The holiday season isn’t just good for eggnog and decorating the hallways. There are quite a few Christmas movies focused on horror dogs. Every childhood memory is prepared to be ripped apart and twisted into a hellish nightmare of red-clad killers, toy-making psychopaths and supernatural baddies. So if you’re looking for the best holiday horror movies of all time, according to IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, look no further. We’ve put together the list for you so you can sift through the mess and find the hidden gems in the chunk of coal.
Table of Contents
10. Saint or Sint in English (2010)
This Dutch horror movie takes the legend of Sinterklaas (the Dutch version of Santa Claus) and turns it into a tale of terror, as the jolly gift-bearer is revealed to be a murderer. The horror comedy is an unexpected delight that is criminally underrated. The fresh take on the holiday subgenre isn’t just your traditional Santa with an axe stand. The English dubbed version is now available to stream on Prime Video.
9. Silent Night (2012)
A loose remake of the 1984 film Silent Night, Deadly Night, this horror film follows a murderous Santa Claus on a rampage. I’m not usually into remakes, but this is a rare example of a retooling that works. It works mostly because of the great cast, including Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, Donal Logue, Rick Skene, and Ellen Wong. Plus, the revamped storyline pays homage to the original while breaking new ground. Not to be confused with Silent Night 2021, which can only be found on AMC+, it can be streamed on Apple TV+, Roku, Prime Video and Shudder.
8. Rare Exports: A Christmas Story (2010)
In this dark fantasy, a group of Finnish children discover that the real Santa Claus is not the jolly figure of their holiday traditions, but a monstrous creature. This is my personal favorite of all the holiday horror movies. Another Scandinavian horror that spins the sleigh-riding gift-bearer, this one takes a decidedly grittier angle. It’s weird and dingy and unlike anything you’ve seen before. You can stream it on Shudder.
7. Christmas Evil (1980)
This cult classic follows a mentally unstable man who becomes obsessed with the idea of being Santa and goes on a killing spree. It has a cult status for a reason. It’s gory and raunchy and quintessentially ’80s. A toymaker snaps when he’s bullied one too many times, and the ensuing death count is something of Christmas glory. The low-budget movie features one of the best-thought-out killers of all the holiday horror antagonists. His arc is a wild ride. You can see it on Shudder or TubiTV
6. Better Watch Out (2016)
In this twisted Christmas story, a babysitter must defend herself and the kids she’s watching from a home invasion on Christmas Eve. Just think of Halloween without Jamie Lee Curtis and with Halloween. The young cast is excellent, and the interesting take on the quintessential slasher makes it a fun Christmas watch. It’s not the best holiday horror movie out there, but it’s worth checking out, and it’s the kind of movie you could easily watch year after year. You can stream it on Shudder.
5. A Christmas Horror Story (2015)
This anthology film features four interrelated stories set during the holiday season, each with a horror twist. I’m up for anything with William Shatner, and this group of stories is cleverly tied together. Fun fact: The fictional town of Bailey Downs, where each of the stories takes place, is the same town as Ginger Snaps and the suburb in Orphan Black. You can get it on Shudder or Prime Video.
4. Krampus (2015)
Based on the folklore of the demonic holiday figure, this movie tells the story of a family who must fight for their lives against the evil Krampus. The one they all started with, Krampus, is an excellent movie, even if the movies that came after weren’t quite as perfect. The ambiguous ending is still debated for a reason. It is a dark film whose possible endings are very grim. You can stream it on Peacock TV or Prime Video.
3. Gremlins (1984)
This dark comedy follows a man who receives a strange creature as a Christmas present, which multiplies rapidly and causes chaos in the town. There’s no more iconic holiday horror movie than this one, featuring cute furry singing cuties that turn into nasty beats when fed in the dark. The rules are simple but apparently hard to follow. This is the only holiday horror movie you can show the whole family. You can watch it now on HBO Max.
2. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
In this controversial film, a young boy who witnesses his parents’ murder on Christmas Eve grows up to be a killer Santa Claus. 1984 was an excellent year for horror, with the debut of The Nightmare On Elm Street. The oft-copied but never-matched murderer Claus in Charles E. Sellier Jr.’s film. has a beautiful killer that you can only feel sympathy for, even though you are terrified of him. Watch it on Prime Video.
The Top Holiday Horror Movie-Black Christmas (1974)
This classic horror film follows a group of sorority sisters who are terrorized by an unknown caller during the holiday season. This slasher is creepy and suspenseful throughout. It’s easy to see how this movie influences horror movies even today. It’s funny and scary, and the dialogue is great. Director Bob Clark is a trailblazer, and this movie proves it. Widely regarded as the best of all time, the recent remake isn’t half bad, but the original stands above it all. You can stream it on Peacock TV, TubiTV and Freevee.
The list above should satisfy your twisted cravings if you like a little sick with the Saints. All the movies on this holiday horror movie list will keep you entertained. Whether you’re looking for a hybrid or a disturbing creeper, there’s something for everyone. Best of all, most of them can be found for free. Happy horror days and happy slashmas.
As editor-in-chief of Signal Horizon, I enjoy watching and writing about genre entertainment. I grew up on old fashioned slashers, but my real passion is television and all weird and ambiguous stuff. My work can be found here and Travel Weird, where I am the editor-in-chief.
