Holiday horror

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Holiday-themed horror films or holiday horror are a subgenre of horror films set during holidays. Holiday horror films can be presented in short or long formats, and typically utilize common themes, images, and motifs from the holidays during which they are set, often as methods by which the villain may murder their victims.[1][2]

Film scholars Chris Vander Kaay and Kathleen Fernandez-Vander Kaay explain the subgenre as such: "The expression 'adding insult to injury' is an excellent encapsulation of the motivation behind the horror movie obsession with holidays (aside from the obvious desire to brand a killer with a theme and costume that can be revisited many times within a lucrative film franchise). The holiday is a place for happiness and family... The horror movie loves nothing more than irony (except perhaps a good death scene), and there is very little more ironic than the fear and isolation of a horror movie taking place right in the middle of the festivities."[3]

List of films[edit]

The following is a list of holiday horror films that depict or are set during a holiday or holiday season.

Key
Valentine's Day films Films that feature Valentine's Day
St. Patrick's Day films Films that feature Saint Patrick's Day
April Fools' Day films Films that feature April Fools' Day
Easter films Films that feature Easter
Walpurgis Night and May Day films Films that feature Walpurgis Night and May Day
Mother's Day films Films that feature Mother's Day
Father's Day films Films that feature Father's Day
Independence Day (United States) films Films that feature Independence Day (United States)
Midsummer films Films that feature Midsummer
Halloween films Films that feature Halloween
Día de Muertos films Films that feature Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Thanksgiving films Films that feature Thanksgiving
Hanukkah films Films that feature Hanukkah
Christmas films Films that feature Christmas
New Year's films Films that feature New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

1900s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1901 Scrooge, or, Marley's Ghost United Kingdom Christmas tree 02.svg [4]

1910s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1916 The Right to Be Happy United Kingdom Christmas tree 02.svg [4]

1920s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1921 The Phantom Carriage Sweden Emoji u1f55b.svg Based on the book Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness!
1922 Häxan Denmark-Sweden Emoji u1f525.svg
1923 A Midsummer Night's Scream United States Fxemoji u1F395.svg Short film

1930s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1933 Mystery of the Wax Museum United Kingdom Emoji u1f55b.svg

1940s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1944 Christmas Holiday United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1944 The Curse of the Cat People United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1945 Dead of Night United Kingdom Christmas tree 02.svg Anthology film

1950s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1958 The Phantom Carriage Sweden Emoji u1f55b.svg Remake of the 1921 film

1960s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1960 Macario Mexico Twemoji 1f480.svg
1961 Blast of Silence United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1964 At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul Brazil Twemoji 1f480.svg

1970s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1970 La Noche de Walpurgis Spain Emoji u1f525.svg [5]
1971 Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? United Kingdom Christmas tree 02.svg
1972 Tales from the Crypt United Kingdom Christmas tree 02.svg Emojione 1F498.svg Anthology film [6]
1972 Home for the Holidays United States Christmas tree 02.svg Television film
1972 Silent Night, Bloody Night United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1973 The Wicker Man United Kingdom Emoji u1f525.svg [7]
1973 El Retorno de Walpurgis Spain Emoji u1f525.svg
1974 Black Christmas Canada Christmas tree 02.svg
1975 Night Train Murders Italy Christmas tree 02.svg
1978 Halloween United States Emoji u1f383.svg [8]

