Ah, the Christmas horror genre. There’s plenty of garbage cinema that fits this category, but also some truly scary films like Bob Clark’s iconic Black Christmas. While most people envision killer Santas and naughty elves hamming it up with nasty high school-style hijinks (ok . . . those movies have their place, too), the authors behind the new book Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television are exploring the best holiday horror movies.
Canadian micro-press Spectacular Optical (full disclosure: your editor has been published by the press twice) takes a deep dive into festive fright flicks, discussing the ghost stories, pre-Christian-inspired tales, slasher films, and sometimes controversial media that makes up this slice of horror.
The list of authors includes familiar genre experts like Lucio Fulci scholar Stephen Thrower, Austin filmmaker Zack Carlson, House of Psychotic Women author Kier-La Janisse, and Films of New French Extremity writer Alexandra West. Watch a book trailer for Yuletide Terror, below.
Attend one of Spectacular Optical’s events where you can watch a new Christmas horror short by Sean Hogan (The Devil’s Business) called We Always Find Ourselves in the Sea.
THE EVENTS:
Dec 9, 2017: BOSTON: Brattle Theatre: Screening of Jack Frost (Michael Cooney, 1997) + We Always Find Ourselves in the Sea, introduced by contributor Kier-La Janisse Tickets: Yuletide Terror + JACK FROST
Dec 12, 2017: BROOKLYN: Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies-NYC, Film Noir Cinema: Lecture and clip show by contributors Kier-La Janisse and Michael Gingold + We Always Find Ourselves in the Sea Tickets: YULETIDE TERROR: CHRISTMAS HORROR ON FILM AND TELEVISION W/ Kier-La Janisse & Michael Gingold
Dec 14, 2017: LONDON (UK): Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies-London, Horse Hospital: Lecture and clip show by contributors Stephen Thrower and Derek Johnston + We Always Find Ourselves in the Sea Tickets: YULETIDE TERROR: CHRISTMAS HORROR ON FILM AND TELEVISION W/ Derek Johnston & Stephen Thrower
Dec 16, 2017: LOS ANGELES: American Cinematheque/Egyptian theatre: Double bill of To All a Good Night (David Hess, 1980) + Elves(Jeff Mandel, 1989) + book signing with contributor Kier-La Janisse, presented by Cinematic Void.
Tickets: Yuletide Terror + Double Bill: TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT + ELVES
Dec 19, 2017: MONTREAL: Bar Le Ritz PDB: Ghost Stories of an Antiquary: An Evening of Yuletide Terror with contributor Kier-La Janisse (Free event) Website: Bar Le Ritz PDB (Event page TBA)
Dec 20, 2017: WINNIPEG: Winnipeg Cinematheque: Screening of Black Christmas (Bob Clark, 1974) + We Always Find Ourselves in the Sea, introduced by contributor Caelum Vatnsdal.
Website: Winnipeg Film Group (Event page TBA)
Dec 21, 2017: PHILADELPHIA: PhilaMOCA: Screening of Christmas Evil (Lewis Jackson, 1980) + We Always Find Ourselves in the Sea, introduced by contributor Chris Hallock Website: PhilaMOCA (Event page TBA)
Dec 23, 2017: CHICAGO: Heirloom Books: Screening of We Always Find Ourselves in the Sea + book signing with contributor Dave Canfield