The holidays are upon us! Whether or not you believe in Santa or his minions, this is an unmistakably genre season. It’s the time of year when flying reindeers, snowmen coming to life, people wearing elf ears, singing chipmunks, and magical powers are socially acceptable. Into horror? Well, don’t dismay. There is something for everyone. For you, I suggest a visit to the mall for a little taste of what it will be like when the zombie apocalypse finally happens. Science fiction? How about Santa Claus Conquers the Martians?
For me however, the one show that sums up the holidays is the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas! How can anyone not enjoy such a delightfully bad villain and his little dog Max? For decades, this has been a family staple... I suppose that says something about my family. Go ahead, though, and Pat little Cindy Lou Who on the head and send her back to bed. Nothing to see here, folks. No, nothing at all.
Anyway, in our house it will be Christmas with the Grinch, but there's so much more to chose from and every year we find something new and/or awful to add to the list. Whether it's an alternate history like It's A Wonderful Life or finding out that Frosty the Snowman was originally a cautionary tale about nuclear winter, we continue to be entertained by the Christmas sub-genre.
How about you? What would you advise us to watch this holiday season? My Netflix queue is near empty. Help me fill it with end-of-the-year viewing material! Best suggestion received by the 15th gets a copy of Wyrm Publishing's signed limited edition of Shriek: An Afterword by Jeff VanderMeer.
And speaking of endings and the prospect of new beginnings, this is the last issue to feature fiction picked by editor Nick Mamatas. Although Nick stepped down several months ago, he had a backlog of accepted stories that is only running out now. This means that we start the new year with fiction that I've been selecting. I'm looking forward to what you think about them.
Happy holidays!
I like that the Nightmare before Christmas is a little bit of horror on a holy night. And I like the redemption angle, certainly. But, in truth, by the time xmas rolls around I'm a little worn out on Halloween.
It is sentimental and sappy and all, but I have to admit that every year I put in "Love Actually". Is my membership in the "guy club" revoked? Possibly. But if "love actually" is wrong, I don't want to be right!
Sure, its not entirely family-friendly, to which my grandmother can atest - so maybe watch it after the kids are in bed.
I'm a big fan of Gremlins for the holidays, though my wife is less enthusiastic.
I keep forgetting that Gremlins is an xmass movie
Me- I'm all about the abominable snow man or Hermes the prospector from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Toothless Snow Man for the win!
Maybe the wrong time of year, but if you don't mind holidays in general rather than Christmas holiday particularly, Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss is an absolutely wonderful (at least, when I used to watch it as a kid -- haven't seen it in years!) summer vacation movie featuring the family from A Christmas Story.
A so-bad-it's-wonderful tale of Christmas horror is Santa's Slay starring Bill Goldberg as Santa.
My favorite seasonal film is one that's already been mentioned: The Nightmare Before Christmas.
And of course Die Hard is a Christmas movie as well. "Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho!"
I think Tokyo Godfather is one of the best and craziest Christmas movies ever made. I'd recommend it any time of year.
It's starts a little slow but ... wow. It really pulls it off.
I'd also tend to be sappy and say "The Holiday" or "Miracle on 34th Street" (old one, new one, I don't mind). "Little Women" also always feels like a Christmas movie to me.
Terry Pratchett's Hogfather is a BBC Production, about 3 hours and very fun. The Hogfather from Discworld resembles a certain fat man we all know, and when he goes missing on Hogfather's Eve Death steps in to fill his boots.
Have you ever seen the Mexican SANTA CLAUS movie that was once featured on MST3K? Other than that, the only one I might suggest is A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS always does it for me. "Lights, please?" (I wonder what A Charlie Stross Christmas might be like? Never mind.)
Two features folks might give a go are 2005's JOYEUX NOEL, about the 1914 Christmas Truce along the Western Front, and 1995's SMOKE, for the holiday story Harvey Keitel's character tells to William Hurt's.
BAD SANTA might be a good choice for those in a more subversive holiday mood, while traditionalists can't go wrong with A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Now if only Tom Wait's had a Christmas album...
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I always loved the crazy Christmas adventures of the Griswold family in Christmas Vacation. Other films with a funny Christmas theme include Trading Places, Home Alone, and, of course, A Christmas Story.
If you're looking for a horror movie, try the 1974 version of Black Christmas. Always liked Margot Kidder in that one for some reason
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As my best option is already listed (Nightmare Before Christmas), i would go for The Muppet Christmas Carol.
I'm not big on Christmas, but like you I try to watch the Grinch. Another "must watch" for me is The Lemon Drop Kid. An old family-friendly Bob Hope movie with small time crooks scamming the 'Santa bell-ringer' industry in NYC.
For Cartoons I always liked "Twas the Night Before Christmas' about a mouse who doesn't beleive in Santa.
Otherwise, I've tended to watch Reckless (the one with mia farrow) every Holiday season. It's not exactly a feel good, more a bit on the surreal side, and you either hate it or love it.
Oh, and of course the #1 must rent is Emmett Otters Jug Band Christmas. Hands down the best out there for the holidays.
In our household, it's traditional to watch "The Long Kiss Goodnight" at Christmas time.
"Mrs. Claus is hot!"
Has no one mentioned the Star Wars Christmas Special? Endure it at least once during your lifetime, please.
"Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" also gets a thumbs up.
The little Mrs. is highly fond of "Die Hard" as well. We wore out our VHS tape last year and finally bought a DVD of it.
Although I love Nightmare Before Christmas too, my all time fave is A Year Without A Santa Claus. The Heat Miser and his brother Snowy just crack me up. Who doesn't love some good sibling rivalry? And, I hear, that they are making (or have made) a Heat Miser movie, which I have yet to see. Has anyone else seen it?
I know I'm way best the deadline of the 15th, but wanted add this tidbit...Happy Holidays.
Grim - Good call on the Holiday Special. I watched it for the first time Christmas Night. More accurately, I endured it on Christmas Night. Brutal, but I HAD to watch it.
Happy Life Day to All!