Devil’s Knell
Carol of Shudders
A Marathon of Christmas-Themed Horror Movies
About Devil’s Knell
Devil’s Knell bridges the eerie shadows of Halloween with the sparkling glow of Christmas, offering the perfect excuse for a marathon of Christmas-themed horror. As we drift from the foggy riverbanks of October into the peppermint-scented high seas of December, this day reminds us that festive cheer and festive fear can—and absolutely do—coexist. The Christmas horror genre is broader and bloodier than it has any right to be, full of cursed carolers, homicidal holiday mascots, and snowstorms with a body count. So gather your bravest friends and settle in for a sleigh ride through terror-town. We recommend starting with Black Christmas (1974) and Rare Exports (2010) for a double-feature that spans slasher chills and deadpan Finnish weirdness.
Ways to observe
(A) Low effort
Watch one Christmas-themed horror movie with some hot cocoa and pretend you aren’t mildly disturbed by how easily Santa turns homicidal.
(B) Recommended
Host a casual Christmas-horror movie night with friends. Begin with something iconic (Gremlins or Black Christmas), take a break for themed snacks, and then end with a campy, lesser-known cult favorite like Silent Night, Deadly Night. Keep it cozy, spooky, and fun!
(C) High effort
Organize a full-scale Festival of Frights. Create a curated schedule of movies, starting with accessible classics like Gremlins and escalating to obscure gems like Jack Frost (the killer snowman version). Serve horror-themed holiday snacks: ‘Gingerdead Men’ and ‘bloody’ cranberry punch.
Inspiration
American Christmas has been neutered. What was once a wild winter festival full of ghosts, death omens, and tree spirits has been boiled down to cocoa, consumerism, and emotionally manipulative commercials about the first snow. But scrape away the Hallmark veneer, and you’ll find traces of something older and stranger: long nights, cold winds, and the creeping sense that not everyone gathered by the fire is entirely benevolent. It’s no wonder, then, that Christmas became such fertile ground for horror. Hollywood certainly noticed. It started with Black Christmas (1974), a vicious little slasher that said, “What if holiday cheer... but murder?” From there, the sleigh ride got bloodier: Gremlins (1984) turned Christmas Eve into a creature-feature riot, while Krampus (2015) dragged the holiday kicking and screaming back into folklore, complete with hooves. These films thrive on the tension between comfort and carnage, taking symbols of joy and twisting them just enough to make you squirm. Because what better time for terror than when everyone’s pretending to be on their best behavior?
Adornments
Watch
Saint (Sint) (2010)
This Dutch film cranks up the gore and gallows humor. Here, Saint Nicholas is a murderous, undead bishop who returns on December 5th whenever the full moon aligns. It’s wildly offensive, gleefully ridiculous, and exactly the kind of movie that turns Christmas lore into pure chaos.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
A Finnish horror-fantasy in which Santa Claus is a feral, ancient being unearthed from the Arctic tundra. It’s smart, deadpan, and atmospheric, with an undertone of mythological dread. If you’ve ever suspected Santa was more Krampus than Kris Kringle, this icy gem will confirm your fears.
Dial Code Santa Claus (1989)
Also known as Deadly Games or 3615 Code Père Noël, this French oddity is a bizarre proto–Home Alone thriller involving a boy genius, a booby-trapped mansion, and a psychotic Santa. It’s beautifully shot, deeply unsettling, and absolutely not for kids (even though it stars one).
Listen
Christmas Sucks by Tom Waits & Peter Murphy
A raspy rant dressed up as a song, this Waits and Murphy recording snarls its way through holiday tropes. It’s not horror, exactly, but it’s definitely a spiritual cousin to the day’s tone.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (creepy slowed-down version)
There are dozens of YouTube videos and remixes that pitch this classic carol down into a minor key. Suddenly, that “he sees you when you’re sleeping” line feels like a threat.
Read
Snowblind by Michael McBride
A lesser-known horror novella that weaponizes whiteout conditions and isolation. There’s no Santa here, just creeping dread and a town gone quiet.
The Twelve Frights of Christmas by Edited by Isaac Asimov
Yes, that Isaac Asimov. This anthology of eerie holiday tales from classic authors includes everything from haunted carolers to spectral sleigh bells. Hard to find, but worth tracking down, especially if you want to see how vintage writers tackled seasonal horror.
Eat
Bleeding Black Forest Cupcakes
Chocolate cupcakes with cherry jam centers that “bleed” when bitten. Top with whipped cream snowdrifts and a single maraschino eyeball.