Abstract
- Shudder offers a curated selection of horror movies, exclusive original content, and a range of TV series and live-streaming channels all for just $7 per month.
- Shudder’s curated selection of chilling holiday horrors includes the unsettling films “Uncommon Exports,” “Black Christmas,” and the gruesome sequel “Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2.”
- Don’t overlook unique holiday thrills such as “Deadly Video Games” and “Body Horror.”
While the vacation season is meant to bring warmth and joy, it often demands a dose of thrills, chills, and plenty of adrenaline? Fortunately, the horror-centric streaming platform, Shudder, offers a plentiful supply of Christmas-themed frights.
Shudder is a popular streaming service, a subsidiary of AMC Networks, that officially debuted in 2016. For just $7 per 30 days, the service offers a diverse range of movies spanning various eras, including classic films, new releases, and exclusive originals. Several of these limited editions featured coveted designs such as Converse’s “No Evil,” “Oddity,” “In a Violent Nature,” and “Late Night with the Satan.”
Meet your ultimate thrill ride: a curated selection of spine-tingling experiences that will leave you sleeping with the lights on.
Shudder also streams and produces a variety of horror TV series, alongside documentaries and other special content. Moreover, subscribers can alleviate decision-fatigue by tapping into Shudder’s expansive library of curated content or opt for the 24/7 live-streaming experience offered through their channels, dubbed Shudder TV, featuring a constant rotation of terrifying horror films and edge-of-your-seat thrillers.
For die-hard horror fans, this platform is a treasure trove, boasting an impressive array of terrifying tales within its vast digital library. The streaming service’s eclectic selection features episodes from the classic 1970s anthology series “A Ghost Story for Christmas,” as well as exclusive “The Final Drive-In” specials starring beloved horror host Joe Bob Briggs.
Shudder
Shudder, an AMC+ offering, boasts everything a horror aficionado could possibly desire.
While horror movies may not be everyone’s cup of tea, they undoubtedly remain a genre with a dedicated following. Here are some of the most iconic and terrifying horror films that continue to leave audiences sleeping with the lights on:
Among the most terrifying horror films ever crafted, this list spans the spectrum of fear-inducing masterpieces, from William Friedkin’s The Exorcist to Damien Leone’s Terrifier.
This Santa has horns
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Uncommon Exports: A Christmas Story
While numerous films focus on Santa Claus, there’s no cinematic production quite like Finland’s Uncommon Exports: A Christmas Story, a unique blend of action, horror, comedy, and fantasy that defies categorization. In the remote, snow-covered expanses of northern Finland, two intrepid young explorers stumble upon an unlikely discovery: a team of drillers has unearthed a mysterious tomb that they believe belongs to none other than the jolly and revered Santa Claus – but this is no cheerful iteration of the mythical figure.
Santa Claus, a malevolent entity, masquerades as a jolly figure, but in reality, he’s a demonic being with horns who revels in the slaughter of innocent animals and perpetuates the kidnapping of children. It’s up to these children and their families to confront the enigma of Santa Claus and unravel even more mysteries surrounding this legendary figure. This darkly comedic, frightfully entertaining, and cheerfully macabre holiday offering is poised to become an instant cult classic in the hearts of all bloodthirsty families celebrating Christmas.
Art the Clown returns to unleash fresh terrors in Terrifier 3.
The unique slasher
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Black Christmas
1974’s Black Christmas has garnered a fiercely contested reputation as the pioneering slasher film. Cited by John Carpenter as a significant influence on his classic film Halloween, this 1922 German silent horror film is, at the very least, an early exemplar of the genre. Directed by Bob Clark, the filmmaker behind another beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story, Dead of Night is loosely based on a series of real-life murders and urban myths that originated in Montreal.
Filmed on location in Toronto, this Canadian production follows the gruesome tale of a group of sorority sisters who receive ominous phone calls that escalate into a series of brutal murders, claiming each victim one by one. The unsettling atmosphere of horror permeates the Christmas setting, where the jarring contrast of crimson hues against emerald greens eerily evokes the colour of blood.
