Ah, Christmas. The most horrifying time of the year. Yes, when the world turns its back on scares after Halloween departs, we horror fans continue to crave the titillating terror of a good scary movie. This is not to say we aren’t festive. Far from it, in fact, we switch our Yuletide cheer into Yuletide Fear.
Our friends at Rotten Tomatoes have put together a delightful little listing of the best rated Christmas horror movies of all time according to their aggregate rating system. Now feast on the banquet of Christmas frights! We have below some of our favorite pics from the list. However, to see the full countdown, you will need to skip over to their site.
Black Christmas 1974 – 71% Fresh
Easily one of the best Christmas Horror pics ever made, Bob Clark (A Christmas Story, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things) gives is a fiendish slasher pic. Here a group of sorority sisters is terrorized by a psycho who has snuck into their attic. One by one people get picked off as we build to that wonderful moment when we discover “The Calls are coming from inside the house!” (Totally not a spoiler because the movie literally starts with the killer sneaking into the attic).
Rare Exports – 89% Fresh
Don’t you love it when you find out who Santa REALLY is? Rare Exports is a clever mix of comedy and horror that is near the very top of the list. Deep in Finland, a father and son capture St Nicholas after a rash of child abductions hits the town. This leads them a the archeological dig that where they attempt to sell Santa to the corporation that unearthed him. That’s when things get crazy. I don’t want to say more, but light the fire, warm some cocoa and enjoy this treat.
Gremlins – 84% Fresh
What is it that makes something a Christmas movie? Is it that the plot or characters are inextricably intertwined with the holiday or can it be that the movie merely takes place at Christmas? If you believe the latter, then Gremlins is one of the movies that pops up on Rotten Tomatoes countdown. This is the story of a well-meaning father that gifts his son a unique pet for Christmas only to see it get out of control and wreak havoc on all who get in the way. There are classic set pieces here, the bar scene, the kitchen battle, the pool. nearly every scene is a perfect set up for mayhem and of course merriment.
Krampus 67% Fresh
A really crumby Christmas family reunion gets about as bad as you would expect it to and young Max decides to turn his back on the holiday spirit. It just so happens that the holidays are rather vindictive and the Krampus arrives to punish this horrid group of people who scoff at the idea of Christmas cheer. Lush production and a brave ending give this movie bite along with a few brilliantly funny and frightening moments.
