- Happy Thanksgiving
everyone.
I'm Moose.
and there's no shortage of heart-warming
holiday classics out there, but if you're looking for
something a little less saccharine,
we've got some recommendations to start
to start your holiday season with a scare.
- Now that's what I call fowl play.
- So while your grandma's spreading conspiracy theories
she found on social media, and your siblings are fighting
over the Switch, why not cozy up with these extremely
messed-up holiday horror movies
to not watch with your family.
(chuckles)
(cries out in pain)
And since we're so close to turkey day, lets start off
with "ThanksKilling."
Everything thing you need to know about this ultra trashy,
extremely low budget slasher flick is pretty much
right on the cover.
(squelching sounds)
- Gobble gobble mother (beep).
- It's one of those movies where the tag line was clearly
thought up before the actual plot.
Which centers around turkey, with an ie.
An infernal fowl summoned to our world to wreck havoc on
who else, a group of college kids home for the holidays.
- Daddy!
You look different.
- Oh.
- Oh, you got a hair cut.
- Yeah.
- "ThanksKilling" is extremely sleazy, campy and cheap.
It was made for only $3,500.
But if you can get past the terrible puppet,
and you have a strong stomach, it's certainly the most
violent movie involving killer turkeys
since "Jurassic Park".
Besides, it's barely over an hour long, but if you still
want more, there's also a sequel called "ThanksKilling 3,"
because reasons.
- Do I smell sequel?
(yells)
- It's refreshing to see a celebration other than Christmas
represented in horror movies, but if your inner Scrouge is a
true holiday humbug, you can enjoy some non-denominational
snowy slaughter, with "Jack Frost."
- No, not the sappy Michael Keaton movie of the same name
and bizarrely specific premise.
This Jack Frost is a serial killer who crashes into a truck
full of gene juice on his way to death row.
(ghoulish sing song voice) And there must have been some
magic in that mutagen he found.
Because when he doused it on his head,
(returns to normal speech) he transformed into an abominable
snow monster, who brutally murders people with icicles.
(suspenseful horror music)
- What the hell are you?
- (raspy voice) World's most pissed off snowcone!
(horror music intensifies)
(yells)
- Today, "Jack Frost" is best known for its iconic
lenticular VHS cover, but it's largely been forgotten in the
annals of holiday horror.
Unlike, "Black Christmas."
One of the first slasher movies ever, and definitely
the first one focused on the holidays.
1974's "Black Christmas" laid the foundation for Halloween.
Not to mention "Santa's Slay," "Silent Night, Deadly Night,"
and so on.
It's director, Bob Clark, went on to make the most beloved
holiday movie of all, "A Christmas Story," but before he was
concerned with BB guns and the Bumpuses' dogs,
(quirky music)
- Son's of bitches!
Bumpuses!
- He crafted the simple story of a sorority under siege
from a silent stalker.
It's a little quaint these days; honestly "Home Alone" is
probably more violent,
(loud explosion)
than the original "Black Christmas," but you can check out
the 2006 remake if you're thirsty for gore.
Or, the brand new take coming to theaters soon.
Finally, let's dial back the death and embrace insanity,
because we've saved the weirdest film for last:
"Santa Claus."
(joyful holiday music)
- Santa Claus, you love me don't you?
Say you love me, Santa.
- We're focusing on this 1959 Mexican film for two reasons.
One, it's in the public domain, so we can use as much b roll
as we want.
And two, it is strange beyond description.
- (yells inaudibly)
- [Narrator] Apparently no one is in
Santa's magic observatory.
- Instead of the North Pole, this Santa Claus lives in a
castle in outer space with his best friend the Wizard Merlin
the Roman God of Blacksmiths Vulcan,
and an army of robot reindeer.
Santa's arch nemesis, Satan, sends an emissary to Earth
to disgrace and murder jolly old St. Nick, and things just
get stranger from there.
Let's put it this way, the phrase nightmare fuel
was literally coined to describe this film.
(startling dramatic music)
- (whispers) There's a prowler out there.
He's come to kill your wife, and your children.
- And it must be seen to be believed.
Preferably with some MST3K commentary
from Mike and the bot.
(Santa creepy laughs)
- [Mike] Whoah, now this is good old fashioned
nightmare fuel.
(creepy laughter continues)
- Now I realize we've only scratched the surface of strange
seasonal cinema.
We could go on for hours, but I really really need to see
about some mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
So, until next time, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and
a happy holidays from all of us at NowThis Nerd.