The new slasher horror film Thanksgiving (2023) has been thrilling audiences with its tale of a mysterious killer terrorizing the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts over the Thanksgiving holiday. If you enjoyed the scary suspense, dark humor, and holiday horror of Thanksgiving, here are 18 more great movies to check out this season that deliver similar chills and thrills.
1. Black Christmas (2019)
Black Christmas is a remake of the 1974 holiday horror classic. It follows a group of sorority sisters who are stalked by a masked killer over their Christmas break. Like Thanksgiving, it combines slasher scares with a holiday setting and feminist themes.
The 2019 version updates the story for modern times, pitting the resourceful young women against a cult of misogynistic men. It features intense, bloody kills and a strong cast of actresses fighting back against the patriarchal evil. For a Christmas-set companion to Thanksgiving‘s Thanksgiving-themed terror, Black Christmas is a perfect pick.
2. Krampus (2015)
In this horror-comedy, a dysfunctional family’s lack of Christmas spirit summons Krampus, a demonic figure from European folklore who punishes the wicked. As the family is terrorized by Krampus and his minions, they must band together to survive the night.
Like Thanksgiving, Krampus mixes horror with dark humor and centers its story around a holiday. It also features great creature effects bringing the titular monster and his twisted helpers to life. While Krampus has a more comedic tone than Thanksgiving, it still delivers plenty of holiday horror fun.
3. Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
Trick ‘r Treat is a Halloween-set anthology film that weaves together five interconnected stories, each featuring characters facing deadly consequences for breaking Halloween traditions. The various segments range from funny to downright disturbing, with plenty of gory practical effects throughout.
Though set at Halloween rather than Thanksgiving, Trick ‘r Treat is a perfect seasonal horror treat for fans of Thanksgiving. It’s an entertaining blend of scares and dark humor that makes great use of its holiday setting. Plus the iconic sack-headed trick-or-treater Sam has become a modern Halloween mascot to rival Thanksgiving‘s Pilgrim Killer.
4. Midsommar (2019)
One of the most unsettling horror films in recent years, Midsommar follows a group of American grad students who travel to a remote Swedish village to observe its fabled midsummer festival. But the rituals they witness soon turn deadly, as the seemingly idyllic community reveals a dark and violent underbelly.
Midsommar is less outright scary than Thanksgiving, but it excels at building a sense of dread and unease, before exploding in shocking violence in the final act. And like Thanksgiving, it centers its horror around a holiday celebration, in this case the Swedish midsummer. It’s a great pick for fans of Thanksgiving‘s more brutal elements.
5. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Considered very controversial upon its initial release, Silent Night, Deadly Night follows an orphaned teen who goes on a murderous rampage dressed as Santa Claus. It spawned a franchise that’s still going today.
While the original Silent Night, Deadly Night is a bit rough around the edges, it set the template for many holiday slashers to come, including Thanksgiving. Seeing Santa as the killer makes for a darkly ironic twist, and the film is full of inventive, Christmas-themed kills. If you want to see how the holiday slasher genre got its start, check this one out.
6. Jack Frost (1997)
No, not the family film with Michael Keaton – this Jack Frost is a horror-comedy about a serial killer who gets transformed into a murderous snowman. As the living snowman, Jack returns to the town he once terrorized to take bloody revenge.
The silly premise is played with a straight face, which only adds to the absurd humor. The visual of a killer snowman is ridiculous, but the film doesn’t skimp on the gory kills. Like Thanksgiving, Jack Frost combines holiday horror with comedic elements for an entertainingly tongue-in-cheek ride.
7. Gremlins (1984)
This horror-comedy classic stars Zach Galligan as a teen who receives a strange creature called a Mogwai as a Christmas gift. He inadvertently breaks the three rules for caring for the creature, causing it to spawn vicious little monsters that terrorize his town.
Gremlins is more comedy than horror, but director Joe Dante includes enough creepy visuals and violent bits to keep things edgy. The film is a great example of mixing holiday cheer with darker genre elements, making it a great gateway into harder holiday horror fare like Thanksgiving.
8. Better Watch Out (2017)
This clever horror film starts like a typical home invasion thriller, as a babysitter and her young charge are menaced by threatening phone calls and a masked intruder. But as the night unfolds, shocking twists upend expectations to chilling effect.
To say more would spoil the surprises, but suffice to say Better Watch Out takes some dark and demented turns. Like Thanksgiving, the story is set around Christmas, adding to the irony as the cheery setting contrasts with the horrific events. Smart, stylish, and packed with suspense, this is a must for psychological horror fans.
9. Christmas Evil (1980)
Also known as You Better Watch Out and Terror in Toyland, this cult film follows a man obsessed with Santa Claus who takes his love for the holiday to murderous extremes. After suffering a psychotic break, he dons a Santa suit and goes on a killing spree to punish the wicked.
Christmas Evil takes itself more seriously than many killer Santa films, making it a bit more disturbing. But it still has a streak of very dark humor running throughout. The low budget adds to the gritty, unsettling atmosphere. For those who like their holiday horror as dark as possible, this is a true gem.
