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THE 12 SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS: The Best Holiday Horror Movie Kills

Happy Holidays, Horror Press reader! Whether you’re sitting down to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just flat-out enjoying the winter season with friends and family, chances are some of you are doing that through horror films. After all, what goes better with milk and cookies than a television playing your favorite holiday horror movies to share with your people? It’s cold out, so cozy up!

Today, we’ve assembled an assortment of gifts for you: a comprehensive list of the best holiday horror movie kills, and the films they come from, for you to watch. Needless to say, a good deal of these kills are spoilers for the movies they’re from, so spoilers ahead.

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Happy Holidays, Horror Press reader! Whether you’re sitting down to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just flat-out enjoying the winter season with friends and family, chances are some of you are doing that through horror films. After all, what goes better with milk and cookies than a television playing your favorite holiday horror movies to share with your people? It’s cold out, so cozy up!

Today, we’ve assembled an assortment of gifts for you: a comprehensive list of the best holiday horror movie kills, and the films they come from, for you to watch. Needless to say, a good deal of these kills are spoilers for the movies they’re from, so spoilers ahead.

Honorable Mention: Everything In Treevenge

Jason Eisener, you absolute madman. What would we do without you? Treevenge is a now infamous short film by the V/H/S veteran and Hobo With A Shotgun director you all know and love. It follows Christmas trees getting their vengeance on an unsuspecting public after years of abuse. However bloody you’re expecting it to be, expect more.

You might be thinking, “It’s a Christmas Tree exploitation short film! How bad could it be?” My answer is you have NO idea how much worse it gets. Proceed with caution, as the squeamish will squirm and the faint of heart might just faint with how bad the climax of this is! Like all those Christmas tree fire safety PSAs, you have been warned!

12. The Mason Family Dinner (Santa’s Slay)

Santa’s Slay is a horror film that proves first impressions are everything. While David Steiman’s feature about Santa Claus’s demonic origins is weak in many places, its action is not one of those, and the opening scene lets you know upfront.

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The sleazy Mason Family’s Christmas dinner is interrupted by the arrival of an enraged Santa Claus (played by the wrestler Goldberg of all people), who proceeds to go to town on all the misbehaved and money-hungry family members. He does this via carving forks, turkey legs, and in one of the most realistically gross kills I’ve maybe ever seen, a massive bowl of eggnog. His thousand years of servitude are up, and he’s going to get his revenge, even if it means taking out a few cameo appearances by James Caan and Fran Drescher.

11. An Explosive End To Christmas Eve (P2)

Given it takes place in a location that is 90% concrete and asphalt, it’s easy to forget it’s a Christmas film in the first place. But the tale of sadistic security guard Thomas (played by Wes Bentley) and his victim Angela (played by Rachel Nichols) is capped off with a much more satisfying result than just wishing all a good night.

Wes Bentley is a character actor at the top of his game when he plays a weasely, nasty villain, so his death here is just beyond cathartic. As he whines and begs Angela to forgive him for the nightmare before Christmas he put her through, Angela ignites a trail of gasoline to the car he’s handcuffed to, resulting in a fiery end to her insufferable enemy. She even wishes him a Merry Christmas while doing it. Come on, that’s classic!

10. A Very Chipper Christmas (Silent Night, 2012)

Silent Night is a very loose remake of the original Silent Night, Deadly Night, which has gotten a lot of flak over the years. Following the aftermath of a mad Santa going on a spree with a flamethrower, a new killer rises to take his place decades later as a cop hunts him down. The killer certainly isn’t as memorable as our good old Billy Chapman was (with or without his transparent skull), and the film is much meaner than the previous five films.

Perhaps the best example of how well that meanness works is its use of a woodchipper during the film’s second act, where a chase into a grove of Christmas trees spells an untimely end for one of Santa’s victims.

