Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

To kick off the holiday season, I ventured out to the NARO Cinema for a treat and as always they delivered. My evening adventure took me to the 2010 cult holiday classic Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. 

Plot: In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, 486 meters deep, lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up. This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus.

I have no idea why I waited so long to watch this one. While it may not be a true horror movie with blood and gore, it is an interesting tale that is extremely entertaining. Yes, the subtitles and cross-language dialog may turn some people off, but it is unique and is quite a journey. The atmosphere is solid and the performances are good. Most of all, the interwoven folklore elements are tremendous and even the comedic elements work. Sure, a couple jump scare attempts fall flat and the premise is a bit off, but overall this one is worth watching. In the end, this movie is a must for the Christmas season and a movie that should be seen. 

Black Christmas (2006)

This has been a strange day, but that is somewhat normal around here. Between dealing with some business stuff around here and a couple football articles, I found myself scrolling on X and tik tok reading some of the latest in the crazy UAP/Drone flap reports. While doing that, I decided to put on some holiday horror before heading out tonight to watch a classic. Today’s selection was the 2006 remake of Black Christmas. 

Plot: On Christmas Eve, an escaped maniac returns to his childhood home, which is now a sorority house, and begins to murder the sorority sisters one by one.

I remember watching this in the theater when it came out and was rather disappointed. I was a fan of the original and felt like this one took too many liberties in trying to create something that wasn’t. Watching it today, I still have some of those same feelings, but I was surprised to see how well it held up and I can view it in a bit of a different light. This is a 90s slasher about a decade too late. The characters are flat, the storyline is all over, and there are some head scratching moments. However, some of the visuals are rather good and there is more to like than I originally remembered. In the end, it’s far from perfect, but if you view it as just a holiday slasher it is fun. The original is much better, but that is usually the way it is.

Krampus (2015)

As I continue to count down the days until Christmas, I decided to continue with some holiday horror. After some searching, I settled on the 2015 entry, Krampus.

Plot: While the holiday season represents the most magical time of year, ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a horned beast who punishes naughty children at Christmastime. When dysfunctional family squabbling causes young Max to lose his festive spirit, it unleashes the wrath of the fearsome demon.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by this one.  Is it perfect? No,  it does have some slow moments (especially in the middle), but this one is much better than many of the other Krampus films that are out there.  This horror conduct has a nice mixture of those elements along with some solid performances,  decent effects,  and a nice array of creatures. In the end, this one is worth watching and perfect for this holiday season.  

It's a Wonderful Knife (2023)

I decided to take a break from Leave the World Behind to watch some holiday horror.  While this isn't anywhere near Halloween, there are some entertaining horror films that take place during this holiday season.  This movie from 2023 fits solidly into that realm,  It's a Wonderful Knife.

Plot: Winnie's life is less than wonderful one year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve. When she wishes she was never born, she finds herself magically transported to a nightmarish parallel universe. With the murderous maniac now back, she must team up with a misfit to identify the culprit and get back to her own reality.

When I say down to watch this one,  I was actually somewhat excited, the idea of a slasher take on a Christmas classic looked fun.  Unfortunately, the execution didn't meet my initial excitement.  While there are some positive with the cinematography and overall feel,  the scripting was extremely incoherent and the movie suffered from that.  The characters were flat,  the performances were uneven, and overall it felt rather predictable after an interesting start.  Now,  this is far from the worst movie in the genre,  but,  I'm positive that there are many better choices out there.  My recommendation, stay away.

Holidays (2016)

I love being back into the swing of watching horror movies and blogging, it helps me keep my mind engaged as I dissect my next writing project. The next film that I watched was somewhat of a surprise, 2016s anthology Holidays.

Plot/ Nine filmmakers present horror stories that revolve around Valentine's Day, Saint Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

When I put this one on, I had no idea what to expect as anthologies can be all over the board when it comes to coherent moments and quality. What I found with this one was much of the same with a mixture of uneven shorts featuring a wide array of approaches to the different holidays covered by the directors. Overall, the stories ranged from unbelievable to ludicrous, and touched on many different topics. Yes, there were a few that were pushed the limits (Kevin Smith’s Halloween comes to mind), but that was to be expected. Incredibly, the film featured some solid performances and some intriguing storylines (Father’s Day and Christmas were my favorites), although I am sure that it won’t appeal to everyone. In the end, if you live mindless horror anthologies, this one is for you. Give it shot!

Krampus: The Reckoning (2015)

I cannot believe that tomorrow will be New Years Eve. Looking back, I sucked at keeping up with the blog this year as I battled school, work, and the daughters’ softball schedule. Maybe next year, I will do a better job. Since we are still in the holiday season, I decided to watch another seasonal horror flick, the 2015 no-budget entry, Krampus: The Reckoning.