10. Sint (Saint) (2010)
In this Dutch horror film, a murderous version of Sinterklaas (the inspiration for Santa Claus) returns on every full moon on December 5th to brutally punish the wicked. A teen named Frank tries to stop the evil Saint Nick and his minions as they terrorize Amsterdam.
Sint has style to spare, with creepy visuals and some extremely gruesome kills. Like Thanksgiving, it draws on dark historical legends to craft its holiday-themed horror. It also balances the scares with some quirky humor. Foreign horror fans should definitely put this on their naughty list.
11. A Christmas Horror Story (2015)
Another anthology film, A Christmas Horror Story tells four interconnected tales of terror set on Christmas Eve. William Shatner appears as a radio DJ serving as the narrator tying the stories together. The segments involve Krampus, zombie elves, a changeling, and a very bad Santa.
The tales range from darkly funny to truly horrific, with plenty of gore and creature effects to satisfy fright fans. Weaving the stories together makes for a satisfying whole, and the holiday setting is used to great effect throughout. This is a perfect choice for a Thanksgiving-style anthology set at Christmas.
12. Red Christmas (2017)
In this Australian horror film, a mysterious cloaked figure begins killing off members of a family gathered to celebrate Christmas. But the killer has a shocking connection to the family’s past, one that will force them to confront long-buried secrets.
Red Christmas takes a slow burn approach, building tension and a sense of dread before the blood really starts to flow. The story touches on some heavy themes, with a serious undercurrent to the horror. Genre icon Dee Wallace anchors the cast as the family matriarch fighting to protect her family. Fans of character-driven horror will eat this one up.
13. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
This Finnish film puts a darkly comic spin on the origin of Santa Claus. After an archaeological dig unearths the real Santa – a monstrous, horned creature – local reindeer herders find themselves battling the evil being to save their town.
Rare Exports has a quirky, tongue-in-cheek tone but still delivers some effective horror moments and memorable visuals. The snowy setting adds to the chilly atmosphere. Like Thanksgiving, it draws on folklore to create its monster, in this case the Finnish legend of Joulupukki, a more frightening precursor to the modern Santa Claus.
14. Wind Chill (2007)
Emily Blunt and Ashton Holmes star as college students sharing a ride home for the holidays whose car breaks down on a remote, snowy road. As they wait for help, they find themselves menaced by mysterious and ghostly figures.
More of a slow-burn psychological thriller than a straight slasher, Wind Chill still delivers plenty of icy chills perfect for the holiday season. The isolated setting adds to the creeping dread, and Blunt gives a compelling lead performance. It may be light on gore, but this is one holiday road trip you’ll be glad you’re not on.
15. Dead End (2003)
In this French horror film, a family traveling to Christmas dinner takes a shortcut down a mysterious wooded road. But their journey takes a terrifying turn after a near accident, stranding them in a surreal landscape where ghostly figures await.
Dead End makes great use of its single remote setting to generate an unsettling atmosphere. The story keeps you guessing, gradually revealing the dark truth behind what’s happening. While not graphically violent, it still has some shocking moments. It’s a great choice for those who like their holiday horror with a side of existential dread.
16. Mercy Christmas (2017)
A wannabe journalist thinks he’s hit the story of a lifetime when he’s invited to an exclusive dinner with the town’s most prominent family on Christmas. Little does he know he’s the main course for a clan of hungry cannibals.
Mercy Christmas mixes gross-out humor with gory horror for a gleefully nasty holiday treat. The jokes are crude and the kills are bloody, but it’s so over-the-top you can’t help but have a good time. If you like your humor as dark as your horror, you’ll eat this one up.
17. All Through the House (2015)
In this low-budget slasher, a killer Santa stalks a small town on Christmas Eve, brutally murdering the local bullies and bad seeds. But his thirst for punishment brings him into conflict with a young woman and her Sheriff father.
All Through the House fully embraces the cheesy side of holiday horror, from the hammy acting to the low-rent special effects. But it’s all part of the film’s charm. The kills are still gnarly, and there’s plenty of blood-splattered action. For fans of cheap and cheery seasonal slashers, this gift is worth unwrapping.
18. Silent Night (2012)
A loose remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night, this slasher follows a small-town Sheriff and his deputy as they hunt a killer Santa menacing their community at Christmas. Malcolm McDowell chews the scenery as the Sheriff, clearly having a blast.
Silent Night has a slicker look than the original film, but still maintains a nasty edge, with some spectacularly gruesome kills. The mystery of the killer’s identity adds some welcome suspense to the bloody proceedings. It’s a solid example of a modern take on the holiday slasher.
So there you have it – 18 holiday horror flicks to keep you scared and entertained all season long. From killer Santas to yuletide demons, Christmas-set slashers to Thanksgiving-themed terrors, there’s something for every scary movie fan to unwrap. Whether you want laughs with your screams or pure bloody mayhem, these films are perfect for a frightful movie marathon.
Just be sure to watch them with the lights on – and maybe sleep with one eye open. You never know who might be coming down your chimney or lurking in your kitchen. Happy holidays… and pleasant screams!
