The holiday season is upon us and because of the ongoing Covid pandemic it's going to look and feel different for a lot of us. You can still take a little escape or get into the holiday spirit with the viewing of  some classic Christmas film like It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, or A Christmas Carol.

Others may require something more from their holiday fare this year. They might be looking for something that harkens back to when Christmas was a spookier time where people used to share ghost stories around the fire. Or perhaps they're looking for a little supernatural darkness to contrast with the holiday lights. Or maybe they're just in the mood to watch the action filled exploits of brave heroes who are out to insure that there is peace on earth and good will towards men during the holiday season.

If you're one of those people we're here to help with our suggestions for 12 holiday themed or set films in the library's physical or digital collections. In today's installment we'll kick this Yuletide movie party off with bang by recommending six action films

Die Hard (1988)

It wouldn't be a celebration of holiday themed action movies without Die Hard; one of the greatest action movies of all time. This spectacular film is probably already part of many people's holiday season viewing traditions, and if not it should be! It's got incredible action, a charismatic hero, and one of the best on screen villains ever in Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman).

Available via DVD

Ready to hide under the covers to avoid the bumps and spooks outside your window? Here's a collection of spine-tingling stories. Books are suggested for Sixth Grade, but remember that each reader is different and might find something interesting at another level.

Ready to hide under the covers to avoid the bumps and spooks outside your window? Here's a collection of spine-tingling stories. Books are suggested for Fifth Grade, but remember that each reader is different and might find something interesting at another level.

Ready to hide under the covers to avoid the bumps and spooks outside your window? Here's a collection of spine-tingling stories. Books are suggested for Fourth Grade, but remember that each reader is different and might find something interesting at another level.

Ready to hide under the covers to avoid the bumps and spooks outside your window? Here's a collection of spine-tingling stories. Books are suggested for Third Grade, but remember that each reader is different and might find something interesting at another level.

Ready for goosebumps and crazy creatures? Here's a collection of spooky stories featuring unexpected creatures and adventures. Books are suggested for Second Grade, but remember that each reader is different and might find something interesting at another level.

Ready for goosebumps and crazy creatures? Here's a collection of spooky stories featuring unexpected creatures and adventures. Books are suggested for First Grade readers and listeners, but remember that each child is different and might find something interesting at another level.

Ready for goosebumps and crazy creatures? Here's a collection of spooky stories featuring unexpected creatures and adventures. Books are suggested for Kindergarten readers and listeners, but remember that each child is different and might find something interesting at another level.

Searching for something spooky, strange, or downright scary? Try one of these titles. Some are more silly than spine-tingling, but you'll find your fill of ghosties, ghoulies, and long-legged beasties.  Grade levels are suggested, but remember that each Reader is different, and might find something interesting at another level. Under each grade is a link for even more titles.

Halloween might feel and look a little strange this year because of everything that's going on in the world, but like the best of holidays it's more than just a set of rituals. There's a spirit to Halloween that's easy to catch and can be quite infectious. Perhaps the best way to kickstart your Halloween spirit is by watching a horror movie.

So, to help you fuel your Halloween spirit and keep it going all month long we've prepared a calender featuring a different horror movie (two on Saturdays) for you to watch in October. All of the movies featured are in the library's physical or digital collections.

Plus, we know weekends are special so we've turned them into theme days. When the work week ends many people are in search of a laugh. So, we'll  spotlight horror comedies on Fridays. The only thing better than a horror movie is a horror movie double feature. So, Saturdays will be days with a thematically linked double bill of films. Finally, we've made Sundays a day where the whole family can get in on the Halloween spirit by highlighting some all-ages, gateway horror films.

So, let's kick things off with your movies for the first week of Halloween

Thursday October 1st- Psycho(1960)

Available Via: DVD

We're kicking things off with director Alfred Hitchcock's legendary and most influential horror film. Psycho was such a pivotal movie that some have argued it helped create an entire sub-genre of horror that would come to prominence almost two decades later, the slasher film

Friday October 2nd- What We Do In the Shadows (2014)