- - Christmas Movie Fatigue Is Real. Skip the Classics and Watch These 5 Holiday Horror Films, According to a PEOPLE Staffer

Bailey RichardsDecember 21, 2025 at 2:00 AM

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Stills from 'Black Christmas,' 'Gremlins' and 'Christmas Evil' -

PEOPLE staffer Bailey Richards suggests swapping classic Christmas films for horror movies set during the holidays

Richards has created a list of five Christmas horror movie recommendations, including Black Christmas, Deep Red and more

The writer/reporter argues that "fear and cheer go hand in hand"

“He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!” A killer stalking their next victim, perhaps? Nope, Kris Kringle!

On paper, Santa Claus has more in common with cold-blooded murderers than the average man. And have you ever seen the Rat King from The Nutcracker? Or the uncanny-valley animation of The Polar Express? Christmas is creepy. Fear and cheer go hand in hand.

Still, very few spooky movies have snuck their way into the Christmas movie canon. The Nightmare Before Christmas is an obligatory October and December watch, and Edward Scissorhands is as much a holiday movie as Die Hard is, but that’s pretty much where the list ends.

Don’t get me wrong, I adore so many holiday staples — do not ask me to get through the holidays without Hugh Grant’s Love Actually dance scene — but some nights, it feels good to switch things up and swap Hallmark cheese for cornball Christmas horror!

If you find yourself combing through the usual yuletide selection uninspired — or if all you want for Christmas is spooks — read on for five recommendations, carefully curated by PEOPLE’s resident slasher enthusiast.

01 of 05

Black Christmas (1974)

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Olivia Hussey and Keir Dullea on 'Black Christmas'

Black Christmas is one of those movies that, upon first viewing, leaves one with the thought: “Why didn’t I watch this sooner?”

A foundational slasher, right up there with Psycho and the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre, this wintry 1974 flick stands the test of time, and not nearly enough people have seen it.

It’s A Christmas Story director Bob Clark’s best holiday film by miles — sorry, Ralphie — thanks to some striking cinematography, a timelessly terrifying plot and standout performances from both Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder. The actresses bring the (Pi Kappa Sigma) house down as sorority sisters plagued by anonymous phone calls, a simple but scary premise made bone-chilling by groundbreaking POV shots.

Cozy atmosphere, twinkly lights and a colorful cast of characters lull you into a false — and festive — sense of security. Then, the bodies start turning up.

02 of 05

The Brain (1988)

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A still from 'The Brain'

A poor man’s Videodrome, this so-bad-it's-good sci-fi slasher, which came out five years after David Cronenberg’s classic, is set at Christmas for no particular reason — and more horror movies should take notes.

The festively decorated suburbs provide the perfect backdrop to The Brain’s late-‘80s cheese, despite being completely and utterly irrelevant to the plot.

Re-Animator’s David Gale stars as Dr. Blakely, a TV doctor attempting to brainwash the masses by partnering with — you guessed it — a giant, alien brain. The only thing standing in their way? A rebellious teen, who works to thwart the world domination plot as the titular organ goopily gorges on human victims.

If ‘80s kitsch, synth-heavy soundtracks and teen slasher tropes are up your alley, The Brain will be the best present you open all year. This underrated cult flick is nothing but shlocky goodness, from the opening scene (one of the best in horror B-movie history!) to the explosive end.

Will your eyes roll? Yes, probably! But so will heads — and lots of them!

03 of 05

Deep Red (1975)

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A still from 'Deep Red'

For some, Christmas is a time of comfort and joy. For others, it’s a time of trauma — trauma that may just inspire a killing spree ...

True to form, Dario Argento’s Deep Red oozes atmosphere and boasts one of the most festive killers ever put to screen. Does Michael Myers enlist baby dolls to mess with the minds of his victims? Does Jason Voorhees soundtrack his kills with a creepy children’s choir? Didn’t think so!

After a psychic medium who knows too much turns up dead, a pianist begins an unofficial investigation into the brutal slaying in this standalone effort from the Italian horror master.

A classic giallo, it’s also, for my intents and purposes, a Christmas movie. After all, nothing says “happy holidays” quite like the rich, crimson hue of ‘70s corn syrup blood on film.

04 of 05

Christmas Evil (1980)

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A still from 'Christmas Evil'

Harry Stadling sews! He’s hardworking! He’s also empathetic and observant and great with kids! In other words, he’s the perfect man! But there's one minor hitch: He thinks he’s Santa Claus.

Okay, but really: What if Santa was just some guy? A violent predecessor to The Santa Clause, 1980's Christmas Evil asks this exact question and, in the process, makes it clear just how bonkers some of Saint Nicholas’ habits truly are.

One of John Waters’ holiday favorites, this cult flick is more character study than slasher, taking you deep into Harry’s sugar plum-filled psyche.

And while believing you are a bearded, omniscient being isn’t exactly relatable, wanting to crash out on mean kids and rude coworkers sure is. It's Christmas catharsis on celluloid.

05 of 05

Gremlins (1984)

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Phoebe Cates and Zach Galligan on the set of 'Gremlins'

The holiday season has no shortage of mascots, from reindeer and snowmen to gingerbread people and the Grinch. But in the horror world, there is only one critter truly synonymous with Christmas: Gremlins, a.k.a. Mogwai.

Cuddly or scaly form, it doesn’t matter. To me, these little guys are Christmas, and you are truly missing out if you don’t dedicate a cozy winter night to the cutest holiday horror flick of all time.

And while it leans more silly than scary, there is some undeniable depth and darkness to this film — from its anti-colonialist themes, to Phoebe Cates’ character’s backstory. (Slight spoiler, but her father died while sneaking down her chimney dressed as Santa — a truly bonkers plot point that does not get talked about enough.)

It pains me every year that I don’t unbox one of the titular creatures on Christmas morning, but seeing them on-screen is the second-best thing. And while the sequel is not explicitly a holiday film, I highly recommend a Gremlins-Gremlins 2: The New Batch double feature for maximum enjoyment.

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