1980s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1980 Terror Train United States Emoji u1f55b.svg [7]
1980 To All a Goodnight United States Christmas tree 02.svg [9]
1980 Christmas Evil United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1980 New Year's Evil United States Emoji u1f55b.svg
1981 My Bloody Valentine Canada Emojione 1F498.svg Also takes place during Friday the 13th
1981 Halloween II United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1981 Home Sweet Home United States Emoji u1f983.svg
1982 Creepshow United States Symbol mars.svg Anthology film
1982 Critters 2: The Main Course United States Farm-Fresh faberge egg.png
1982 Halloween III: Season of the Witch United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1982 Trick or Treats United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1982 X-ray United States Emojione 1F498.svg
1982 Bloodbeat United States/France Christmas tree 02.svg [10]
1983 The Being United States Farm-Fresh faberge egg.png
1984 Don't Open till Christmas United Kingdom Christmas tree 02.svg
1984 Gremlins United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1984 Silent Night, Deadly Night United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1985 The Midnight Hour United States Emoji u1f383.svg Television film [11]
1986 April Fool's Day United States Noto Emoji KitKat 1f601.svg [12]
1986 Killer Party Canada/United States Noto Emoji KitKat 1f601.svg [13]
1986 Slaughter High United Kingdom/United States Noto Emoji KitKat 1f601.svg [14]
1986 Trick or Treat United States Emoji u1f383.svg [15]
1987 Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1987 Blood Rage United States Emoji u1f983.svg
1987 Bloody New Year United Kingdom Emoji u1f55b.svg
1988 Maniac Cop United States Emojione 1F340.svg
1988 Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1988 Night of the Demons United States Emoji u1f383.svg [16]
1989 3615 code Père Noël France Christmas tree 02.svg
1989 Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1989 Elves United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1989 Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! United States Christmas tree 02.svg

1990s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
1990 Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation United States Christmas tree 02.svg Direct-to-video
1991 Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker United States Christmas tree 02.svg Direct-to-video
1992 Stepfather III United States Easter films Symbol mars.svg Television film [17]
1994 Night of the Demons 2 United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1994 Leprechaun 2 United States Emojione 1F340.svg
1995 The Day of the Beast Spain/Italy Christmas tree 02.svg [18][19]
1995 Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1995 Jack-O United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1996 Uncle Sam United States Emoji u1f1fa 1f1f8.svg
1996 Santa Claws United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1996 Little Witches United States Farm-Fresh faberge egg.png
1997 Intensity United States Emoji u1f983.svg Television film [20]
1997 Night of the Demons 3 United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1997 Jack Frost United States Christmas tree 02.svg
1998 Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County United States Emoji u1f983.svg Television film [21]
1998 Halloween H20: 20 Years Later United States Emoji u1f383.svg
1999 Lovers Lane United States Emojione 1F498.svg Direct-to-video [22]
1999 End of Days United States Emoji u1f55b.svg
1999 Resurrection United States Farm-Fresh faberge egg.png
1999 Witchouse United States Emoji u1f525.svg Direct-to-video [23]

2000s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
2000 Bless the Child United States Farm-Fresh faberge egg.png
2000 Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2001 Valentine United States Emojione 1F498.svg
2001 The Christmas Season Massacre United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2002 Halloween: Resurrection United States Emoji u1f383.svg
2003 Dead End United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2003 Midsommer Denmark Fxemoji u1F395.svg
2003 Shredder United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2003 Zero Day United States Emoji u1f525.svg
2004 Hellbent United States Emoji u1f383.svg
2004 Satan's Little Helper United States Emoji u1f383.svg
2005 All Souls Day United States Twemoji 1f480.svg
2005 The Gingerdead Man United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2005 Santa's Slay United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2006 The Wicker Man United States Emoji u1f525.svg [7]
2006 Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! United States Farm-Fresh faberge egg.png [7]
2006 Halloween Night United States Emoji u1f383.svg
2006 Black Christmas United States Christmas tree 02.svg Remake of the 1974 film [24]
2006 Séance United States Emoji u1f983.svg [25]
2007 El Muerto United States Twemoji 1f480.svg
2007 April Fools United States Noto Emoji KitKat 1f601.svg Direct-to-video [26]
2007 Halloween United States Emoji u1f383.svg Remake of the 1978 film
2007 Wind Chill United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2007 Trick 'r Treat United States Emoji u1f383.svg [27]
2007 Inside France Christmas tree 02.svg
2008 April Fool's Day United States Noto Emoji KitKat 1f601.svg Remake of the 1986 film
2008 The Children United Kingdom Emoji u1f55b.svg [28]
2008 Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2008 Pontypool Canada Emojione 1F498.svg [29]
2008 Solstice United States Fxemoji u1F395.svg Remake of Midsommer [30][31]
2008 ThanksKilling United States Emoji u1f983.svg
2009 My Bloody Valentine United States Emojione 1F498.svg Remake of the 1981 film [32]
2009 Halloween II United States Emoji u1f383.svg Sequel to the 2007 remake
2009 Deadly Little Christmas United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2009 Silent Night, Zombie Night United States Christmas tree 02.svg