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9. Santa, Is That You? (Christmas Bloody Christmas)

Between Bliss, Jimmy and Stiggs, and Christmas Bloody Christmas, Joe Begos remains on the nice list here at Horror Press…even if the content of his films are particularly naughty with their foul-mouthed scripts and the grisly ends he puts his characters through. Christmas Bloody Christmas is no different, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

For the approval of the Christmas Society, Begos presents a three-part kill that shows what he can do when he has a budget: our killer robot Santa goes after the neighbors of our main character, Tori, before he goes after her. What results is a heavy metal murder spree (pun slightly intended), with the youngest member of the family discovering that being naughty or nice doesn’t really matter when the man giving out the presents is a malfunctioning military android who is willing to throw your dad through a window.

8. Santa’s Least Favorite Cookies (Black Christmas, 2006)

Smack dab in the middle of the Black Christmas franchise, Black Christmas (2006) is an odd duck of a remake just like Silent Night (2012). In a just and honest world, Black Christmas’s spot on the list would be the teased “Christmas lights dragging someone into a snowblower kill” from the trailer for the film (left on the cutting room floor for reasons no one knows).

Instead, the film delivers on a much grosser visual: after Billy gets revenge on his abusive family, he makes meaty Christmas cookies out of them. How that even works, nobody knows! But what we do know is that the effects by Steve Collins and Co. are absolutely sickening and too gooey to erase from your brain.

7. No Tree Topper For You (Sint)

A gift from the Netherlands to the rest of the world, Sint is how director Dick Maas (of Amsterdamned fame) spreads the joy of the Dutch saint Sinterklaas to us all, albeit, this rendition is a burnt, undead monster who leads an army of zombie black peters, and wields a crosier that is more Dark Souls weapon than it is staff. Maas makes a horror comedy for the holiday season that most people don’t know about, but that more should. So, consider this spot a showcase if we don’t get around to reviewing it on the website.

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That crosier Sinterklaas uses throughout the film, by the way, grants us one of the best moments in the movie, where our Sinterklaas uses its razor-sharp edge to take the Christmas tree topper (head) off an unfortunate pine (SWAT officer who never stood a chance). It’s a simple death, but the way it happens is one of a kind.

6. The Home Alone Theory (Better Watch Out)

I’m going to take the coward’s route here and let you know once more: Better Watch Out is an instant cult classic for a reason, and its reputation mostly comes from viewers going in blind on your typical home invasion horror film. If you haven’t seen it, SPOILERS AHEAD once more.

The big reveal of Luke’s villainous intentions and conniving ways was only the beginning of making him a villain you love to hate. But what really punctuates his seedy character’s transformation going into the latter half of the film is the absolutely brutal kill he has planned for Ashley‘s boyfriend: testing whether or not Home Alone is scientifically accurate in its brutalities against Marv and Harry. And how does he do that? By swinging a filled paint can like a pendulum, and smashing it directly into Ricky‘s head. Its mostly offscreen nature is surprisingly subdued but still incredibly effective.

5. Open Your Presents! (Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toymaker)

The fifth entry in the Silent Night series is one of my yearly mandated watches at Christmas time, simply because of how strange it is. A bizarre story that follows a disgruntled toymaker is carried by the good if not kind of weird performance coming from aged movie star Mickey Rooney, which makes this movie a must see. That’s not even mentioning the ending, which is equal parts creepy and hilarious it has in store.

The film’s best kills come in a pair, as a couple are attacked by a swarm of automated toys, with nasty surprises ranging from buzzsaws to bullets. The practicals by horror effects royalty Screaming Mad George still hold up to this day as bloody fun.

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4. A Messy Christmas Meal (Gremlins)

Gremlins’ spot on the list is certainly the best effects-wise, thanks to the work of the legendary FX master and creature designer Chris Walas. A gateway horror for many of us, and likely the first Christmas horror movie you ever saw, Gremlins has its most memorable kills in the demise of its creatures rather than its protagonists.

We are of course talking about the very slimy kitchen confrontation, the climax to a scene in which Peltzer matriarch Lynn takes out a trio of attacking Gremlins who have transformed in her home. While one is taken out by blender, and another via kitchen knife, it’s the last one that explodes in the microwave and leaves its impact. Gooey, nasty chunks splattering the inside of the oven is a visual many fans will carry with them forever.