Plot/ Zoe is a strange little girl, with a not so imaginary friend the Krampus who is the dark companion of kindly old St. Nicholas. The Krampus has been unleashed upon a small town and the legendary demon will seek out all the naughty people to punish them at Christmas time. No one is safe as the Krampus hunts them down, tortures them, and then drags their helpless souls to the depths of hell.

Knowing this was a low budget flick, I went into it expecting the majority of flaws that are usually abound in this arena, and of course, they were there. Even with that, I have to admit that I actually enjoyed the plot and storyline, which while it was sprinkled with some clichéd moments, flashed at least a touch of originality. Yes, it is far from a perfect movie, as there were some pacing issues, uneven performances, and some head scratching moments with the scripting/scenes, but as I alluded to earlier, those were expected, as they are usually present in low budget flicks. In the end, this may not be a great movie, but it is not as terrible as some may say. If you love no-budget horror cinema and can overlook some of the budgetary issues, you may find some late night holiday cheer.

A Christmas Horror Story (2015)

There is nothing like kicking back and having a scary movie night, especially when I do not have to get up for work in the morning. With that being said, it is also an awesome treat when I can find something holiday related, and that was the case tonight, as I decided on the 2015 Christmas themed anthology, A Christmas Horror Story.

Plot/ Interwoven stories that take place on Christmas Eve, as told by one festive radio host: A family brings home more than a Christmas tree, a student documentary becomes a living nightmare, a Christmas spirit terrorizes, Santa slays evil.

There is nothing better than horror movies centered in and on the Christmas holiday. Personally, I love watching some good horror this time of year, especially because I have some time off work and time to spend diving into some projects. This one is much better than I expected with just enough blood and gut splattered in with the four stories to make it fun. Plus, it has William Shatner playing a drunken radio host, what could be better. Yes, some of the dialog is awkward and the acting is uneven, but that does not truly destroy this one in any way. In the end, this may not be the best of the genre, but it is a decently intertwined anthology that makes for a solid Christmas horror flock. If you are in the mood for something darker this Christmas, give it a shot.

Jack Frost (1997)

Christmas is here and the evening is winding down. Yes, I do have Insidious 2 sitting here, but the daughters are crashed waiting on Santa to arrive. While I wait, I decided to venture into some wintry horror. I decided on the 1997 horror / comedy Jack Frost. 

Plot/ A serial killer dies, comes back as a snowman, and wreaks havoc.

There is nothing like low-budget horror when the writers / directors embrace some of the finer parts of the genre. That is the case with this horror comedy about a serial killer / reincarnated snowman Jack Frost. Come on, a murdering snowman is perfect for this time of year.  With the low budget the typical flaws exist, the acting is all over the place, the effects are lacking, and the cinematography is uneven. However, the snowman costume works and the storyline is decent, more positives than some flicks with much larger budgets. In the end, this is not by any means a kids Christmas-season flick and should not be mistaken for one. However, it is an entertaining low budget horror / comedy that has a lot to like. Check out if, it is a decent holiday filler.  Merry Christmas!

Saint Nick (2010)

 

 

I am all for the holidays, especially when I have some time away from work to settle into watching some decent horror flicks to help pass the evenings. Of course, it does help when I am able to find something enjoyable and entertaining. With that in my mind, I decided to venture into the depths of some holiday horror, with my selection Saint Nick (AKA Sint) from 2010.

 

 

Plot/ A horror film that depicts St. Nicholas as a murderous bishop who kidnaps and murders children when there is a full moon on December 5.

 

 

  

When I saw this one, I had to watch it. Yes, I figured that there would be some dialogue flaws with the conversion, and I was right, but that is just a minor flaw in what turned out to be a flaw-filled endeavor. It is unfortunate, as the movie started out decent enough and at least gave the notion of some promise. I really liked the idea, and was disappointed that the film was not better. The dubbed dialogue was terrible, acting was uneven to bad, the effects poor and editing took something away from the feel. Sure, there was some comedic moments and even some entertaining elements, but too much of it disjointed. In the end, this did deliver at least a small amount of holiday horror. While I would not recommend this highly, I have seen worst movies in this genre and would at least give it a shot if your holiday cabinet is empty. 

 

Dead End (2003)

As the countdown to Santa’s arrival nears, I was searching for something to watch. That is when I stumbled upon, the 2003 semi-holiday horror flick Dead End.

Plot/ For the past 20 years, Frank Harrington has grudgingly driven his family to celebrate Christmas with his mother-in-law. This year, he takes a shortcut. It's the biggest mistake of his life: The nightmare begins. A mysterious woman in white wanders through the forest, leaving death in her wake. A terrifying black car - its driver invisible - carries the victims into the heart of the night. Every road sign points to a destination they never reach. The survivors succumb to panic, to madness; deeply buried secrets burst to the surface, and Christmas turns into a living hell.

