In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we are caught in a mood of anticipation. We anticipate visits from family, a festive meal, and presents to be opened. We also look forward to the celebration of the incarnation of a god in human flesh, whose death brings about one of the greatest ghost stories ever told. Rephrased, the story of Christmas is already a kind of horror narrative.
Join us for a chilling exploration of the darker side of Christmas. In this episode of Horror Joy, we’ll delve into the unsettling underbelly of holiday cheer.
We’ll discuss:
- Algernon Blackwood’s “The Kit-Bag”: A disturbing tale of anticipation and dread.
- Black Christmas: This iconic slasher film reimagines the holiday season as a time of terror.
- The Horror of Consumerism: How the holiday season can become a source of stress and anxiety.
- Loneliness at the Holidays: How the holiday season increases the chances for loneliness, and how the slasher magnifies this loneliness.
So, grab your eggnog and prepare for a frighteningly festive journey. Remember, even Santa Claus has a dark side.
Split directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Body, Telephone, Voice: Black Christmas (1974) and Monstrous Cinema by Morten Feldtfos Thompsen
Rosemary’s Baby (1968) Directed by Roman Polanski
The Holdovers directed by Alexander Payne