10 'Alternative' Christmas Films That Still Employ Classic Festive Themes

5. A Dark Knight-mare Before Christmas: Batman Returns

If anyone ever says multi-villain superhero films don't work, get them to watch Batman Returns. Danny Devito's monstrous Penguin, Michelle Pfeiffer's sexy, deranged Catwoman and Christopher Walken's corrupt entrepreneur Max Shreck are great baddies, all interconnected in their dangerous alliances / vendettas against each other and Bruce Wayne / Batman. Set during the gothic, snow-swept Gotham at Christmas, this is the ultimate Christmas nightmare. I love Michael Keaton's Batman though even I have to admit it's his enemies that take centre stage here. Their villainous machinations threaten to destroy the citizens of Gotham City - Shreck's vying for power and the Penguin's deranged attempt to take on the mantle of Mayor even as his circus gang terrorise the people €“ there are no crowds of Christmas shoppers out here; they're all terrified for their own lives. The kidnapping of the mayor's baby, the Ice Princess plunging to her death and lighting up a tree filled with hundreds of bats...this is not a time to be in the festive mood. And yet the setting of Christmas works beautifully here. As the trio of baddies work to destroy Batman's good name, making him a villain, a time that should be filled with hope and wonder becomes terror and despair. Even Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's romantic relationship is doomed here as they are forced to fight each other as their alter-egos. But Batman does save the day, suggesting that you can try and destroy Christmas, but ultimately hope prevails. You just have to take on an army of penguins armed with rockets to get there...