I was extremely surprised by this flick. It was really an excellent example of what can be done with a low budget. The directors proved that with a minimalist concept of great story, solid small cast and a few locations, a great movie can be created. This movie excels by mixing a stripped down instrumental soundtrack with a claustrophobic aura that creates a paranoid atmosphere that drives everything. Throw in a script that has just enough comedic and sarcastic moments, and you have a winner. This is definitely a MUST see and a holiday horror that often gets overlooked

Tales from the Crypt (1972)

With the Steelers game on last night, it was not until late in the evening that I could relax and decide on another holiday horror classic. After some searching, I decided on the 1972 Amicus entry Tales from the Crypt.

Plot/ Five people are trapped in a crypt and are shown their futures by the evil cryptkeeper. They are given the option of avoiding their fates - by avoiding living out the rest of their lives.

This may be the best adaptation of the once controversial comic book, taking each of these stories directly from the pages. These tales are definitely a combination of the strange, terrifying and often baffling elements that seem to come out and perplex people. The script was solid, the cinematography was good and the atmosphere was tremendous. More importantly, the acting, which featured a cast with the likes of Peter Cushing, Joan Collins, Patrick Magee and Sir Ralph Richardson as the crypt keeper was very believable. In all, this is a fantastic piece of 1970s British Horror and one that make perfect viewing during the holiday season.

Black Christmas (1974)

After taking a night away from the computer to work on some Christmas items, it was back at it with the Bob Clark forgotten classic Black Christmas from 1974!

Plot/ A sorority house is terrorized by a stranger who makes frightening phone calls and then murders the sorority sisters during Christmas break.

This is a true horror classic! To me, it is clearly one of the biggest influences of the slasher genre and a film that helped shaped horror as we know it today. The atmosphere created does a masterful job of carrying a feeling of terror and dread throughout the film. Amazingly, this classic has stood the test of time, with a decent array of acting, believable plot, and a great use of sound and visual elements that really work. Truly an often overlooked masterpiece that may be the greatest holiday horror flick ever made and one that is a MUST see!

The Legend of Hell House (1973)

With Santa Claus being such a big player in my last review, I figured I would go in a slightly different way with my next movie. With that in mind, I decided to go with the 1973 classic The Legend of Hell House for tonight’s entry.

Plot/ A team consisting of a physicist, his wife, a young female psychic and the only survivor of the previous visit are sent to the notorious Hell House to prove/disprove survival after death. Previous visitors have either been killed or gone mad, and it is up to the team to survive a full week in isolation, and solve the mystery of the Hell House.

Sure, this is not the perfect selection as a holiday horror flick, but hey, the timeline works. Plus, this is a classic tale of gothic horror which may truly be one of the best haunted house movies ever made. This film cries atmosphere, and is backed up by a tremendous soundtrack that supports the creepiness throughout the story. The acting is sound and very believable, something that gives the simple story a life of its own. Incredibly, there are almost no special effects, however, in this case it is a plus, adding to the tension throughout the flick. In the end, this remains one of the greatest supernatural / haunted house movies ever made and a must see.

Santa's Slay (2005)

With Christmas a mere week away, I figured it was the perfect time to enjoy some of the great holiday related horror flicks that have come to light over the years. My first entry, the 2005 Satanic Santa romp, Santa’s Slay.

Plot/ Iconic wrestler Bill Goldberg plays the devil's son who lost a wager with a angel and was forced to spend 1000 years playing Santa, but now the wager of that time has run out, and good old Santa isn't so joyful anymore. He makes up for lost time and starts to kill people.

Luckily, I did not go into this movie expecting anything, especially not a rational plot, good acting, or even credible special effects. However, I must say what I found was quite enjoyable on some absurd level. It does have some decent characters, some hilarious moments and Goldberg actually does a decent rendition of what an evil Santa should be. Ironically, there are some very creative kills, with Santa finding the oddest way of killing people throughout the flick (especially during the opening star-studded scene which had me rolling before the first ounce of blood had fallen). Unfortunately, to me, there is not enough gore to coincide with the amount of death and destruction, which would have definitely taken it to another level. Honestly, two Immaculate Conceptions, one Jesus and one Santa Claus, who needs more? If you are looking for a friendly, family-oriented Christmas movie, stay clear of this carnage-filled holiday massacre.

Silent NIght, Bloody Night (1974)

At last, I finished the Cult Horror Collection by watching the last installment, Silent Night, Bloody Night from 1974.

Plot / Folks trying to sell an isolated New England mansion, with a dark history, are being stalked and killed by an escaped maniac. However, who is this deranged murderer and why do the local townspeople act so strange?

This may be one of the most underrated films in the genre. Yes, it is far from perfect. The cinematography is below average to say the least, the narrated portions were not needed, some of it is a bit slow and the plot was not developed to its fullest potential. However, the atmosphere is awesome, the odd plot is very deep and complex, the flashback sequences are wonderful and the character development is something that many films of the age lacked. In all, a very unnerving flick that definitely helped shape a genre and a joy to watch.