2010s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
2010 Atrocious Spain Farm-Fresh faberge egg.png
2010 Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale Finland Christmas tree 02.svg
2010 Sint The Netherlands Christmas tree 02.svg
2011 Father's Day United States Symbol mars.svg
2011 The Wicker Tree United Kingdom Emoji u1f525.svg [7]
2011 The Melancholy Fantastic United States Christmas tree 02.svg Re-released in 2016 as Doll in the Dark
2011 Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2012 Red Clover United States Emojione 1F340.svg Made for television
2012 Silent Night United States Christmas tree 02.svg Loose remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
2012 Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines United States Emoji u1f383.svg Direct-to-video
2013 All Hallows' Eve United States Emoji u1f383.svg
2013 Christmas Cruelty! Norway Christmas tree 02.svg [33]
2013 Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2013 Silent Night, Bloody Night: The Homecoming United States Christmas tree 02.svg [34]
2014 México Bárbaro Mexico Twemoji 1f480.svg
2014 Kristy United States Emoji u1f983.svg [35]
2015 Knock Knock United States Symbol mars.svg
2015 All Through the House United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2015 Noc Walpurgi Poland Emoji u1f525.svg
2015 A Christmas Horror Story United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2015 Krampus United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2015 Krampus: The Reckoning United States Christmas tree 02.svg Direct-to-video [36]
2015 Red Christmas Australia Christmas tree 02.svg
2015 Tales of Halloween United States Emoji u1f383.svg
2015 Muck United States Emojione 1F340.svg
2015 Rage: Midsummer's Eve Finland Fxemoji u1F395.svg
2016 Krampus Unleashed United States Christmas tree 02.svg Direct-to-video [37]
2016 Holidays United States Emojione 1F498.svg Emojione 1F340.svg Emoji u1f383.svg Symbol venus.svg Symbol mars.svg Christmas tree 02.svg Emoji u1f55b.svg Farm-Fresh faberge egg.png Anthology film
2017 Better Watch Out Australia/United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2017 Mercy Christmas United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2017 Anna and the Apocalypse United Kingdom/United States Christmas tree 02.svg
2018 Halloween United States Emoji u1f383.svg
2019 Escape Room United States Emoji u1f983.svg [38][39]
2019 Midsommar United States Fxemoji u1F395.svg
2019 Black Christmas United States Christmas tree 02.svg Remake of the 1974 film [40]
2019 Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark United States/Canada Emoji u1f383.svg [41]
2019 Trick United States Emoji u1f383.svg [42][43][44]
2019 Deathcember Germany Christmas tree 02.svg Anthology film [45][46]
2019 Holiday Hell USA Emojione 1F498.svg Christmas tree 02.svg Twemoji2 1f54e.svg Anthology film [47]

2020s[edit]

Year Film Country Holiday(s) Notes Ref.
2020 Hanukkah United States Twemoji2 1f54e.svg [48]
2020 Halloween Kills United States Emoji u1f383.svg
2021 Halloween Ends United States Emoji u1f383.svg

