Top 10 Christmas Horror Movies

I put together this list with campy fun first and foremost on my mind. While searching for unique Christmas gifts why not try something fun, scary and a little campy? Christmas horror movies fit the bill for the person in your life that has everything and a good sense of humor or for the fun movie night at home. Your Christmas may be filled with family traditions or religious ceremony, these movies are for those quiet evenings after a long day shopping or buttoning up the year's workload.

10. "Christmas Toyshop" - Rifftrax short

I picked this for the number 10 spot for it's hilarious combination of a snarky review by Rifftrax interwoven with the 1945 "Christmas Toyshop" cartoon. Rifftrax is known for taking old films and incorporating a narrative over the film. The original movie started out as live action then turns into a cartoon. It tells the tale of two children who meet Santa Claus and go on a adventure that involves toys coming to life and performing musical numbers for each other and an evil spider who attempts to ruin the day. Rifftrax's version narrates over the story changing the storyline to, "a criminally incompetent father, a drug-dispensing demon of the night, and a bored and detached Santa who spins magic mushroom induced fables to two captive children. Other beloved Christmas themes include war, a killing spree, and an attempted murder suicide by an arachnid-in easy-to-view cartoon form!" You can download the original film for free on Google's video archive or go to Rifftrax's site to buy the re-mix for 99 cents. I remember seeing the film as a child and the original version was very dark and creepy to me.

9. "Santa Claws" (1996)

Extreme cheese alert. The story revolves around a man who dresses up as Santa Claus and uses a really sharp claw to kill anyone who tries to move in on the object of his affection, a porn star. The man began his killing spree as a child. After he sees a man in a Santa suit having sex with his mother, he promptly kills her and thus a psycho path is born.

8. "Santa Claus" - uncut (1959)

I found this on YouTube and could not forget the dancing devils in hell trying to lure children to steal Christmas toys. It's campy B move fun. A Mexican import from the late 1950's; Santa Claus is the story of how Satan tries to ruin Christmas by sending a demon to earth to kill Santa. Satan then sets on a mission to "to make the children of the Earth do evil". Directed in Spanish by Rene Cardona in 1959, the film was edited into an English version in 1960.

7. "Christmas Evil"

From the era of "slash and splash" films of the 1980's. Another serial killer borne from witnessing a sexual encounter between Santa, who turns out to be Harry's dad and his mother. The sexual encounter was so traumatizing for the young Harry that he runs into the attic and cuts his hand with glass from a broken snow globe. Fast forward thirty three years and Harry has assumed the role of Santa in his town. After a nervous breakdown, he steals, stalks and murders dressed in Santa gear.

6. "Doctor Who: The Next Dr. (2008Christmas Special)"

I added this one to the mix because it's cyber overtones. Murder and vengeful Cybermen run amok on Christmas Eve in 1851. The Doctors must defeat the Cyber King and a really nasty woman. London will never be the same.

5. "Tales From the Crypt" (1972) - "And All Through the House" segment

I really enjoy the old Tales From the Crypt series and the movie it spawned. Beautiful Joan Collins plays a woman enjoying Christmas Eve with her husband. It's a typical family holiday until she kills him with a fireplace poker. She goes about the task of getting rid of her husband's body until a psychotic killer dressed as Santa Claus breaks into her house. Unable to call the police because of her dead husband's body, she is left to her own devices with the killer.

4. "The Bloody Olive" short (1996)

One of my Christmas themed favorites. The Bloody Olive is more murderous film noir than slasher horror. Directed by Vincent Bal and made in Belgium with English subtitles; it is pure joy. Mylene and Werner are married couple celebrating Christmas Eve. They are happily decorating their home and cooking a Christmas Eve meal when they are interrupted by Werner's business partner, Sam. Sam accuses Werner of embezzlement and the murders begin. That is also where the fun comes in. Countless twists and turns in this ten minute short are worth the viewing.

3. "Two Front Teeth" (2006)

I added this to the Christmas horror top 10 because it is classic horror fare. A vampire Santa and an army of zombie elves terrorize a tabloid reporter who is busy investigating a conspiracy around a commercial airplane crash. Gabe learns that vampire Santa is responsible and soon vampire Santa knows Gabe knows. Santa gathers the zombie elves and they head off to rain terror down on Gabe. It's campy fun and you will believe the tag line, "Forget milk and cookies, he wants blood." Two Front Teeth has it's own website where you can buy the film.

2. "Treevenge"

No one truly understands the horror that Christmas trees face every year. Stripped from the safety of the forest, chopped down in the prime of life only to be festooned with lights and garish decorations. The Christmas trees are mad as hell and they aren't going to take it anymore. Treevenge tells the tale of the horror brought by Christmas trees bent on revenge. They fight back, killing as many humans as possible. The scenes of people covered in blood writhing under pine branches will probably send you into hysterics before you are frightened but it's a must on any top 10 Christmas horror list.

1. "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians"

I found this one nestled in a bin at a green market in New York City's famed Union Square. It was a hot summer day and a B movie Christmas horror film sounded like fun. Since this list is based on pure horror camp, I knew this movie would have to be number one. If you are a Pia Zadora fan you will be in heaven. The movie co-stars Zadora as a six year old alien. The Martian ruler decides he must kidnap Earth's Santa Claus to cheer up his planets unhappy children. The horror scenes involve a scary polar bear, a 7 ft. robot made out of cardboard and a villainous martian. All are a nightmare for the two sweet, little Earth kids, Billy and Betty. Billy and Betty help Santa escape the evil clutches of the Martians. A catchy tune called, "Hooray For Santy Claus" will stick in your head and that's probably the scariest part of the film. Unless, you are terrified by polar bears that crawl on hind legs that look strangely human, children who defeat evil with bubbles and toys and have an understanding of rocketry, you won't have any lingering scary visions in your head. Have a fun and spooky Christmas!

sources:
http://www.rifftrax.com/ondemand/christmas-toyshop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMgbMnAmv24http://www.archive.org/details.php?identifier=SilentNightBloodyNighthttp://www.archive.org/details/SantaCrazy
http://www.tlavideo.com/product/1-1132-273076_two-front-teeth.html?sn=1
http://www.treevenge.com/
http://www.bmoviecentral.com/bmc/reviews/34-duanes-reviews/114-santa-claus-conquers-the-martians-1964-81-minutes.html
http://www.happyhorror.com/?p=266
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117549/