Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas
The road to Hell is paved in good intentions and my intentions involved writing up as many articles about Christmas related horror cinema and mythology as I could find. Unfortunately, there's not been a lot of time in the last week to research and write any of that and even the handful of pieces I had in mind about Krampus and Christmas ghost story traditions fell through the cracks. As such, here's a quick little list of some awesome holiday themed horror shorts for you to enjoy in the meantime.
Humbug
This gem was introduced to us thanks to the Women in Horror Film Festival in 2017 and it's hands down one of my favorite Christmas horror shorts to watch.
20 Seconds to Live: Christmas Morning
While we're talking about holiday staples, 20 Seconds to Live always offers some absolutely fabulous horror shorts and their take on a family's Christmas morning is wonderful.
The Predator Holiday Special
For all you animation fans out there who may not have seen it yet, here's The Predator Holiday Special which, truthfully, is everything you'd expect to see if you've seen The Predator.
Ask a Mortician About Santa
But there's more to life and horror than entertainment and Ask a Mortician offers some great insight into the origins of that jolly old elf Santa that you might not have known. And, okay, it's pretty entertaining too.
Finally, and I know it isn't horror related at all, here's a little light holiday reading:
Twas the Night before Christmas
By Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
We've got a lot of great articles coming up later this week including reviews of The Risky Rabbit, The Harrowing, Lifechanger, Zenescope's latest releases, and much more. Until then, enjoy some holiday themed horrors and keep making that scary.
Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays from the entire Scaremaker Family... even Bob.
Dan is an author, editorialist, podcaster, and horror culture & lifestyle correspondent from the Southeast. You can find Dan's stories at Danno of the Dead Blog and through PDI Press.