3. Rudolph’s Big Moment (Silent Night, Deadly Night)

You might be annoyed there is no mention of the iconic “Garbage Day” kill from Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 yet on this list. It’s a scene-turned-meme that tore through the internet in the 2010s like wildfire. But given that movie is mostly a clip show of the first film, I needed to give love to the actual most iconic kill from the franchise: Billy Chapman hoisting the unlucky Denise onto a pair of deer antlers mounted on the wall, spine first.

Denise’s demise isn’t just the most iconic kill in the Silent Night, Deadly Night franchise, it’s an all-time great horror movie kill in general. And in horror history terms, it’s the kill that made Linnea Quigley a scream queen icon, in a role she believes got her a spot as Trash in Return of the Living Dead. Who would have known a pair of antlers could do so much with so little?

2. The Shower Scene (Terrifier 3)

Look. We all knew this would be here on this list. It couldn’t have been anywhere else. It’s the scene that shocked people in theaters across the world, and that’s saying something given it’s the Terrifier films; people are to expect the complete depravity of Damien Leone, and every time he outdoes himself. You might even be mad that it’s not at number one, given how iconic the scene became by virtue of Terrifier 3’s firestorm of a release.

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Rivaling Terrifier 2’s bedroom scene is no easy feat, but Art the Clown’s work with a chainsaw in the shower scene of Terrifier 3 manages to do it. If you haven’t seen it, you want to know if it’s really that bad. If you have seen it, you know how legendarily gory it is. Ending with Art making snow angels in the blood of his targets, it is an irreverent and wild scene that goes on and on, displaying some of the best practical effects in slasher history. The Shower Scene is a grotesque and unending sequence that will shock any crowd, large or small.

1. The Glass Unicorn (Black Christmas, 1974)

One of the most iconic, if not one of the best slashers of all time, Bob Clark’s Black Christmas is an eerie holiday mystery that burns itself into your brain. From the iconic voice of our killer on those harassing phone calls, to the slow and frightening point-of-view shots that will send more shivers up your spine than a winter wind, it’s a film you can’t forget.

And the most iconic kill from the film is that of the unfortunate Barb (Margot Kidder). A collector of glass figurines, the mysterious killer Billy wields her glass unicorn and uses it as a weapon to take her out. Only seen framed in shadow with one maniacal eye in the light, it’s the scene that defines the film. The sequence is shot in slow motion and intercut with a group of carolers who drown out the attack by singing an incredible rendition of “Come All Ye Faithful”, adding an eerie calm to things. While most of the entries here are plainly entertaining, few horror movie kills have ever been able to match this kind of chilling tone as well.

And that’s our list! Do you agree with the rankings? Do you think there are more deserving kills we’ve left behind that should have been highlighted? Let us know on Twitter and Instagram, @HorrorPressLLC! And for more of everything horror, holidays and otherwise, stay tuned to HorrorPress.com!

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Luis Pomales-Diaz is a freelance writer and lover of fantasy, sci-fi, and of course, horror. When he isn't working on a new article or short story, he can usually be found watching schlocky movies and forgotten television shows.

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Our 10 Favorite Short Films From Final Girls Berlin Film Festival (2025)

Short films are one of my favorite parts of Final Girls Berlin Film Festival. Festival directors Elinor Lewy and Sara Neidorf always knock it out of the park with their short film block groupings and which films they pick for screening. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed by the blocks. While I can’t write about every single one, I wanted to take the time to highlight my top 10 favorite short films of their 10th Annual festival.

Due to the substance and quality of each short film, it wasn’t easy to narrow down the list to 10. It should be noted that with the exception of the films listed in the first and second spot, they aren’t in any specific order. (Because I couldn’t pick between two specific shorts, we’ll throw the 11th spot in here too!)

