Not Your Average Santa – 10 Unique Christmas Horror Movies

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are bringing you another festive horror movie list – Not Your Average Santa – 10 Unique Christmas Horror Movies.

Christmas Horror with a Difference

The majority of Christmas horror movies tend to be slashers, right? I mean, we already covered ten of them in our list of 10 Christmas Slasher Movies Ranked but that is only scratching the surface. There are dozens more. But what if you want something a little different this December? What if you want a Christmas horror that is just a little bit unique?

The ten movies we are covering today are just that. A little bit weird, a little bit different, and just a little bit odd. These are unique films with original plots. Each one a little different from the last and each a great option to watch in the run up to Christmas. We have reviewed all of these so click the links to take a look at what we think about them. Let’s take a look.

🎁 Quick Picks: The Weirdest of the Weird

10. The Mean One (2022) – Green with Envy

The Unique Factor: The setup isn’t particularly unique. This is a slasher, after all, but the comedy horror parody of The Grinch makes this movie stand out, just a bit. Occasionally funny, often very bad; The Mean One is an option for something weird to watch and might tick a few boxes in the “so bad it’s good” department.

Knockout Verdict: You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.

Did you ever wonder whether the story of The Grinch could work as a horror? Well, wonder no more as The Mean One is here to answer that question. Only, it’s not very good, hence its place at number ten on our list.

The movie follows the story of Cindy (Krystle Martin) heading back to her hometown to confront her past in the form of a green, Christmas hating, monster that murdered her mother. We awarded The Mean One 1.5/5 in our review.

9. Await Further Instructions (2018) – Stay Inside, Stay Alive

The Unique Factor: Dialogue heavy and acting as something of a domestic horror for much of its length. Await Further Instructions delves into themes of science fiction later on, and is unlike any other Christmas movie I have ever watched. Sadly, it’s not all that great, stumbling often and not feeling all that scary. Still watchable, though, and very different.

Knockout Verdict: Do not adjust your set.

Now this movie is seriously strange. Await Further Instructions starts as a fairly formulaic, British, drama as a couple head back to the family home to celebrate Christmas with their argumentative family. Things begin to get weird, however, when the house enters a lockdown and the television begins issuing instructions to them.

The final act seriously feels like some sort of techno-horror with some of the strangest visuals I have seen in a festive themed horror movie. If only the entire film was so inventive? We awarded Await Further Instructions 2/5 in our review.

8. Anna and The Apocalypse (2017) – Singing in the Brains

The Unique Factor: It’s a zombie horror musical. Not my type of movie at all, but some will love it and it is fun if you have had a few drinks. Anna and the Apocalypse is a little bit tonally confused. Acting as a whimsical musical full of upbeat songs before transforming into a generic, formulaic zombie horror that takes itself altogether too seriously. It’s uneven but you can’t argue that it is not a unique Christmas horror movie.

Knockout Verdict: La La Land of the Dead.

Do you like Zombie horror movies? Do you also enjoy musicals? Well, if you do then you are in luck because that’s exactly what Anna and the Apocalypse is all about.

It sees high school student Anna teaming up with her friends to try and survive a zombie apocalypse that has struck her town. There’s songs, there’s gore, and there are a whole ton of zombies. There isn’t another Christmas horror movie remotely similar. We awarded Anna and the Apocalypse 3/5 in our review.

7. The Apology (2022) – Revenge Served Cold

The Unique Factor: The Apology is probably more of a thriller than a horror but there are some shared themes that fit both genres. The thing that makes it a unique Christmas horror however, is the way it plays out. It’s a proper chamber piece that could work perfectly as a stage play or radio show. It’s gripping stuff.

Knockout Verdict: Talk is cheap.

The Apology approaches Christmas Horror in an altogether slower and more considered manner. Following the story of a woman who lost her child many years ago but has never given up the search. The Apology sees her accepting a visit from an old flame who brings with him more than just long buried feelings of desire and affection.

It’s is very dialogue heavy, acting for the most part as something of a character study. We rarely escape the confines of a single room which makes for quite a claustrophobic setting. When it is working, it is a tense and effective movie that is engaging throughout and benefits from doing things a little differently. We awarded The Apology 3.2/5 in our review.

6. Deadly Games (1989) – Home Alone with a Knife

The Unique Factor: The director of Deadly Games sued the makers of Home Alone, claiming that they stole his idea of a young boy defending his home with genius inventions of torture. That isn’t, strictly, true as that’s only a small part of Deadly Games but the similarities are there. Patrick Floersheim is utterly sinister in a highlight role and the latter scenes are fantastic. Nothing in horror feels quite like Deadly Games.

Knockout Verdict: Keep the change, you filthy animal.

A French version of Home Alone but for adults is the way most people describe Deadly Games. Following the story of a young genius boy forced into defending his home, and his Grandpa, from a Santa costume wearing home invader.

Deadly Games is part horror, part action, part adventure, and part comedy. It’s also a damn good time that is sure to scratch that itch for adults who think that Kevin didn’t go quite far enough. We awarded Deadly Games 3/5 in our review.

5. Mercy Christmas (2017) – Serving Up Holiday Cheer

The Unique Factor: Cannibalistic, ultra gory, holiday fun is the order of the day in Mercy Christmas. Finding itself somewhere between Hallmark Christmas movie and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This is a horror that works way better than it should and is, simply, a ton of fun. Limbs are removed, ribs are eaten and prayers are said by the bedside. It is farcical and a laugh riot, not to mention completely unique.

Knockout Verdict: Nice to meat you.

