What’s a horror fan to do this time of year? There are no shortage of seasonal horror movies, but it’s a pretty mixed lot–you get a fair amount of straight-to-video dreck mixed with the good stuff.
What do I consider the good stuff? Read on (and in the interest of being fair and balanced, I’ve included negative reviews of all my picks)…
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1951)
This story is so ubiquitous, it’s sometimes easy to forget its essentially a ghost story that ends in a graveyard … but it does suffer for its lack of Muppetry.
GREMLINS (1984)
A 1984 summer blockbuster set during the holidays? Crazy. Pretty scary, too–at least according to Bob.
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)
Not exactly frightening (unless you count the rhyming and quick talking), but reminiscent of the German expressionism of the silent era, and that’s always good for a rill of gooseflesh.
THE TWILIGHT ZONE’S “NIGHT OF THE MEEK” (1960)
Art Carney stars in The Twilight Zone’s lone offering of holiday fare (unless you count “Five Characters in Search of an Exit”–which is also excellent).
THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)
Bar none, the most terrifying holiday tale ever screened. This isn’t about a trip to the North Pole … it’s about a trip to the Uncanny Valley.
In this, the most jolly time of the year, enjoy yourself some real holiday horror. Or … don’t enjoy it. Whatever. But be sure to leave a review. Like these.