Christmas Horror Movie Gift Guide

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Want to get some of your horror fan buddies some horror related gifts this Christmas? Try Horror Fan Zine’s Christmas Horror Movie Gift Guide! In this edition we’ll list some great horror movies and horror TV shows to buy your friends and family this Christmas holiday. Or maybe just get them for yourself!

Christmas Evil (1980)
A holiday favorite of John Waters (how’s that for an endorsement!) you’ll totally have a blast with this surprisingly entertaining chiller about a loner toy maker (Brandon Maggert – Fiona Apple’s dad!) who takes his desire to be Santa a little too far. Also known in circles as You Better Watch Out, it tries to humanize its psycho central character, who retains a certain childlike innocence but is faced with the selfishness of the adult world, which sends him over the edge. Part Frankenstein, part Taxi Driver, and it even has a metaphysical ending that we swear was ripped off by Thelma & Louise! See our review here.



Silent Night Deadly Night (1984)
This is the Christmas-themed slasher that sent mothers and religious groups into an uproar when it entered theaters back in 1984. Little Billy watches the shocking murder of his parents by a dude dressed in a Santa suit and is sent to an orpanage run by an evil nun who teaches him that the guilty must be “punished.” Now grown up and adopting her philosophy, Billy (Robert Brian Wilson) puts on a Santa suit for his job and promptly loses it. The result is your expected bloody mayhem, including a scene with a nude Linnea Quigley (well, that’s redundant, right?) gets impaled on a pair of antlers. Naughty! Read our review here.



Black Christmas (1974)
Bob Clark’s seminal holiday shocker about the girls of a Canadian sorority that fall prey to a psycho killer during Christmas break. The killer’s name is Billy and he likes to go on about somebody named Agnes, but we’re never sure what the hell he is talking about. But hey, you know those psychos – always babbling about something. Atmospheric and unsettling, this is the complete opposite of Clark’s other holiday movie Christmas Story, so try not to get them confused when doing your holiday shopping. (You might not want little Timmy getting scarred for life). Black Christmas features Margot Kidder (sexy) and John Saxon. If that’s not enough for you, it has plenty of slasher motifs that were ripped off countless numbers of times, as well as a plot point stolen by When A Stranger Calls! Read our review here. (And don’t get the movie confused with the remake).



Santa’s Slay (2005)
Santa’s Slay is very much a black comedy (which is why it was reviewed by our sister site Odd Culture and not us) but if you are in the mood for a good laugh when watching people get slaughtered by a wrestler in a Santa suit, then you this is the flick for you! WWE wrestler Bill Goldberg plays Santa, who is really the son of Satan who lost a bet 1,000 years ago and had to spread holiday cheer instead of holiday fear. But now that the millenium is over he can get back to his Satanic ways. (Satan…Santa…doh! Why didn’t we see that coming?!). Funny in spots but gets a little too goofy at the end… at least it has the late Robert Culp as an angel now in the form of an old grandpa. Best scene is in the beginning, when Goldberg comes down the chimney and takes out a family of rich jerks including Fran Drescher, Chris Kattan, Rebecca Gayheart, and James Caan!



The Walking Dead Season One
AMC and Anchor Bay bring to DVD the apocalypse drama from last year, based on Robert Kirkman’s graphic novel. The Walking Dead follows a band of Atlanta-based survivors of a viral outbreak that has caused the dead to rise up and consume the living. Features Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus, good effects, story, and characterizations. A massive hit, this DVD features all 6 episodes of the first season along with special features.



Evil Dead 2 (1987)
Sam Raimi’s slapstick/splatter classic makes it to Blu-Ray thanks to Lionsgate. We get a 1.78:1 presentation in 5.1 DTS-HD master audio, a new feature-length documentary (including Bruce Campbell and the rest of the cast), commentary carried over from previous DVD/laserdisc releases, and other supporting goodies. This is the best the film has ever looked and at such a low price it is a must buy for horror fans (or those looking to buy a nice holiday gift for their horror fan friends!)



Gremlins (1984)
Want to get your little nephew started on the road to horror movie fandom? Ease him in with this Christmas-themed creature feature featuring the cute little lovable Mogwai who doesn’t seem so lovable anymore when you feed him after midnight. It’s a Frank Capra fantasy turned on its head. Read our review here.



The Thing (1982)
One of the greatest horror movies ever made, John Carpenter’s other masterpiece (besides Halloween) belongs on every horror fan’s shelf. Especially this awesome-looking Blu-Ray edition. Read our review here.



The Vampire Diaries – Season One
The Vampire Diaries – Season Two
Now you can get the first two seasons of the popular CW show. Based on the series by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is like a soap opera involving vampires that has been compared to Twilight and even True Blood. Stars Nina Dobrev; co-created by Kevin Williamson. Get both seasons on DVD/Blu-Ray.



True Blood – Season One
True Blood – Season Two
True Blood – Season Three
You know you have friends that are True Blood fanatics. You’re probably one yourself. Now get them the first three seasons of True Blood on DVD/Blu-Ray. And then get extra copies for yourself!



The Exorcist (1973)
The ultimate edition for one of the most popular horror movies in history is up for grabs – this blu-ray edition of the film is at a price that can’t be beat. Features both the extended cut (2000 edition) and the original theatrical cut. Plenty of extras!



Silent Night Bloody Night (1974)
Very creepy winter chiller that has a nice bloody axe murder, an interesting sepia-toned flashback sequence, and… Mary Woronov! It seems to have even influenced Black Christmas! You can read our review here.



The Shining (1980)
Speaking of winter horror, you can’t go wrong with Kubrick’s masterpiece interpretation of Stephen King’s novel. This Blu-Ray is a great opportunity to let your friends (or yourself) revisit this classic. Reviewed here.



Don’t Open Till Christmas (1984)
If your friends or family members really hate Santa Claus, then get them this British slasher from 1984 about a serial killer offing various Santas in gory ways. Santas are shot, stabbed, burned, and even castrated. Scotland Yard detectives are too stupid to stop the killings. Plus, there’s boobs and a great tagline: “Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…….they were all dead!” Read our review here.



Horror Express (1972)
Not exactly a Christmas horror movie but it’s certainly a cult classic and good for a snowy day. Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing are turn-of-the-century anthropologists fighting off a millions-of-years-old monster on the Trans-Siberian Express. They also have to deal with a crazy (and hilarious) Cossack played by Telly Savalas. There is a lot more going on here and it’s worth the watch… the Blu-ray version is the best this film has ever looked. Apparently, the HD transfer comes from vault elements recently unearthed in a Mongolian film depot. Read our review here.