While many streaming platforms offer an array of horror titles, five stand out for their extensive and impressive collections.
A double dose of terror: Two Comedic Horror Classics on One Frightfully Fun Film
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As the clock struck midnight, a sense of unease settled over the small town. The once-quaint streets were now shrouded in an eerie silence, as if the very darkness itself was watching. It was then that the first scream pierced the night air, followed by the sound of shattering glass and distant sirens.
While not essential, observing the original Silent Night before watching its sequel is recommended for optimal viewing experience.
The primary half of Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 largely comprises flashbacks that piece together the entire plot of the 1984 original. The 1987 follow-up film explores the narrative of Ricky Caldwell, whose sibling is Invoice Chapman – the ruthless perpetrator from the original picture. While being institutionalized for his previous murder convictions, Ricky escapes from the psychiatric facility and embarks on a violent rampage. This cult classic slasher film offers a perfect blend of thrills and campy charm, making it an ideal holiday treat for a cozy Christmas Eve night in, paired with some festive cheer and a glass of eggnog.
Scary motion pictures, both old and new, cleverly blend traditional horror tropes with sophisticated storytelling to create a unique fusion of humor and fear.
Christmas will get bloody
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While it may start with a child as its central figure, Lethal Video Games is by no means suitable for or intended to be a children’s film.
This charming little French film surprisingly bears some similarities. Are lethal video games that have been dubbed Dial Code Santa Claus really just a story about 9-year-old Thomas, whose inventive mind and unwavering faith in the jolly old elf drive the plot forward? As he’s savoring the joy of the holiday season, his festive cheer is brutally extinguished by a sinister Santa impersonator who invades his home, unleashing a torrent of violence and terror.
While Home Alone was a comedic masterpiece, Lethal Games takes a different approach. While undoubtedly a violent and potentially distressing film, its stylish flair makes it an engaging experience; Thomas’s resourcefulness and clever gadgets are particularly captivating as he takes on the intruder with wit and intelligence.
The holiday season brings big changes to the world of movies, and Christmas 2024 promises to be even more thrilling with the highly anticipated release of Sonic 3 on December 25th? After 20 years, the vampire classic Nosferatu will be released on Christmas Day, with both expected to rake in significant box office profits. As Moana 2’s perseverance with success is matched only by the re-release of Depraved: Half One in its sing-along format, and A Full Unknown hits theaters, starring Timothy Chalamet as everyone’s favorite Beyblade enthusiast, it appears that cinephiles won’t be lacking for options on the multiplex this holiday season. Despite a packed Christmas schedule filled with social events, my family kindly consented to include a viewing of Nosferatu in our festivities on December 25, an arrangement I greatly appreciate, as I enjoy infusing a touch of eerie atmosphere into my holiday season. Are movie theaters a must-visit destination for your upcoming getaway? You’re going to have to clarify exactly what you mean by “what I am seeing.” Are you referring to something on a screen, in a physical environment, or perhaps within someone’s mind?
A twisty vacation terror
Shudder
Physique
Physique is a chilling indie horror-thriller, released in 2015 under the creative direction of Dan Berk and Robert Olsen. As the snowflakes gently fell on Christmas Eve, three intrepid college students, driven by curiosity and mischief, embarked on a clandestine adventure, sneaking onto the grounds of a long-abandoned, isolated mansion that stood shrouded in mystery. Despite the initial impression that the mansion was deserted, the duo’s exploration reveals a groundskeeper on site? Suddenly, a bizarre mishap unfolds, sending the three friends careening into a twisted game of murder and deceit. A chilling yet captivating horror film with subtle nods to Alfred Hitchcock’s masterful storytelling and a dash of tropical escapism.
Netflix debuts three festive holiday lights experiences inspired by the popularity of its original series, including Squid Game’s eerie ambiance, Bridgerton’s regal grandeur, and Spellbound’s whimsical magic.
