Best Christmas Horror Film
While Christmas is typically the time to snuggle up with friends and family to watch beloved the same corny, nostalgic favorites we return to every year, for filmmakers the holiday season is a surprisingly fertile ground for a very different form of entertainment: horror films. There are literally dozen of Christmas horror films currently in existence, and seemingly more every year. They use the Christmas festivities as a counterpoint for the bloody work of serial killers, monsters, or legendary figures from folklore. Forget Season’s Greetings and a Cup of Good Cheer; for these movies, it’s all about Season’s Beatings and a Cup of Good FEAR. So join the Great Pop Culture Debate for a very different holiday special as it explores the Best Holiday Horror Films.
Movies discussed: Black Christmas (1974); Silent Night, Deadly Night; Rare Exports; Silent Night (2021); Violent Night; Christmas, Bloody Christmas; Terrifier 3; Better Watch Out; Gremlins; P2; Jack Frost (1997); Black Christmas (2006); Krampus; It’s a Wonderful Knife; A Christmas Horror Story; Anna and the Apocalypse
Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Karissa Kloss, Michael Schwarz, and Zack Derby as they discuss and debate 16 brutal holiday horror films. NOTE: This episode is not intended for children.
Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Round 1 Match-Ups:
Not a Patreon subscriber? Here’s a primer on how we came up with the bracket.
Match-Up 1: Black Christmas (1974) (1) vs. Silent Night, Deadly Night (4)
Match-Up 2: Rare Exports (3) vs. Silent Night (2021) (2)
Match-Up 3: Violent Night (1) vs. Christmas, Bloody Christmas (4)
Match-Up 4: Terrifier 3 (3) vs. Better Watch Out (2)
Match-Up 6: Jack Frost (1997) (3) vs. Black Christmas (2006) (2)
Match-Up 7: Krampus (1) vs. It’s a Wonderful Knife (4)
Match-Up 8: A Christmas Horror Story (3) vs. Anna and the Apocalypse (2)
Want to play along at home?
Download the Listener Bracket and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Episode Credits
Host: Eric Rezsnyak
Panelists: Karissa Kloss, Michael Schwarz, Zack Derby
Producer: Bob Erlenback
Editor: Bob Erlenback
Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch
