Still In Spooky Mode? Check Out These Dark Holiday Movies

Okay okay, so I’ve been on sort of a hiatus the past month, and it’s not because I’ve lost my knack for writing, it’s simply because life is busy! During that time, fall came out of nowhere and officially closed out the summer season. Now, I’m all for fall, because it means a shift in seasons, cooler weather, and an introduction into the holiday season; but what I love most about it is the anticipation of Halloween. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always especially loved this holiday and everything that comes with it; namely, watching horror flicks that conjure up the thought of looking over my shoulder every time I climb a flight of stairs. I love everything about it, and am bummed I didn’t have the chance to write on it earlier.

Just because Halloween 2021 is over, that doesn’t mean “Spooky Mode” is. Over the years, writers and directors have done a great job of finding storylines that can capture any type of audience, while still making sure they play with the horror genre. Since I was busy living life, I thought I’d still share some of my favorite horror-esque holiday movies, and why I think everyone should watch (or re-watch) them. But beware, you may want to keep the lights on for a few of them if you’re prone to nightmares.

• The Nightmare Before Christmas

  It was Christmas 1993 and my Grandma was already preparing me for the love of all things dark and creepy. She wasn’t just any ordinary grandmother, she was one who loved watching Chucky, Terminator 2, and The Nightmare on Elm Street with her people; obviously, this is where my love of horror came from, and this particular movie.

  First off, Tim Burton is the man, and I’ve loved every single one of his short films, full-length films, and everything in between. It all started with Jack Skellington, and his desire to live beyond his repetitive life in Halloween Town and experience something above and beyond his creepy life. First off, I can 100% relate because I myself have felt a need to break out of the norm, and second, the music, characters, and overall storyline were all * chef’s kiss *. It can be appreciated any time of the year, but it’s one that combines Halloween and Christmas into one, so you can enjoy it during either holiday.

• Edward Scissorhands

  Okay, I might be a little biased, but here’s another Tim Burton classic that is perfect for Halloween, Christmas, or sometime in between. An animated human named Edward was left abandoned by his “father,” a scientist who was progressive for the time, but died before he had the chance to give his new creation proper hands. Left to fend on his own in a creepy McMansion at the end of a Stepford Wives-esque neighborhood, a woman selling Avon approaches the home with no fear. She somewhat adopts the man and opens his eyes to the suburban life in a hinted 1950s America.

  Of course, the neighbors are entranced, while Edward is just trying to get through another day as an outcast. The story is written beautifully, the music by Danny Elfman is flawless, and Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, and Dianne West are stars. Edward’s world was once cold, dark, and lonely, but now, he finds love, a family, and at times, trouble on the horizon.

  Edward Scissorhands might sound like more of a fairytale than a dark holiday movie, but it’s really both. It’s suitable for the whole family to watch, with a few moments that might be PG-13.

• Krampus

  Now, this is where things take a dark turn. Krampus has always been known as Saint Nick’s counterpart but with a much darker agenda. He has horns, he has hooves for feet, and enjoys scaring kids out of their wits if they don’t behave. This Alpine folklore figure is terrifying, to say the least, and while others have tried to portray him in the past, no one has quite done it like Michael Dougherty in 2015.

  The Engel family is seen fighting like any normal family, while internally dreading the holidays in their own personal ways. Things take a wild turn when the youngest, a boy named Max, invokes something dark when he crumples up his note to Santa and chucks it out the window. With beliefs unbalanced, and family matters ensuing, this is the perfect time for Krampus to show his ugly mug.

  It’s not just him though; the guy brings along a whole posse of underground demons who pose as snowmen, Christmas toys, and little creatures who want nothing more than to see humans in pain. While the Engel’s and their extended family start to notice things are off around their neighborhood, the only one who knows what’s going on is Max’s grandmother, Omi. She’s had a personal brush with Krampus before and knows there’s a price to pay. While Krampus is darker than most holiday movies, there are campy moments that give the watchers a brief moment of relief, before another round of chaos ensues.

• Gremlins

  When the holidays roll around, some of us might be in the mood for oldies like It’s A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story, but if you prefer oldies with a holiday twist, Gremlins might just do the trick.

  In 1984, director Joe Dante decided to approach the horror sub-genre with a furry and likable creature named Gizmo and his travels from Chinatown to a suburban tundra. Slightly stolen by a sub-par inventor who wants a unique Christmas gift for his son, little Gizmo, a ‘Mogwai,’ brings way more baggage than he lets on.

  Ignoring a set of rules, teenaged-son Billy opens up a can of worms that wreaks havoc on the entire town. Even though Gizmo is friendly, cute, and cuddly, his counterparts are not. You’ll have to see it to believe it, and while I appreciate this movie, and consider it a slightly dark holiday movie, it does have its quirks that only 1980s movies can have.

• Black Christmas

  I love a good remake, and sometimes they do the original justice, but I’m sticking with the 1974 version on this one. To me, the horror genre really shined in the 1970s, and Black Chrismas was/is influential and terrifying for many reasons. Slasher films were a big deal at this time, and director Bob Clark took the storyline and made it into something truly horrifying on-screen.

  The movie begins around the holidays and centers on a group of normal sorority sisters who are busy making plans to get in a festive mood. Shortly after, they start to receive a series of strange calls that put them all on edge. One by one, the women begin to disappear, and all signs point to a cloaked man creeping around on campus.

  You’ve probably seen similar storylines on like When A Stranger Calls and The Strangers, but Black Christmas stands out because it happens at a time when everyone should be jolly and bright. Because of the realism, and the holiday it narrows its sights on, Black Christmas can run with the big boys like Halloween, and Friday the 13th.

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  There you have it! My absolute favorite dark holiday movies to watch. I encourage you to broaden your horizons this season, and while I love me some Home Alone and Elf, I always think variety is the very best.