A Scary Little Christmas

<p> Controversial yet beloved among audiences Christmas-themed horror movies emerged in the early 1970s and gained a notorious reputation with <I>Silent Night Deadly Night</I> (1984) depicting Santa as an ax-wielding maniac. Some parents and conservative groups condemned the film while others embraced the portrayal of Yuletide as a backdrop for fear and dread. Drawing on interviews with directors producers special effects artists photographers and actors this book celebrates the sordid colorful history of the Christmas horror subgenre. Psycho Santa films such as <I>Christmas Evil</I> (1980) and <I>3615 code Pere Noel</I> (1989) are examined along with Yule-Die slashers like <I>The Dorm that Dripped Blood</I> (1982) <I>Black Christmas</I> (1974) and <I>Silent Night Bloody Night</I> (1972). Commercial successes like <I>Gremlins</I> (1984) and <I>Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale</I> (2010) are covered as well as more recent releases such as <I>Better Watch Out</I> (2016) <I>Red Christmas</I> (2016) and <I>Deathcember</I> (2019). Rare photographs promotional materials and an annotated filmography are provided.</p>