Movies & TV Holiday Cheer Five Lesser-Known Horror Movies Set at Christmas ‘Tis the season for jolly jump scares, demonic Santas, and general mayhem! By Lorna Wallace | Published on December 9, 2025 Comment 0 Share New Share I never seem to tire of rewatching classic or nostalgia-inducing Christmas movies in December—I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen the first two Home Alone movies—but as a horror lover, I’m also always on the lookout for films that add some frights into my festive viewing. Black Christmas (1974) and Gremlins (1984) are, of course, staples of the Christmas horror subgenre, but those aren’t the only films that add a little darkness to the bright holiday. Below are five lesser-known horror gems set at the most wonderful time of the year. Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987) There are two ways to tackle the first two Silent Night, Deadly Night movies. Either watch the first one and then skip the first 40 minutes of the second, or skip the first movie entirely and just jump right into the second. This is because most of the first section of Part 2 is a highlight reel of scenes from the first movie. I started with Part 2, which kicks off on Christmas Eve with main character Ricky (Eric Freeman) being interviewed in a psychiatric hospital after going on a killing spree. Through flashbacks to the first film, we learn that Ricky’s parents were murdered when he was a baby by a man dressed as Santa. This traumatic event, paired with an equally traumatic upbringing in an orphanage, led to his older brother, Billy (Robert Brian Wilson), also becoming a Santa-clad killer. And now, it’s Ricky’s turn to don the red suit. Don’t go into this film expecting a serious slasher; it falls firmly into the goofy so-bad-it’s-good category. While this style of movie isn’t for everyone, I think that Eric Freeman’s over-the-top performance—complete with some of the funniest eyebrow acting I’ve ever seen—is a joy to watch. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) Although set at Christmas, Rare Exports is basically devoid of Yuletide cheer, giving viewers a version of Santa that is nothing like the traditional jolly old Saint Nick. But while the halls might not be decked, this Finnish movie features plenty of wintery atmosphere in addition to its unique take on the iconic Christmas figure. Rauno (Jorma Tommila) and his son Pietari (Onni Tommila) are struggling to connect after the loss of their wife and mother. Rauno is a reindeer herder and after many of his animals are killed, he sets up a pit in attempt to capture the wolves that he thinks were responsible. But on Christmas Eve the trap turns up another prize: Santa Claus. This Santa is essentially a feral animal and Rauno, Pietari, and their crew aren’t exactly sure what to do with him. Rare Exports is a creative take on Finnish folklore and mixes a dash of dry humor into its fantasy horror concept. The resulting film is certainly strange, but it’s also a refreshing change of pace from the sometimes overwhelmingly capitalistic and saccharine parts of Christmas. Better Watch Out (2016) Have you ever wondered what the injuries that Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) inflicts upon Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci) in Home Alone would look like if they weren’t being played for laughs? It’s only a small part of the film, but Better Watch Out goes some of the way to exploring that idea. The movie starts with Luke’s (Levi Millier) parents going out for a December date night and 17-year-old Ashley (Olivia DeJonge) coming over to babysit. Despite being five years her junior, Luke decides he’s now old enough to have a shot with her romantically—something that she obviously doesn’t go along with. The night is already off to a weird start, but things get even worse when a gun-wielding intruder breaks in. The rest of the movie’s runtime is filled with twists aplenty, intentionally infuriating characters, and a fair bit of blood splattered onto the Christmas decor. Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) Anna and the Apocalypse is a zombie movie that’s also a Christmas movie that’s also a musical that’s also a comedy. That’s a lot of different elements to balance, but I’d say the film mostly pulls off the eclectic mix of genres. The titular Anna (Ella Hunt) is a teenager who lives in the fictional Scottish town of Little Haven. It’s the last day of school before Christmas break, but rather than being a day of festive fun, everything turns to chaos when a zombie virus spreads through the town. Armed with an oversized decorative candy cane filed to a sharp point, Anna bands together with her classmates in an attempt to survive—all while occasionally breaking out into song. I do wish there were a few more Scottish accents peppered throughout the cast (I’m Scottish, so this is probably just a me problem), but the film more than makes up for that with its zombie gags, creative kills, and catchy tunes. The Lodge (2019) If it’s a cold, snowy atmosphere you’re after in your Christmas horror, then look no further than The Lodge. Riley Keough plays Grace, who as a child survived the mass suicide of an extremist cult. She’s now engaged to Richard (Richard Armitage), who she met while he was researching the cult, but his two kids (Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh) give her a frosty reception. Richard decides that forced proximity and holiday cheer is just what everyone needs in order to bond, so they all spend Christmas at his snow-blanketed lodge in Massachusetts. But not long after arriving, Richard is unexpectedly called away by work, leaving Grace with two kids who seem intent on hating her. It’s already a nightmare scenario for everyone involved, but it doesn’t take long for their Christmas getaway to take a truly sinister turn. I’ll not reveal the exact horror elements of this film because I think it’s best to just let yourself be taken on the ride. Just know that while my other picks for this list have leaned into the fun side of horror, The Lodge is a bit more serious and psychologically disturbing. Although not an over-populated genre, there are definitely other examples of Christmas horror out there, so please leave your own festively frightful suggestions in the comments below![end-mark] The post Five Lesser-Known Horror Movies Set at Christmas appeared first on Reactor.