I love this movie and think it is seriously overlooked and underrated. Mercy Christmas follows the story of Michael Briskett (Steven Hubbell) as he spends Christmas day with the family of gorgeous co-worker Cindy (Casey O’Keefe).

Little does he realise that this family isn’t quite what it seems and he is about to find his way onto the menu. The unique thing about this movie is it takes you in one direction before flipping your expectations completely on their head. You never know quite what is coming. We awarded Mercy Christmas 3.5/5 in our review.

4. The Advent Calendar (2021) – Count Down to Death

The Unique Factor: Dark, moody, and something of an anti-Christmas movie. The Advent Calendar feels like one of the most serious attempts to create an actually unsettling festive horror movie and proves just how good France is at dishing out the Yuletide scares. It’s also a fiendishly unique Christmas horror movie with a completely original idea. Genuinely unsettling in parts and a perfect option for anyone looking for a less than festive Xmas horror.

Knockout Verdict: Be careful what you wish for.

Following the story of paraplegic woman Eva (Eugénie Derouand). The Advent Calendar sees Eva gifted a calendar that can make her dreams come true. There is only one rule; when she opens the first door, she must continue and see the calendar through to the last day, whatever the cost.

This follows that distinctly French tradition of Christmas horror movies that are seriously dark. It’s awesome, compelling stuff though and well worth checking out as an Anti-Christmas movie. We awarded The Advent Calendar 3.8/5 in our review.

3. Rare Exports (2010) – The Real Santa is Coming

The Unique Factor: Again, Rare Exports is a total Anti-Christmas movie and isn’t exactly full of festive cheer. It’s dark, violent, full of nudity, and pretty mean spirited with a vision of Santa Claus that will have you blocking up your chimney for good. It’s also a bloody great horror movie and a fantastic option for anyone who isn’t a fan of the season or is just looking to flip the Christmas cheer on its head.

Knockout Verdict: Santa Claws is coming to town.

Santa isn’t quite what he has been made out to be in Finland’s modern classic Christmas horror movie Rare Exports. He’s actually a horrible monster, dug up from the earth, with an army of twisted elves looking to punish children.

Luckily, Pietari (Onni Tommila) is on to him and all he has to do is convince his Dad (Jorma Tommila) so they can kidnap him and save the town’s kids. Rare Exports feels like a unique Christmas horror movie because it flips the very idea of Santa on its head and twists it into something terrifying. We awarded Rare Exports 4/5 in our review.

2. Better Watch Out (2016) – Home Invasion for the Holidays

The Unique Factor: Hilarious, occasionally brutal and always compelling. Better Watch Out subverts expectations to create one of the most obnoxious villains in Christmas horror history. Bringing a new grizzly reality to the traps in Home Alone and featuring some genuinely wince inducing moments as well as a twist for the ages. This is a movie that plays out in a totally unexpected way and is hideously entertaining.

Knockout Verdict: Deck the halls with blood.

Without giving too much away, Better Watch Out is a formulaic Christmas home invasion thriller until it isn’t. I still feel like it features one of the most satisfying plot pivots in recent horror history.

What seems like a fairly ordinary movie flips on its head as Ashley (Olivia DeJonge) is tasked with babysitting teenager Luke (Levi Miller) when a home invader puts the pair into a fight for their lives. But, is everything as it seems? We awarded Better Watch Out 4/5 in our review.

1. Dead End (2003) – The Road to Nowhere

The Unique Factor: Dead End is incredibly different from most Christmas horror films. Taking place almost entirely inside the confines of a car. It’s a movie that begs you to constantly question what you are seeing. Nothing feels right and something consistently seems to be off in this brilliant film. Keeping you off base throughout and thoroughly unnerved. It’s also incredibly funny and entertaining while managing to feel perfectly fitting for some Christmas horror viewing.

Knockout Verdict: Are we there yet? No.

Christmas Horror doesn’t come much more strange and unique than Dead End from 2003. Starring Ray Wise and Lin Shaye, this is a movie that plays out like a trippy episode of the Twilight Zone. It follows the story of a family heading out on a road trip to visit relatives for Christmas.

After a near miss on a tight road, the family take a shortcut which leads them onto a road that seems to be never ending. Prepare for your mind to be played with in this one. It’s a head trip that goes in some surprising directions and features a killer twist at the end. We awarded Dead End 4/5 in our review.

A Different Kind of Christmas

That wraps up our list of 10 Fantastically Unique Christmas Horror Movies. From zombie musicals to infinite roads, these films prove that there is much more to festive frights than just guys in Santa suits wielding axes. If you are looking to break the mould this holiday season, any one of these weird and wonderful oddities should do the trick.

If you enjoyed this list, why not stick around? We have plenty more horror movie lists to check out, or you can dive into our latest horror reviews. Thanks for reading Knockout Horror!

🎄 Quick Picks: The Best Unique Christmas Horror Movies by Vibe

The “Mind Bender” Pick: Dead End (2003)
For when you want to question reality. It takes a simple road trip concept and turns it into a surreal, darkly funny nightmare that keeps you guessing until the very end.

The “Twisted Comedy” Pick: Better Watch Out (2016)
For when you want to be shocked and entertained. It starts as a cozy home invasion movie before pulling the rug out from under you in the most spectacular way possible.

The “Anti-Claus” Pick: Rare Exports (2010)
For when you are sick of the Coca-Cola Santa. This Finnish gem re-imagines Father Christmas as a primal beast and offers a dark, gritty fairy tale vibe.

The “Sing-Along” Pick: Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
For when you want catchy tunes with your carnage. A zombie Christmas musical set in a Scottish high school? It is as unique as it sounds.

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