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Short films are one of my favorite parts of Final Girls Berlin Film Festival. Festival directors Elinor Lewy and Sara Neidorf always knock it out of the park with their short film block groupings and which films they pick for screening. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed by the blocks. While I can’t write about every single one, I wanted to take the time to highlight my top 10 favorite short films of their 10th Annual festival.

Due to the substance and quality of each short film, it wasn’t easy to narrow down the list to 10. It should be noted that with the exception of the films listed in the first and second spot, they aren’t in any specific order. (Because I couldn’t pick between two specific shorts, we’ll throw the 11th spot in here too!)

My 10 Favorite Shorts From Final Girls Berlin Festival 2025

11. Sugar Rag written by Spencer T. Heath & Jai Love // directed by Jai Love

Block 9: Pop Horror/Carnivalesque

Alfred’s (Carter Dau) parents come home to their expansive manor with a surprise…a baby brother! There’s something off about Alfred’s new brother Remus (Aaron Light), and Alfred can’t quite put his finger on it; maybe it’s the fact that Remus is a 6-foot-something man in a diaper with a baby’s head mask.

Sugar Rag is an insanely out-of-left-field short film that shocks and stings. Never in a million years would I have guessed where it would go next. The surprising idea by Heath and Love to have Remus be an adult male portraying a baby is something I need to see in a feature-length film. While it’s comedic for a good portion, Heath and Love do not let the short go gently into that good night. The climax is genuinely crazy and left me with my mouth agape. It makes sense that it’s on the Crypt TV YouTube channel.

10. Izzy written and directed by Yfke van Berckelaer

Block 1: Hostile Environments

Izzy (Nahéma Ricci) is sick and tired of being caught in the middle of everyone else’s crap. That’s when she decides a pop of color will liven things up.

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Izzy is short, sweet, and direct to the point. It has a story to tell and refuses to linger one second longer. There’s something deeper to Izzy than I can pinpoint, but by the time the short was over, it made me want to improve myself and stop sitting idly by while others get what they want out of life.

9. Gaslighter written by Virginia Powers Hendry and Anastasia Washington // directed by Virginia Powers Hendry

Block 3: Het Horror

Anne (Anastasia Washington) gets home after a long day of work only to realize that things are off. The front door isn’t locked, the power is out, and something seems wrong. Anne’s partner, Jeff (Taylor Marr), doesn’t believe her. That’s when the film splits in two and gives us Until Dawn-like points of view. Will Anne stay the night and face the evil in her house? Or will she leave the house like any normal person would?

Gaslighter puts to test the idea of audience reactions. How many times have you watched a horror film and shouted at the screen, “RUN! LEAVE THE HOUSE!” Hendry and Washington play with that idea by putting all the tropes out there and letting Anne make the choices for herself. It’s a fun play on the genre that works well for a short film but might not play as well if it were any longer.

8. Deep Cut written and directed by Michelle Farrah Huang

Block 1: Hostile Environments

Farrah (Michelle Farrah Huang) is on set for a film for the first time in years. She’s seemingly doing a good job, but the film’s director (Keir Gilchrist) doesn’t seem pleased. Farrah becomes friends with another actor named Jessie (Sugar Lyn Beard), and the two head to Farrah’s for a night of drinking. But Jessie seems too big of a fan of Farrah’s previous work and will do anything to ensure their film succeeds.

Deep Cut is meta and fascinating in an incredibly original way. You think you know where it’s going but get crisscrossed by the end. Huang’s story succeeds in its current form but would greatly benefit from a feature-length version. Huang and Gilchrist have great chemistry both when they’re friends and when they’re…not. It’s fairly straightforward visually but doesn’t fail to capture and keep the viewer’s attention.

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7. Dark Mommy written by Courtney Eck and James P. Gannon // directed by Courtney Eck

Block 1: Hostile Environments

Ben (Ben Chandler) is a quiet man who spends his nights working as a solo dispatcher for his small town’s 911 call center. What seems like a prank call turns into a night of terror that might be a sign of something bigger to come.