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Vander Kaay & Fernandez-Vander Kaay 2016, p. 99.
  2. ^ Baker, Tom "10 Ridiculous Holiday Horror Films", What Culture, 11 December 2014.
  3. ^ Vander Kaay & Fernandez-Vander Kaay 2016, pp. 98–9.
  4. ^ a b John T. Soister, Henry Nicolella, Steve Joyce; American Silent Horror Feature Films, 1913-1929 - 495
  5. ^ "Walpurgis Night: The Other Halloween - LouisvilleHalloween.com". April 30, 2013.
  6. ^ Ed. Allan Bryce, Amicus: The Studio That Dripped Blood, Stray Cat Publishing, 2000 pp. 84-93.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Holiday Horror Movies: Fright Films for (Almost) Every Occasion". LiveAbout.
  8. ^ Vander Kaay & Fernandez-Vander Kaay 2016, p. 16.
  9. ^ Mannikka, Eleanor. "To All a Goodnight (1980) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  10. ^ Donato, Matt (24 December 2018). "10 Underrated Christmas Horror Movies!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  11. ^ Collis, Clark (October 1, 2017). "Hatchet and Victor Crowley director picks the perfect Halloween movie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  12. ^ Muir 2012, p. 298.
  13. ^ "Killer Party". tvguide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  14. ^ Paul, Zachary (1 April 2017). "Through the Cracks: April Fool's Edition – Slaughter High". bloody-disgusting.com. Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  15. ^ Muir 2012, p. 548.
  16. ^ Muir 2012, p. 682.
  17. ^ "The Stepfather III". racksandrazors.com.
  18. ^ "25 Days of Christmas: 'Day of the Beast' - Delirious, demented and diabolically funny". PopOptiq. December 5, 2013.
  19. ^ Donaldson, Johnny. "IT'S THE DAILY GRINDHOUSE 2018 HORROR ADVENT CALENDAR! 'THE DAY OF THE BEAST' IS OUR 16TH FILM OF THE MONTH!".
  20. ^ Shales, Tom (5 August 1997). "Fox's Intensity: A Deadly Sin". washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  21. ^ Zachary, Paul (23 November 2017). "Through the Cracks Thanksgiving Edition: Incident in Lake County". bloody-disgusting.com. Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  22. ^ Condit, Jon (8 July 2005). "Lover's Lane (1999)". dreadcentral.com. Dread Central. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  23. ^ Firsching, Robert. "Witchouse (1999)". nytimes.com. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  24. ^ Jones 2010, p. 252.
  25. ^ "Séance (2006)". allmovie.com. AllMovie. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  26. ^ Condit, Jon (10 September 2007). "DVD Releases: Double Feature A Go-Go!". dreadcentral.com. Dread Central. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  27. ^ Nemiroff, Perri (October 16, 2016). "Why Trick'r Treat Is My Favorite Halloween Movie". Collider. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  28. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01dljwq
  29. ^ Holden, Stephen (28 May 2009). "A Surprise Is in Store for This Shock Jock". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  30. ^ Adrian, Yo (July 9, 2019). "Solstice Review (2008) Worth Watching?".
  31. ^ Sumner, Don (June 27, 2016). "Solstice (2008) Review". Horror Freak News - The Best Horror Movies Website.
  32. ^ Vander Kaay & Fernandez-Vander Kaay 2016, p. 100.
  33. ^ Lauren Rosewarne (2017). Analyzing Christmas in Film: Santa to the Supernatural. Lexington Books. p. 320. ISBN 9781498541817. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  34. ^ "DVD Review: SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT - THE HOMECOMING".
  35. ^ Qateel, Nav. "Kristy: Review". influxmagazine.com. Influx Magazine. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  36. ^ H.C., Luiz (2 November 2015). "[Review] Krampus: The Reckoning is Getting a Lump of Coal For Christmas!". bloody-disgusting.com. Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  37. ^ Coffel, Chris (20 October 2016). "Another Krampus-Inspired Horror Movie is on the Way!". bloody-disgusting.com. Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  38. ^ Berardinelli, James (4 January 2019). "Escape Room (United States, 2018)". reelviews.net. Reel Views. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  39. ^ Schaefer, Sandy (4 January 2019). "Escape Room Review: Get a Clue, Set Up the Next Movie". screenrant.com. Screen Rant. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  40. ^ Sneider, Jeff (June 13, 2019). "Blumhouse to Remake 'Black Christmas' with Director Sophia Takal". Collider. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  41. ^ Gleiberman, Owen; Gleiberman, Owen (August 8, 2019). "Film Review: 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark'".
  42. ^ Tallerico, Brian. "Trick movie review & film summary (2019) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com.
  43. ^ "'Trick': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  44. ^ Navarro, Meagan (October 17, 2019). "[Review] 'Trick' Offers Up No Halloween Treats".
  45. ^ Squires, John (July 13, 2019). "[Teaser] Christmas Horror Anthology 'Deathcember' Opens Up 24 Doors to Unleash Holiday Hell".
  46. ^ "Teaser + Exclusive Image Gallery for Holiday Horror Anthology DEATHCEMBER". October 2, 2019.
  47. ^ "Review: Four very different horror films arrive in time for Halloween". Los Angeles Times. October 10, 2019.
  48. ^ Squires, John (2019-12-03). "Horror Movie 'Hanukkah' Starring Sid Haig Coming to Select Theaters and VHS This Month". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2020-01-13.

Works cited[edit]