Five festive holiday horror picks from Shudder’s Unhappy Holidays collection

Five festive holiday horror picks from Shudder’s Unhappy Holidays collection

As a seasoned horror enthusiast with a soft spot for Christmas-themed chills, I can confidently say that these selections are nothing short of festive fright fests! From the classic “Black Christmas” to the modern anthology tale “A Christmas Horror Story,” there’s something for every holiday horror hound.

I have a soft spot for Christmas films across all categories! Indeed, I’ve got a thing for holiday-themed horror flicks, and luckily, Shudder offers a good selection in their Unhappy Holidays assortment.

I’ve chosen these selections because they are my personal preferences, but everyone may not share the same opinion. I hope you might consider giving a few of them a try if you haven’t already encountered them. To create a mix, I included some gruesome options and some that have a comedic twist.

These movies are arranged alphabetically, as I often find it challenging to decide the ranking. Keep in mind that each film, regardless of its genre, is unique, making my preferences subject to change from one day to another.

The Advent Calendar – This 2021 French horror movie maintains an uncompromisingly grim and dark tone throughout. Unlike many films in its genre, it lacks a comforting or heartwarming center. Instead, it delves deeply into the bleakness, which I find intriguingly appealing about it.

As a gamer, I was once a dancer, graceful and free, moving effortlessly across the stage. But three long years ago, fate dealt me a cruel blow in the form of a car accident that left me wheelchair-bound. Nowadays, my days are spent in quiet solitude with my loyal companion by my side. My father, once vibrant and full of life, is now battling late-stage Alzheimer’s, a distant memory due to my heartless stepmother’s cruel restrictions on visitation. Let’s just say I haven’t embraced this new reality with the same grace as my past dance moves – I’ve become quite the Bitter Betty.

Five festive holiday horror picks from Shudder’s Unhappy Holidays collection

One evening, Eva’s friend Sophie arrives bearing an oversized wooden advent calendar as a present. However, this gift comes with some rather unsettling conditions. The primary rule is that if Eva consumes the first sweet, she must finish them all – failure to do so supposedly results in death. As the nights progress, at precisely midnight, a spooky little wooden figure emerges to prompt Eva to open another door and indulge in another treat.

As a gamer diving into this immersive game, I initially found myself reaping rewards, but as the storyline unfolded, it took a grim turn, even plunging into lethal territory. By the finale, I’m faced with a tough choice: do I persist on my current course, which might restore my lost mobility at the cost of others, or do I display courage and embrace the inevitable? It’s a challenging decision, to say the least.

This one is my original horror movie; back when I was just 11 years old, my uncle took my younger sister and me to watch “Silent Night, Evil Night,” which was called “Black Christmas” when it was first released in the U.S.

As a self-proclaimed fan of “scary films,” I found myself captivated by none other than Black Christmas. What drew me in wasn’t just its chilling atmosphere but also its ability to instill fear without overdoing the gore. To top it off, the characters were relatable and engaging, making the experience even more immersive for me.

Five festive holiday horror picks from Shudder’s Unhappy Holidays collection

The storyline is straightforward: A band of sorority sisters experience a harrowing ordeal when an unidentified murderer, nicknamed “Billy,” stalks their residence. Throughout the night, he devises gruesome (yet ingenious) methods to eliminate several of them, all while taunting them over the phone.

Without a doubt, if you haven’t seen the original 1974 film “Black Christmas,” I recommend you give it a watch. The 2006 and 2019 remakes have their merits, but the 1974 version is truly exceptional. It still manages to be unsettling (the phone calls will send shivers down your spine), and the cast is outstanding! To enhance your experience, catch it during “The Last Drive-In’s Red Christmas” special. This way, you can enjoy Joe Bob Briggs’ trivia and antics, as well as a fantastic Christmas horror movie that fits like a glove.

Opting for a more casual and engaging rephrase:

One tale revolves around a band of youths venturing through their school, previously a convent where a gruesome crime occurred. In another narrative, a police officer manages to convince his hesitant spouse and child to venture into the forest to cut down a Yuletide tree. The boy becomes separated, fortunately found again…yet something appears altered about him.

Five festive holiday horror picks from Shudder’s Unhappy Holidays collection

Story three follows a family embarking on a journey to meet their old aunt, but an unexpected guest named Krampus makes an appearance. Lastly, the fourth story unfolds around a Santa Claus reminiscent of action movies, who finds himself battling not only Krampus, but also a zombie infestation in the North Pole.

Titled “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale,” this Finnish film offers a thrilling blend of holiday terror that’s become an annual tradition at my local art house cinema. It was there I first encountered it.

In a different wording: A young lad named Pietari firmly believes that Santa Claus is not a cheerful old man, but rather a secretive figure who watches children and cruelly punishes those who misbehave. The mass killing of reindeer in the area is causing great anger among local hunters, including Pietari’s father.

In the chilling cold of the forest, I stumbled upon an unusual sight – a bony, gaunt old man, stark naked and trapped. As I thawed out his icy form, it dawned on me that maybe, just maybe, this was the sinister version of Santa Claus Pietari had been warning us about.

Five festive holiday horror picks from Shudder’s Unhappy Holidays collection

Rare Exports” offers an exciting, thrilling ride as you join the daring band of individuals striving to set things straight in this action-packed tale.

During the Christmas vacation, a girls’ boarding school named Blackvale temporarily closes its doors, but two students (Samantha and Clara), their teacher Rose, and Rose’s partner decide to stay behind. They plan a small holiday celebration, but their peaceful time together is disrupted when a quartet of murderers, intent on summoning a demon, invade the school.

At one point, one of the murderers, named Maisie, was a pupil at Blackvale. It was during her time there that she learned the summoning rite. As the gang continues to torment Samantha, Clara, and Rose, these two friends are forced to band together in order to survive, elude their pursuers, and stay alive.

In “The Sacrifice Game,” there’s an intriguing plot twist, and the performers deliver compelling performances that make you care deeply for the characters, whether they evoke positive or negative emotions. It’s a fast-paced, intelligent narrative that leaves you on the edge of your seat, constantly guessing.

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2024-12-12 17:25

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