As someone who works in overnight emergency dispatch, this one hit a little hard for me. Being the only person in a four-story building in midtown Manhattan sans a security guard can get slightly overwhelming. That being said, I would kill to dispatch in a town like Ben’s. The whole idea of Dark Mommy (Uranbileg Angarag) is brilliant and the effects by Ravenous Studios on Dark Mommy look stellar. As I’ve said many times throughout this list, so far, Dark Mommy would make a KILLER Malum-esque feature-length film. If you get a chance to see this at a festival, do not miss it.

6. How To Stay Awake written and directed by Vanessa Magic

Block 5: Midnight

Helen (Preeti Torul) will do anything to stay awake because if she falls asleep…the Night Witch (Hannan Younis) comes.

I have terrible insomnia, and working overnights probably doesn’t help. Helen’s plight is something I’m all too familiar with (though to a much lesser extent of a Night Witch). Vanessa Magic expertly crafted a story of what it feels like to not feel in control of your body and how powerless it can be. The sound design works wonders for the film, but I could have used a lot less high-pitched ringing–that’s what made me go from loving this short to liking it. Don’t get me wrong, I understand it, but it was too much. Overall, Magic created a visually intriguing piece of horror that gave me two separate nightmares.

5. It Came From Inside! written and directed by Aura Martinez Sandoval and Jackson Rees

Block 7: Queer Horror

It’s Halloween night! Vicky (Gentry Loghry) and her partner Oliver (Luke Harger) are relaxing after a party. An explosion outside piques their interest and changes their lives forever.

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If you’re a fan of retro ’80s horror, then It Came From Inside! will be right up your alley. It has the trappings of Raimi, Dekker, and Henenlotter while still keeping an updated visual style. Full of some excellent practicals, this short reads like an open lines call from Coast to Coast with Art Bell. No notes!

4. The Blue Diamond written by Sam Fox and Addison Heimann // directed by Sam Fox

Block 4: Cults

Alison (Desiree Staples) is overseeing the funeral for her cult leader mother, Jacqueline (Barbara Crampton). Alison has stayed away from the cult this long…can she make it through the afterparty?

Cult horror isn’t usually my thing, but I still give them a shot. The Blue Diamond is an incredibly fun take on cults and how they affect those who are closest to the leader. Alison is a well-written character, and Desiree Staples does a fantastic job of portraying her. And I mean, Barbara Crampton is Barbara Crampton! There’s a fun twist that takes this short in a direction most in this subgenre don’t take, and I found it to be generally refreshing. So what are you waiting for? Let’s all go down the blue diamond together!

3. Micro-Short written and directed by Beth Fletcher

Block 5: Midnight

Don’t get between Dani (Hannah Myers) and her microwave.

Micro-Short is an excellent piece of avant-garde madness. Fletcher’s story and direction are expertly lensed by Maddy Talias, who knows HOW to work a camera. For a [very] short film about a woman and a microwave that takes place in a single room, Talias shoots the hell out of this short. I was insanely blown away by the filmmaking in Micro-Short.

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2. Last to Leave written and directed by Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Block 5: Midnight

Brunette (Ginger Gonza) and Blonde (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) arrive at a bar right at last call. The women seem slightly off, but the remaining bar patrons are more than happy to have them join for a drink—big mistake.

When I saw Mary Elizabeth Ellis on screen, I jumped off my couch with excitement. I was even more excited when I saw she wrote and directed this. One of my favorite things is when A-list talent steps out of their comfort zones to make shorts/features that are completely different from their main body of work. Not only was I excited to see Ellis, but I was also genuinely surprised by how good this short was. This short plays it close to the chest, but when it’s ready to rip, it rips. I’ll only say this one more time: I really hope Last to Leave gets a feature adaptation. There are great intricacies to Brunette and Blonde, and it would be great to see Ellis expand on them.

1. Bloody Hell written by Lena Albin // directed by Lena Albin and Jayden Rathsam Hua

Block 5: Midnight

Sam (Sophia Morrison) is preparing for a night out with her friend Jacinta (Sophie Teo). But her period is far from her worst trouble tonight.

