The usual films you can cozy up to during the holiday season, like A Christmas Story and It’s a Wonderful Life tell you what the Christmas spirit is all about.
However, my Christmas films list does not include any of theses selections. In no particular order, I present to you the top five ‘Not-so-Christmas’ Christmas movies to get you into the holiday spirit this December.
Tim Burton’s: A Nightmare Before Christmas
The fun and borderline creepy film is for those of us who prefer a darker Christmas tale. Ignore all the emo kids back in junior high with their Jack Skellington hoodies and fingerless gloves. You’ve got a lovely film about what happens when two big holidays collide. You can call this a Halloween movie all you want, but I think it’s more of a Christmas movie. Xmas is, after all, in the title.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Terror and a hint of artistic touch starts off when scientists in Finland excavate a site with an artifact buried in the mountain for years. The terror buried in the deep is none other than Santa Claus. However, this Santa isn’t a jolly old fat man drinking a Coca-Cola. He is a terrifying and gangly creature. You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry, you’d better not pout, I’m telling you why! Santa Claus is going to steal you away, replace you with a creepy black straw doll and eat all of your town’s reindeer.
Edward Scissorhands
Edward Scissorhands was Tim Burton’s first cinematic journey with Johnny Depp. Eight films later, it’s still one of the duo’s classics.The film takes pace in a small town where nothing really ever happens. One day, the local Avon lady encounters a castle and the mysterious character that lives there. Edward Scissorhands doesn’t really have much lines in the film, so it was up to Depp to fully express his character’s anguish. With a cast including Winona Ryder, Anthony Michael Hall and the late great Vincent Price, Edward Scissorhands is an amazing movie with an even more amazing soundtrack. You can’t help but well up when the music swells.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Even though most people say the second installment of any series is not as good as the first, Home Alone 2 actually stands up well against its predecessor. It’s set In New York, and once again we have our protagonist Kevin left behind in the Big Apple (in a luxurious hotel this time). Things haven’t changed because the boy is still being plagued by our lovable burglars. New York is a great backdrop for this film, as well as the background appearances made by Rob Schneider and Tim Curry.
Die Hard/The Shining
I know there were only supposed to be five movies on this list, but I feel like the last one should be a tie because both of these films deserve an honorable mention. Ask anyone whether they think Die Hard should be considered a Christmas movie (and most of them will say yes).
Nothing gets you in the Christmas spirit like a vengeful lunatic out to murder his family after being cut off from human contact, and left to go insane in a creepy hotel surrounded by snow during the holidays. Lovely.
Have a happy holiday season, everyone!