Suzanne Clément) and a worried teacher to search for her. While it’s a French detective show, the forest itself feels like a central part of the story. It creates a truly unsettling atmosphere, hinting at past and potential future horrors, even while watching with subtitles.

“Being Human” (the U.K. version) (Amazon)

Annie, Mitchell, and George appear to be just regular roommates sharing a flat in Bristol. However, they’re hiding extraordinary secrets: Annie is a ghost, Mitchell a vampire, and George a werewolf. They all struggle to live normal lives, with hilarious and often scary results. The show blends comedy, drama, and genuine frights, particularly as Mitchell clashes with other, more ruthless vampires. The first three seasons, featuring Aidan Turner and Russell Tovey, are full of exciting adventures and explore the strength of their unusual friendship.

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2025-12-23 14:12