35 holiday horror movies | It’s A Stampede!

If you’re a fan of horror movies, you’ll know no matter the maiming, slashing, or killing that takes place, horror is an all-year-round occurrence. Bad things happen when you least expect it, and it doesn’t matter what day of the week it is, or what month of the year, if there’s some slicin’ ‘n dicin’ to be done, then it simply happens when it happens.

But all that said, irrespective of the carefree attitude to horror some killers have, there are a few who like a good holiday massacre. From Halloween and Thanksgiving through to Father’s Day and New Year’s Eve, there are plenty of whackos who favour chaos around specific seasons, leading to a whole bunch of holiday horror movies!

Want to check some out? Then take a look at the 35 movies highlighted below. Here you’ll find everything from Jaws to Anna and the Apocalypse, and plenty more in between.

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The Blackening (2022)

First up, in The Blackening, it’s the Juneteenth weekend in the US and a collection of friends gather together at a cabin in the woods. What follows is murder and laughs, in this wickedly fun satire of the slasher genre.

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Black Christmas (1974)

Next up is Black Christmas – a dark tale for the long winter nights, which tells the story of a group of sorority sisters stalked by a mysterious killer. The movie has been remade multiple times, but this version (the original) is the one fans return to each year.

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Halloween (1978)

In director John Carpenter’s iconic slasher, Halloween, Jamie Lee Curtis plays a babysitter who finds herself becoming the unwitting obsession of a masked killer. The film introduced the world to the murderous Michael Myers and kick-started a long-running series of sequels and imitators.

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Midsommar (2019)

In director Ari Aster’s psychological horror, Midsommar, a group of friends travel to Sweden to take part in some Midsommar festivities. However, they are unaware of what they are truly letting themselves in for in.

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Thanksgiving (2023)

In Thanksgiving, a mysterious serial killer comes to Massachusetts with murder in mind. Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, and Gina Gershon star, while Eli Roth directs.

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Krampus (2015)

Set around the festive season, Krampus is a Christmas horror, steeped in black comedy. Krampus focuses on a family gathering which takes a turn for the worst when a demonic creature from European folklore drops by for a visit.

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Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

Written and directed by Michael Dougherty, Trick ‘r Treat is a Halloween-themed anthology film, which tells four interconnected tales. Dylan Baker, Anna Paquin, and Brian Cox feature amongst the cast.

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My Bloody Valentine (2009)

In this remake of the 1981 movie of the same name, the residents of a small town become the victims of a serial killer who wears mining gear. Patrick Lussier directs My Bloody Valentine, while Jensen Ackles, Kerr Smith, and Jaime King star.

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Valentine (2001)

In Valentine, a group of women are stalked by a killer who conceals his identity with a Cupid mask. David Boreanaz and Katherine Heigl star in this early ‘00s slasher.

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Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

In Halloween III: Season of the Witch, an evil novelty mask-maker sets in motion a plan to create murder and mayhem at Halloween. The only people who can stop him are a doctor and a young woman who appear to have stumbled upon his plot.

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End of Days (1999)

Arnold Schwarzenegger takes the lead in this fantasy action-horror movie about a New York police detective’s attempt to stop the Antichrist from being conceived. End of Days is set in late December 1999, in the run-up to the new Millennium.

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I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

Set over the Independence Day weekend, I Know What You Did Last Summer is a ’90s slasher starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr. The movie follows a group of teens who are stalked by a hook-wielding killer, exactly one year after they covered up an accidental death.

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Uncle Sam (1996)

William Lustig directs this black comedy slasher, which takes place over Independence Day. Uncle Sam follows the story of a supposedly deceased soldier, who returns from beyond the grave and embarks on a killing spree.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

A change of pace for this next offering, The Nightmare Before Christmas – a delightful and macabre stop-motion animated musical from director Henry Selick. In the film the King of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, starts rethinking his approach to the holidays when he discovers the wonderful world of Christmas Town.

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April Fool’s Day (1986)

In this black comedy slasher, a group of college students on vacation over April Fool’s Day become the victims of an unknown assailant. Fred Walton directs.

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Gremlins (1984)

In director Joe Dante’s deliciously fun black comedy, Gremlins, a horde of gruesome creatures take over a small town. Set at Christmas, the movie offers monster mayhem alongside a big dose of laughs.

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Friday the 13th (1980)

In Friday the 13th, a group of camp counsellors attempt to re-open an abandoned summer camp (with a terrible reputation) and encounter a mysterious killer. Sean S. Cunningham directs, while Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, and Kevin Bacon star.

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All Through the House (2015)

All Through the House is a Christmas-themed slasher movie starring Ashley Mary Nunes and Jessica Cameron. The movie focuses on a neighbourhood which is being terrorised by a faceless killer.

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Jaws (1975)

Set over the July 4th weekend, Jaws is director Steven Spielberg’s horror-thriller about a great white shark terrorising a small coastal town. Based on the book of the same name by Peter Benchley, Jaws stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Lorraine Gary, and Richard Dreyfuss, and is simply superb.

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Terror Train (1980)

A New Year’s Eve party about a train provides the backdrop for this 1980s slasher movie which is sort-of ‘Halloween on a locomotive’. Jamie Lee Curtis stars.

