Terrifying Christmas: Unveiling the Most Hair-Raising Holiday Horror Movies

During Christmas, people typically anticipate certain features in movies, such as a snowy backdrop, a joyful conclusion, and an overall sense of family and holiday spirit.

It turns out that not everyone prefers heartwarming Christmas movies, as some may actually enjoy a good Christmas horror film. You may be surprised at the number of Christmas horror movies that exist. After all, winter brings darkness, cold, and ghosts of Christmas past.

Below, we have ranked the best Christmas horror movies for those looking to get into the spooky spirit of the season, with some potentially being quite scary depending on your fear tolerance.

10. It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023)

Shudder

Synopsis: After saving her town from a killer, Winnie's life takes a turn for the worse when she is magically transported to a parallel universe. With the killer back, she must join forces with a misfit to find the culprit and return to her own reality. This movie puts a unique spin on a classic Christmas theme, making it a standout in the horror genre. You may find yourself overlooking the predictable twists and enjoying the thrills.

Where to watch: AMC+

9. A Christmas Carol (2009)

Synopsis: In the midst of festive London, Ebenezer Scrooge grumbles about Christmas, criticizing his devoted clerk and jovial nephew. Unexpectedly, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, who forewarns of three spirits who will appear that very night. These spirits guide Scrooge through his past, present, and future, with the aim of softening his embittered heart.

A Christmas Carol can be surprisingly scary depending on who tells it, and the animated version starring Jim Carey actually excels in this regard. The movie effectively utilizes animation to portray the grotesque elements and plays into the horror of the ghosts. It is available for streaming on Disney+.

8. Gremlins (1984)

Warner Bros.

Where to watch: Max

7. Krampus (2015)

Universal Pictures

Krampus delves into chilling folk tales, blending malevolence and fear. Be wary, as children seem to fall victim to the monster in this Christmas-themed horror film. It also explores the horrors of family conflict, resulting in a cautionary yet creative narrative. Available to stream on Peacock.

6. Silent Night (2021)

Altitude Film Distribution

Where to watch: AMC+

5. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

The Warner Brothers film follows the story of Dr. Bill Hartford, whose wife, Alice, confesses to having sexual fantasies about a man she met. This admission leads Bill to become fixated on seeking a sexual encounter. He then stumbles upon an underground sexual group and attends one of their meetings, only to realize that he has entered into a world beyond his control.

While it may not fit the traditional definition of a horror movie, Eyes Wide Shut is just as unsettling. The deliberately strange performances, enigmatic plot, and hidden cult-like themes make it a standout in Stanley Kubrick's career.

Available for streaming on: Apple TV

4. P2 (2007)

Summit Entertainment

Where to watch: Tubi

3. Black Christmas (1974)

The movie is about a group of sorority sisters who start receiving disturbing phone calls and soon realize that a serial killer may be targeting them. As winter break begins, the tension and fear escalate when one of the girls goes missing and a local girl is murdered. The culprit is closer than they think.

Black Christmas has been remade numerous times, but the original stands out for its tone-setting ability and genuinely terrifying scares. This classic slasher film, set in a sorority house, goes the extra mile to create a truly memorable and frightening experience. You can watch it on YouTube.

2. I Trapped the Devil (2019)

IFC Films

Where to watch: AMC+

1. Dead End (2003)

Lionsgate presents a chilling tale of a family's fateful Christmas Eve journey. When they choose to detour down a shadowy, wooded road, they encounter a series of eerie events that foreshadow impending danger. A near miss with another vehicle leads to the unexpected arrival of a spectral hitchhiker and her baby, plunging the family into a harrowing and fatal sequence of interconnected roadside tragedies.

If you're looking for a memorable horror film, Dead End is worth a watch. This Christmas-themed movie will make you think twice about picking up strangers on a dark night car ride. You can find it on Amazon Prime Video.

Merry Christmas, and don’t let the elves bite! For more of our Movies & TV content, click here.

Editor's P/S

As a horror movie enthusiast, I am thrilled to see the resurgence of Christmas horror movies. These films offer a unique blend of holiday cheer and spine-chilling scares, creating an unforgettable viewing experience. From the classic Black Christmas to the modern gem Krampus, these movies capture the essence of the holiday season while injecting a healthy dose of terror.

While traditional Christmas movies focus on heartwarming themes of family, love, and joy, Christmas horror movies embrace the darker side of the holiday. They explore the fears and anxieties that can arise during this time of year, such as the pressure to be happy, the stress of gift-giving, and the isolation that can come with the winter months. These movies allow us to confront these fears head-on and find catharsis in the horror.