December is a month of contrasts. On one hand, we are bombarded by ads full of smiling families and perfectly baked gingerbread; on the other, reality often creaks under the weight of obligations, loneliness, or simple burnout. If the sight of another Santa Claus in a shop window makes your face twist into an expression worthy of the Grinch, this post is for you.
We have prepared a list of seven titles – both films and books – that break convention. You will find kitschy horrors and dark fantasy here, but also moving pictures, albeit far from the sugary vision of Christmas.
1. Killer Snowman: “Jack Frost” (1997)
We start with a bang: pure B-movie cinema. If you think a snowman is a symbol of innocent fun in the snow, this 1997 horror (not to be confused with the family film starring Michael Keaton!) will effectively cure you of that notion.
The plot is absurd, and therein lies its charm. A serial killer, being transported to his execution, has an accident and, as a result of contact with chemicals, merges with the snow. He returns as a murderous snowman to take revenge on the sheriff who arrested him. This is a must-see for fans of the genre, full of black humour and one-liners like: “Don’t eat yellow snow”. The ideal choice for a casual evening with friends when you want to laugh at the convention.
2. Christmas in the shadows: “NOS4A2” – Joe Hill
Stephen King’s son, Joe Hill, proves that the talent for scaring runs in his blood. His novel “NOS4A2” (pronounced Nosferatu) is a monumental brick of a book that redefines the concept of a “Merry Christmas”.
The main antagonist here is Charlie Manx, a child abductor who takes his victims to Christmasland in his Rolls-Royce Wraith (with the titular number plate). Sound like a dream? Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a place where it is Christmas every day, and unhappiness is against the law. The problem is, the price of admission to this theme park is the loss of your soul. Hill masterfully builds tension, creating a road horror in which Christmas decorations inspire fear rather than delight.
3. Slasher Classic: “Silent Night, Deadly Night”
For fans of 80s horror, this is a cult title. “Silent Night, Deadly Night” caused a scandal upon its release because it dared to dress the killer in a Santa Claus outfit – a figure that had been untouchable in pop culture until then.
The film tells the story of a boy who, as a child, witnessed his parents’ murder by an attacker in a red suit. The trauma returns years later, turning him into a psychopathic avenger who punishes the “naughty”. Whether you reach for the original or the newer remake, it is a brutal antidote to films about miraculous changes of heart at the Christmas table.
4. Swedish Melancholy: “Can You Whistle, Johanna?”
We change the mood to something decidedly calmer, though still far from advertising glitz. Ulf Stark’s book with illustrations by Anna Höglund is a masterpiece of Scandinavian literature that enjoys cult status in Sweden – the film based on it is broadcast there every Christmas, just like “Home Alone” is here.
It is a short but emotionally powerful story about a boy who dreams of having a grandfather. He finds one in a retirement home. There is no magic or great miracles here; instead, there is the prose of life, old age, and a burgeoning intergenerational bond.
As print enthusiasts, we must add that the edition delights with its raw, slightly nostalgic design, perfectly corresponding with the content. It is a read that moves you but does not deceive, speaking about passing in an incredibly tender way.
5. A comedy-drama about loneliness: “The Holdovers”
This is a relatively new entry (premiered in 2023) that instantly became a classic. Alexander Payne takes us to the 70s, to an elite boarding school in New England.
Three characters – a embittered history teacher, a troublemaking student, and a cook grieving the loss of her son – are forced to spend Christmas on the deserted campus. There are no fireworks here; instead, we get a lot of snow, whisky, and painful conversations. “The Holdovers” is a film about how Christmas is the hardest time of the year for many, and that a chosen family can sometimes be more important than a biological one.
6. A bittersweet mosaic: “Love Actually”
You might ask: what is this film doing on a Grinch list? After all, it is a rom-com classic! However, if you look at “Love Actually” more closely, you will see that beneath the layer of Christmas hits, there is a lot of sadness.
We have a plot of marital infidelity (an outstanding role by Emma Thompson), unrequited love (the famous scene with the cards), and the loneliness of a rock star. It is a film that – despite a certain dose of icing – honestly shows that on Christmas Eve, hearts break just as loudly as on any other day of the year. It is worth watching, focusing specifically on these less obvious, bitter threads.
7. Controlled Chaos: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
Finally, a title that unites everyone – both Christmas lovers and total Grinches. Clark Griswold’s misadventures are essentially a study of the nervous breakdown we treat ourselves to by wishing for a “perfect Christmas”.
A burning Christmas tree, unexpected guests we would rather avoid, and a Christmas bonus that turns out to be a joke – this is the reality for many of us, served here in a crooked mirror of satire. This film teaches one important thing: sometimes you have to let go, because ideals do not exist, and the most important thing is that we do not kill each other in this madness (literally and figuratively).
Summary
Whether you choose a bloody massacre with a snowman or an existential journey to a Swedish retirement home, remember: Christmas is about spending it on your own terms. Sometimes the best gift you can give yourself is a good book, a blanket, and some peace and quiet.