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Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

In cult slasher, Silent Night, Deadly Night, a young man suffering from Christmas-related PTSD dons a Santa outfit and becomes a killer. The movie spawned a collection of sequels, but here’s where it all began.

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Christmas Evil (1980)

Similar to Silent Night, Deadly Night, in Christmas Evil, a deranged man who is obsessed with Santa, embarks on a rampage while dressed as the holiday icon. Chaos ensues.

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Leprechaun 2 (1994)

Taking place over St. Patrick’s Day, Leprechaun 2 is a fantasy comedy-horror, which sees the titular Leprechaun up to no good. Warwick Davis reprises his role as the chief antagonist, while Rodman Flender is on directing duties.

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Ghostwatch (1992)

Set over Halloween night, Ghostwatch is a British television film mockumentary, about a BBC camera crew who investigate a supposed haunted house. Presented as a live TV special, the movie aired on Halloween night in 1992 and convinced millions of British audiences it was 100% real.

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The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

In the run-up to July 4th, two workmen accidentally unleash a toxic gas which reanimates the dead. What follows is a zombie attack on the local town, in Dan O’Bannon’s popular comedy-horror The Return of the Living Dead.

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Dead of Night (1945)

A classic British anthology movie, featuring a collection of grisly tales of terror. Only one of these tales is Christmas-themed, but it is the appropriately titled The Christmas Party.

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Halloween (2018)

40 years after Michael Myers escaped from a psychiatric ward and went on a murderous rampage in the town of Haddonfield, the masked killer returns to terrorise the neighbourhood once more. Jamie Lee Curtis returns for this excellent sequel to 1978’s Halloween.

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The Crow (1994)

In this dark, supernatural fantasy, Brandon Lee takes the lead role as a young musician who returns from the grave to avenge his murder, as well as the rape and murder of his girlfriend. Set on Devil’s Night, The Crow stars Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, Tony Todd, and Michael Massee co-star, while Alex Proyas directs.

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Knock Knock (2015)

Based on the 1977 film, Death Game, and set on Father’s Day, Knock Knock is a dark thriller about a happily married man who opens his door to two women who claim to be in need of help during a rainstorm. Over the next few hours, the women turn his life upside down in a very disturbing way.

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Don’t Open till Christmas (1984)

A British slasher movie about a mysterious murderer who is bumping off Santas. Edmund Purdom, Alan Lake and Belinda Mayne star.

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Dead Snow (2009)

Set over Easter, Dead Snow is a Norwegian horror movie about a group of students trying to survive an attack from Nazi zombies. The film is directed and co-written by Tommy Wirkola.

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Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)

John McPhail directs this British Christmas musical about a young girl’s battle with zombies. The movie stars Ella Hunt, Mark Benton, and Paul Kaye.

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Scream VI (2023)

Set over Halloween, Scream VI is the sixth entry in the popular slasher franchise which sees Ghostface hot on the heels of another bunch of teens. As with the previous Scream films, Scream VI mixes mystery, murder, and mirth in equal measure.

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Tales of Halloween (2015)

Featuring ten interlocking segments, Tales of Halloween is comedy-horror anthology movie set around Halloween. Neil Marshall and Darren Lynn Bousman appear amongst the list of directors involved, while Adrienne Barbeau, Barry Bostwick, Lin Shaye, Barbara Crampton, and Jack Dylan Grazer feature amongst the cast.

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Dead End (2003)

And finally, on Christmas Eve the Harrington family take an unfortunate wrong turn while out driving. During the course of the evening, their journey appears to be never-ending all while being pursued by a mysterious hearse.

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Recap

To save you from scrolling back up, here is a list of the 35 holiday-themed horror movies:

• The Blackening (2022)
• Black Christmas (1974)
• Halloween (1978)
• Midsommar (2019)
• Thanksgiving (2023)
• Krampus (2015)
• Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
• My Bloody Valentine (2009)
• Valentine (2001)
• Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
• End of Days (1999)
• I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
• Uncle Sam (1996)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• April Fool’s Day (1986)
• Gremlins (1984)
• Friday the 13th (1980)
• All Through the House (2015)
• Jaws (1975)
• Terror Train (1980)
• Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
• Christmas Evil (1980)
• Leprechaun 2 (1994)
• Ghostwatch (1992)
• The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
• Dead of Night (1945)
• Halloween (2018)
• The Crow (1994)
• Knock Knock (2015)
• Don’t Open till Christmas (1984)
• Dead Snow (2009)
• Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
• Scream VI (2023)
• Tales of Halloween (2015)
• Dead End (2003)

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Alex is a writer, editor, and blogger specialising in movies, TV, comics, retro toys, and general geekery. He is a championing voice in nerd content, an expert in pop culture, and a trusted movie critic who publishes new reviews on a weekly basis.

After graduating with a degree in film & television studies from the University of Derby in the UK, Alex went on to study journalism in Sheffield, before acquiring NCTJ accreditation. Prior to a career in blogging, Alex was a magazine editor, a senior copywriter, a features writer, and a freelancer.

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