Part 1- Holiday Action Movies

Welcome back! Today we're completing our alternative holiday viewing party by giving a gift to people who like their Christmas movies to come with spooky chills and thrills. So come along dear reader as we present this list of six holiday horror films available via the library's physical or digital collections

Krampus (2015)

This horror comedy about a monstrous anti-Santa preying upon a dysfunctional family is a lot of fun. It features great characters portrayed by some fantastic actors like Toni Collette, Adam Scott, and Alison Tolman. It also looks incredible. The creatures are creepy and ethereal and the production design captures the spirit of the season. There's even an animated flashback sequence. Plus, it's really funny. The opening perfectly satirizes the chaos of last minute holiday shopping

Available Via DVD

Gremlins (1984)

If you're looking for a classic holiday horror comedy  that you can watch with the whole family look no further! Gremlins is both a perfect example of holiday and gateway horror. It features some adorable characters and some fun scares that aren't too scary. Plus, the titular monsters are hilarious and are often doing bits to amuse each other.

Available via DVD

Black Christmas (1974)

This intense, dark, and very scary holiday horror is a classic for a number of reasons. The first, is it's one of the earliest examples of the slasher sub-genre of horror. The second, is that it's the first film to use the trope of the terrifying phone calls that are coming from inside the house. It predates When a Stranger Calls by five years.

The film, which just oozes creepy seasonal atmosphere, follows the members of a sorority house that are being stalked by a killer. The women are fascinating and fully fleshed out too. So, you'll root for them. On top of that, it's a surprisingly progressive movie especially for its time because In addition to contending with a killer one of the women must also confront an issue that's still very relevant today

Available via Kanopy

Better Watch Out (2016)

There's not a whole lot I can tell you about this movie because it would spoil some of its twists and turns. Here's what I can say though; It's a dark, twisted, and often funny tale about a babysitter thrust into a violent situation at Christmas time when an intruder breaks into the home of the child she's watching. Also, if you've got a warped sense of humor and enjoy Home Alone you'll find a lot to like in this film.

Available via Hoopla

A Christmas Horror Story (2015)

This creepy, and often funny anthology film chronicles several interrelated holiday set stories in the fictional small town of Bailey Downs. There are tales about a haunted school, a rampaging Krampus, and a child corrupted by supernatural forces. Even Santa gets in on the action with a story that finds him defending his workshop against an onslaught of zombie elves. Tying everything together is the town's egomanical D.J., "Dangerous Dan," who is played by William Shatner 

Available via Hoopla

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

In this Finnish horror comedy an archeological expedition unearths and releases the horrific truth behind the legend of Santa Claus. When that monstrous Santa targets his village a young boy, his father, and their fellow hunters are forced into action and a possible . . . business opportunity?

Available via Hoopla & Kanopy