With Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving primed to become a holiday horror classic, I realized that there aren’t many options to choose from in the realm of Thanksgiving themed fright-flicks. It’s not like Halloween, or even Christmas for that matter. So, I got to thinking… What are the best horror movies for each holiday? I — like many others — like a good scary movie year-round. So, let’s take a look at the best holiday horror movies to watch for every celebration, starting at the beginning with New Years Day.
Also Read: Thanksgiving Review: Eli Roth’s Horror-Comedy Return to Form is a Demented Blast
New Years Eve/Day – New Year, New You (2018)
Acting as the fourth entry in Hulu’s Into the Dark horror anthology, New Year, New You rings in the new year with blood, chills and murder. As old friends reunite for an overnight girl’s trip, friendship turns fiendish and old grudges resurface. It’s a solid entry in the holiday themed anthology series and a perfect way to ring in the new year.
St. Patrick’s Day – Grabbers (2012)
Grabbers doesn’t specifically relate to St. Patrick’s day; however, it’s an Irish horror-comedy with beer guzzling at it’s core and that seems pretty inline with the holiday, so let’s roll with it. After blood sucking aliens invade a small island, the residents realize that the drunker they are, the safer they become. Turns out aliens don’t like alcohol. So this St. Patty’s Day be sure to turn on Grabbers, crack open a Guinness and get to chugging… you know, for safety.
April Fools Day – April Fools Day (1986)
paragraph
Easter – Critters 2: The Main Course
This holiday is pretty sparse when it comes to solid horror entries. But luckily we have Critters 2: The Main Course. The Critters series is undeniably fun and outrageous, but it’s the second entry that delivers some Easter frights. When some creature eggs are mistakenly used in a town’s annual Easter Egg hunt, mayhem is unleashed and blood is spilled.
Valentines Day – My Bloody Valentine (1981)
In all honesty, the classic original and the 3D remake of My Bloody Valentine are solid entries and would make for perfect Valentine’s Day viewings. However, the OG pulls ahead ever so slightly. Just as a small town is preparing for an annual Valentine’s Day celebration, a killer coalmine worker begins dispatching of unsuspecting residents. There are creative kills, an impressive killer design and, of course, a pick axe. Who wouldn’t want to share this movie with their soulmate?
Halloween – Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
While John Carpenter’s Halloween is likely the quintessential Halloween themed horror movie, it doesn’t quite capture the heart of the holiday. Trick ‘r Treat utilizes a series of vignettes to showcase all of the best elements of the spooky season. There’s trick or treaters, costumes, pumpkin carving and all sorts of blood thirsty beasts. The movie has garnered a strong reputation among the horror community and has climbed to the status of cult classic (for good reason).
Thanksgiving – Black Friday (2021)
Bruce Campbell… that is all. That’s all you really need to know to get excited about this one. Sure, it doesn’t take place on Thanksgiving day, but shopping holiday is so closely linked Thanksgiving that this still fits the bill. It’s a zombie horror-comedy that plays off the natural horrors store employees endure on Black Friday. While preparing for the annual stampede of customers, store workers find themselves battling a horde of infected monsters reeking havoc. Oh, and… Bruce Campbell.
Christmas – Krampus (2015)
Christmas — apart from Halloween — likely has the largest selection to choose from when looking for a holiday themed horror flick. But Krampus stands tall at the top of the stack. It’s endlessly rewatchable and perfectly captures the spirit of Christmas with legit frights and Holiday themed kills. It’s silly, over-the-top and filled with fantastic performances. So, fill your mug with eggnog and stoke the fire, cause Krampus is an annual gift.
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
