While film classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, or Miracle on 34th Street have their places in a movie-watcher’s seasonal calendar, there are many lesser-known holiday films to watch. Cult, camp, and independent films offer alternatives to more mainstream movies, providing balance to the holidays’ often-predictable and overly sentimental fare. In alphabetical order, here is a brief – and regrettably incomplete – list of cult holiday movies to watch.
Brazil (1985)
Terry Gilliam’s dystopian satire takes place at Christmas time, and is filled with critiques of consumerism and bureaucracy. Sam Lowry, a clerk working for the Ministry of Information, attempts to correct a government mistake and gets caught in the middle of a revolution. Brazil is filled with the things one expects of Gilliam’s film: and intricate and sometimes meandering, beautiful art direction, surreal touches, odd humor, and a concern with freedom, imagination, and love.
A Christmas Story (1983)
Based on Jean Howard’s novel, this comedy centers on 9-year-old Ralphie’s attempt to convince his parents he should receive a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Although frequent cable showings almost undermine its cult status, A Christmas Story nonetheless deserves its place on the lists for numerous reasons: its fans make pilgrimages to Cleveland where the film was shot; the movie is filled with quotable dialogue; and a funny subplot features a lamp made of a mannequin’s fishnet-stocking leg.
The Dead (1987)
Directed by John Huston, this adaptation of James Joyce’s short story stars his daughter Anjelica. Set in turn-of-the-century Ireland, The Dead focuses on an annual Christmas dinner, hosted by two spinster sisters, of conversation and music. A studied and subtle film, this haunting drama is a meditation on love and loss that manages to be both melancholy and hopeful.
Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Another movie whose loyal fan base has elevated its profile, Tim Burton’s and Harry Selick’s Nightmare Before Christmas is as notable for its style – stop-motion animation – as for its story. After Jack Skellington, the bored pumpkin king of Halloweentown, wanders into Christmastown, he decides to bring Christmas to Halloweentown. The outcome is hauntingly beautiful, funny, and sweet.
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
As the title hints, Martians kidnap Santa Claus and take him to Mars, where he conquers them by giving goodwill, fun, and Christmas cheer to their children. This film regularly makes “worst films” lists, but has became more popular after being featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000, the recommended viewing experience. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is also known as the movie in which Pia Zadora made her debut.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
This slasher b-movie is one of small number of Christmas-themed horror films, which includes Black Christmas (1974) and Christmas Evil (1980). The predictable backstory involves a boy who witnesses his parents be killed – by a thief wearing Santa Suit. After a traumatic childhood, filled with yet more bad holiday experiences, he gets a job at a toy store. But when he’s required to wear a Santa suit on Christmas Eve, he has a psychotic break and begins punishing naughty children.
The above holiday-themed films represent various styles and genres, from comedy to horror to animation. Some films have won critical praise, some have gained loyal fans and some remain mostly forgotten. At least one film is a train-wreck movie so compellingly awful that one can’t turn one’s head away. All offer welcomed variety to the conventional holiday-movie standards.
Related Article: Best Black Comedy Holiday Movies
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