POLL: What’s the Most Iconic Holiday Horror Movie?

Everyone can agree that Halloween is the peak of scary season (and honestly the best part of the whole year, yeah I said it). Yet the perils of horror don’t just live during one month. In fact, there’s a scare for every season if you know where to look. That’s why the following selection of holiday-themed horror is so special. They twist one day out of the year into an experience you may or may not survive. And we love that.

But wait, what’s this? The list doesn’t include festive fare like The Nightmare Before Christmas? That’s right. These options are for when you really need a dash of something sinister to go with your holiday plans. After all, true horror has to hurt a little bit. Which slice of holiday horror is your favorite?

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The Most Iconic Holiday Horror Movies

New Year’s Evil

New Year’s Eve is all about a fresh start. And for some, that means a fresh kill. When a radio DJ receives a distressing call from a threatening killer, the holiday’s traditional countdown gets a spine-tingling spin. New Year’s Evil is a deep cut for the horror nerds out there.

My Bloody Valentine

You know what goes really well with red and pink? Blood! The Canadian town of Valentine Bluffs houses a mining shaft as well as a masked killer in My Bloody Valentine. And when the killer descends upon Valentine’s Day festivities, bleeding hearts takes on a whole new meaning. Love really is to die for, isn’t it?

Leprechaun

He ain’t no Santa Claus. Leprechaun is that special brand of film that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be more — which is the perfect approach to a horror film about a wee Irish trickster. As he wreaks havoc upon anyone who seeks to steal his pot o’ gold, you’ll learn all about leprechaun lore and how lucky you are to have never crossed paths with this green-clad guy.

Jaws

What, you thought you’d finally be safe to go back out during summer? Think again! Jaws takes place over the course of a crowded Fourth of July weekend, a fact that’s key to the plot. How else do you explain a beach town’s extreme busy-ness which leads to a buffet of bodies for the titular terror? Grab a life jacket. You’re gonna need it.

Halloween

Including this classic slasher flick is basically a no-brainer, but Halloween is a classic for a reason. From the autumnal sidewalk scenes and the carved pumpkins to Michael Myers’ ghost costume, this cinematic masterpiece perfectly captures fall’s frightful atmosphere. And we love a final girl like Laurie Strode who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.

Trick ‘r Treat

But if we’re talking about the actual spirit of Halloween, then little Sam from Trick ‘r Treat is the icon of the season. This anthology film is full of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Sam’s guidelines for Samhain aren’t up for discussion and if he catches you disobeying, there will be hell to pay. But what’s Halloween without some tricks mixed in with the treats?

Thanksgiving

Somehow there’s something even scarier than doing the dishes after Thanksgiving dinner. That’s right — John Carver has a recipe you’ll be dying to borrow. Thanksgiving is a tale of gruesome greed and the ways one masked killer decides to rein in the Turkey Day excess. Grab a plate and dig in to some of the most delicious killings this side of Black Friday.

Black Christmas

Are you gonna answer that? A sorority house falls victim to bone-chilling prank calls but that’s only the beginning. Black Christmas spawned a slew of slasher movie tropes and traditions. Come for the horror history but stay for the genuine fear that this movie will inspire from start to finish. And don’t forget to check your voicemail.

Krampus

What’s campy, Christmas-y, and red all over? That would be the blood-soaked snow of Krampus. If you thought getting coal in your stocking was rough, then this Yuletide cautionary tale has something wicked for you to unwrap. Family members flee screaming into the night and gingerbread men launch themselves in attack. Krampus knows if you’ve been bad or good so … watch out.

Gremlins

Finally, Gremlins is for the horror fans who want it all: cuddly creatures with a dark side, a bit of sad holiday flashbacks, and plenty of dangerous hijinks. All we ask is that you remember the Mogwai rules — for everybody’s sake. Gizmo and his friends might be cute but they sure do come with some baggage.

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The calendar year is full of opportunities to live in fear … if you know where to look.

So what’s your favorite holiday horror movie to curl up with and cower in terror? Take our poll and join the conversation with other horror fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!