10 Christmas Movies for the Horror Movie Fan

I love Christmas movies. In fact, come November 1st, the Halloween decorations are put up, and I start looking forward to watching classics like A Christmas Story (which I will probably watch at least twice, if not more, between now and Dec. 26th) and It's a Wonderful Life.

However, while I love Christmas movies, I'm also a horror movie fan. So of course I have a fondness for the many horror movies that have had a Christmas theme.

So here is a list of 10 "Christmas movies" that you, or the horror movie lover in your life, will enjoy.

1. Tales from the Crypt (1972). Tales from the Crypt is an anthology featuring many tales of terror. The first tale is probably the most well known. In it, Joan Collins plays a woman who kills her husband one snowy winter's night. So when a homicidal maniac shows up dressed as Santa, calling the police isn't really her best option.

2. Silent Night, Bloody Night (1973). Christmas doesn't really play a big part in this horror film. However, because of its title, it can't be left off the list.

3. Black Christmas (1974). A cult classic, and a forerunner of the hundreds of slasher films to follow. It's the holiday season, and a masked killer is hiding in a sorority house, unbeknownst to its inhabitants.

4. Christmas Evil (1980). In this tale, a disturbed individual who hates how commercialized Christmas has become dons a Santa suit and sets out to punishe those he considers naughty.

5. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984). This is another horror flick in which a disturbed individual dresses up as Santa and punishes those he considers naughty. Seems it's a popular theme. And, if you like the first Silent Night, Deadly Night, there are several sequels.

6. Don't Open Till Christmas (1984). In this movie, instead of Santa punishing the naughty, men who dress as Santa are the victims. So, it's a play on the theme.

7. Gremlins (1984). Most people probably don't consider Gremlins a horror movie, considering how cute and huggable Gizmo is. But, considering what the bad Gremlins do, it definitely fits into the "horror movie" category. And you can actually watch this one with your family.

8. Jack Frost (1996). In 1998, Michael Keaton starred in a heart-warming movie about a man who dies, but comes back to life as a snowman, allowing him to spend the holidays with his family. Well, the 1996 horror movie of the same name has a similar premise. Only it's a serial killer who dies and comes back to life as a snowman.

9. Santa Claws (1996). Another film in which a killer dresses as Santa and, you guessed it, punishes the naughty.

10. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). By far the best movie on the list, in my opinion. Again, most people won't consider The Nightmare Before Christmas a horror movie. But it has all the horror tropes a horror movie lover will recognize. (Including vampires, mad scientists, werewolves and zombies.) Yet, despite the horror elements, it's a heart warming, feel-good classic that leaves you humming the songs long after the film is over.

These are Christmas movies any horror fan would enjoy.