10 Great Christmas Horror Movies You Probably Haven't Seen

Even though horror has a fervent fanbase, it's no secret the genre isn't for everybody. So, once Halloween is over, Christmas can feel like a palette cleanser for moviegoers who aren't fond of serial killers and child-gobbling clowns.

Films revolving around the festive celebration are (mostly) designed to be uplifting, making everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside. Basically, a Christmas movie is the polar opposite of a horror feature.

For this reason, combining the two genres might feel downright nonsensical. Considering the jovial season is associated with carolling, exchanging presents, and drinking hot cocoa, it's jarring to throw a mass murderer or a demon into the mix.

However, that's exactly why horror films centred around the Xmas leave an impression. The last thing anyone expects during the gift-wrapping holidays is for their home to be invaded by gremlins or a deranged mall Santa. Having bodies being torn asunder during the most inspiring time of the year is enough to freak out anybody.

Black Christmas and Krampus are known by horror veterans, but there are a couple of Yuletide horrors that never got the attention they deserved. Anyone who wants to go against tradition by watching a heart-pounding slasher or monster flick this December should check out these ten Christmas horror films.

In Wind Chill, two unnamed college students (Emily Blunt and Ashton Holmes) are driving through a snowstorm when their car breaks down. Due to the blistering temperature, the pair are worried they might freeze to death. After discovering something is hunting them, they soon realise the cold is the least of their problems.

Gregory Jacobs' supernatural horror tanked upon its release, to the point where it went straight to DVD in most markets. However, it's hard to understand how Wind Chill didn't make a bigger impact, since it's sweat-inducing from start to finish.

Emily Blunt wasn't a Hollywood star at the time, but she proves to be a natural talent here, even at the beginning of her acting career. Though there are times where she's alone and doesn't speak, the Quiet Place star has no trouble conveying her mood in every scene.

Clint Mansell's soundtrack is subtly eerie, giving the impression that something terrible is going to happen at any moment, creating a perpetually alarming atmosphere.

However, what really makes Wind Chill endlessly petrifying is the mystery. The danger keeps changing and evolving, so the leads (as well as the audience) have no idea what they're dealing with until the end.