Movies you can watch between Halloween and Christmas
November is an odd month. It’s wedged between two major Holidays, and nothing relevant happens in it –keep in mind that in my country we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving or anything of the sort. As a result, whenever I’m surfing between channels I end up stumbling with an odd array of horror flicks and Christmas-themed movies.
The whole situation is hilariously confusing!
It made me think about those movies that I usually watch in both seasons. Those weird little films that somehow combine the creepiness of Halloween with the whimsical nature of Christmas-time. And although there are a lot of them, I wanted to share my personal favorites. So, if you are looking for something to watch in-between taking down your Halloween décor and doing some early Christmas shopping, here are some movies you might enjoy.
Gremlins (1984)
A young man receives a mysterious pet as a present. The problem is caring for it involves a set of rules that, if broken, would have terrible consequences. Specifically: it would involve releasing a horde of monsters that will wreak havoc everywhere!
Gremlins is the perfect movie for this time of the year! It has a very distinct Christmas vibe, with a snowy setting full of cheerful decorations…and also a whole bunch of creepy creatures running around. It’s the perfect example of a dream-like tale turned into a nightmare.
Also, bonus points for Kate’s ‘cheerful’ story about her father dressing up as Santa Claus and, well…surprising his family! It’s probably one of the greatest moments in any horror flick, and the parody in Gremlins 2 makes it even better.
Krampus (2015)
After an awful Christmas dinner, a boy refuses to participate in the Holidays and thus accidentally summons a mysterious –and monstrous!- creature called Krampus. Now, both he and his family will be punished for not being festive enough.
This movie has a bad rep, but, quite honestly, I enjoyed it a lot! Yes, it has many tonal issues. But I had a great time watching it. It’s funny, creepy, and has a truly terrifying ending –although personally, I wouldn’t mind it that much.
The movie looks very Christmas-y, with holiday décor everywhere and a snowy landscape surrounding the house. It also features some familiar Holiday characters like snowmen, gingerbread cookies, teddy bears… all of them with a perfect, spooky twist!
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The ‘Pumpkin King’, Jack Skellington, is feeling uninspired after yet another successful Halloween celebration. Then, he stumbles upon Christmas Town and, intrigued by his discovery, he decides to hijack the holiday. Unfortunately, things don’t go quite as he expects.
For some unknown reason, this movie has been at the center of a hot debate among fans: is it a Halloween flick, or is it a Christmas movie? Even director Henry Selick stepped in and gave his own opinion about it, calling it ‘a Halloween movie’. If you ask me: it’s both!
Like the other films in this list, The Nightmare Before Christmas has enough Christmas-y elements and Halloween characters to work perfectly during both seasons. If anything, it’s the perfect movie for transitioning from one to the other, as it begins just when Halloween is ending, and it ends on Christmas Eve. So, put down your torches and pitchforks… and just enjoy it!
Scrooged (1988)
A greedy TV executive receives a visit from his deceased partner warning him about meeting three spirits on Christmas Eve. Skeptical at first, he soon finds himself in the midst of a hilarious adventure to gain hope back and put his life in order.
By now I’ve seen many adaptations and reimagined versions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, but Scrooged remains one of my favorites. To be fair, it’s a very quirky film: it goes from awkward comedy to full-on drama and then horror in seconds, and it can give you a little of bit of whiplash. Yet, Bill Murray and the rest of the cast –David Johansen, Carol Kane, Karen Allen- are simply amazing!
If you haven’t watched this classic yet, you are probably wondering what an adaptation of one of the most Christmas-y stories ever told is doing on this list. Well, Scrooged went for a spookier route than usual. This is not The Muppet Christmas Carol! So prepare to be a little unnerved by some creepy images.
So, here are the films you will find me watching these days –until the Christmas tree goes up, at least!
What are your favorite movies to watch between Halloween and Christmas? All recommendations for spooky Christmas-y films are more than welcome!
