10 Great Christmas Horror Movies You Probably Haven't Seen
7. A Christmas Horror Story
Similar to Trick 'R' Treat, A Christmas Horror Story explores devilishly festive stories that are interwoven with a wrap-around narrative.
On paper, this Canadian horror sounds like a full-blown parody, considering it contains scenes of killer elves and Kris Kringle duelling with his evil twin, Krampus. To cap it all off, the merry tales are narrated by an inebriated radio DJ, portrayed by Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner.
The comedic elements are there, but the devious anthology leans more into the horror, playing everything straight. All the Yuletide sagas have a different writer, giving each of them a distinctive style. And since A Christmas Horror Story covers several genres - including creature feature, supernatural, slasher, and zombies - there's something for every horror advocate.
Though it's risky to juggle so many ideas, the zany fantasy knocks it out of the park. Not only do these bonkers vignettes work well together, they cohesively transition from one chapter to another.
Despite the dirt-cheap budget, the practical effects and CGI are surprisingly solid, which makes the grisly sequences more effective. And with tight writing, sharp characterisation, and great performances all around, what's not to love?