WOW. Absolutely, wow. Body horror is one of my favorite subgenres. While I find it enjoyable, it’s hard for body horror to make me physically nauseous. I really don’t want to say too much about Bloody Hell because it needs to be seen to be believed, but I want to give my props to Albin, Hua, makeup artists Lara Franzi and Maddison Gray, and SFX coordinator Briana Garbutt. This short film is one bloody hell of a good time.

Happy Festival, Final Girls Berlin! It was a pleasure, as always, and I’m looking forward to next year’s fest!

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in March 2025

Shudder has compiled a pretty cool list of horror movies this March. The streamer is really looking out for us and has something for every kind of genre fan. Are you the kind of nerd who wants to watch The Evil Dead (1981) and Evil Dead (2013) back to back? They have you covered. Does the recent release of The Monkey make you want to revisit some Stephen King classics? Then hop in when Christine rolls onto the streamer this month. Do you just want to watch Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) without commercial breaks? Well, Shudder is that girl again. There is plenty to choose from this month, and I am living my best life. I am so pleased to present these five titles I plan on flirting with this month. Here are our top picks for what to watch on Shudder this April 2025!

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Shudder has compiled a pretty cool list of horror movies this March. The streamer is really looking out for us and has something for every kind of genre fan. Are you the kind of nerd who wants to watch The Evil Dead (1981) and Evil Dead (2013) back to back? They have you covered. Does the recent release of The Monkey make you want to revisit some Stephen King classics? Then hop in when Christine rolls onto the streamer this month. Do you just want to watch Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) without commercial breaks? Well, Shudder is that girl again. There is plenty to choose from this month, and I am living my best life. I am so pleased to present these five titles I plan on flirting with this month.

The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month

30 Days Of Night (2007)

An Alaskan town is plunged into darkness for a month as it is attacked by a vicious vampire gang. This movie made vampires cool again, and we are all forever in its debt. As a basic girl, I ran at this title because I wanted to see what Josh Hartnett was doing. However, I left convinced this might be one of the best vampire movies I had seen in my short lifetime. While I did not have a crush on Melissa George or Danny Huston, they are also pretty fantastic in this bloody film.

You can watch 30 Days Of Night on March 1st.

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Silent Hill (2006)

A woman takes her adopted daughter to Silent Hill, hoping to cure her of her illness. However, they are separated after a car crash and must embark on a horrific journey to be reunited. This remains one of the best video game adaptations I have had the joy of seeing in theaters. This makes it special because I played way too many survival horror games as a kid and was disappointed in their big-screen adaptations. I am so excited that Shudder is giving us this unsettling gem this March.

You can watch Silent Hill on March 1st.

Out of the Dark (2014)

Young women working for a phone-sex company become the target of a serial killer. I am on a quest to watch as many 80s slashers as possible, and this is one of the titles I can never catch streaming. So, I am eager to dive into this title the second it lands on Shudder. I am also giddy because Karen Black and Divine are in the cast, so it already feels iconic. Hopefully, it is a little sleazy too, but beggers cannot be choosers. I cannot wait to take this journey and cross this movie off my list.

You can watch Out of the Dark on March 15th.

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The Rule Of Jenny Pen (2024)

After suffering a stroke, a judge is sent to a retirement home where another patient uses a puppet to bully his fellow residents. This movie is so weird that I have no choice but to enjoy the ride. Come to see Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow battle it out, but stay because you will be too stunned to do anything else. This is possibly one of the best villains Lithgow has given us, and it is not for lack of trying. I truly think his chaotic Dexter and Ricochet characters would have become a version of this one. If they had met different endings, of course.

You can watch The Rule Of Jenny Pen on March 28th.

Starve Acre (2023)

A family’s picturesque life is thrown for a spin when their son begins to change. This movie has been roaming around since 2023, and I have not been able to get my hands on it. It is set in England in the 1970s and stars Matt Smith (His House, Doctor Who) and Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud). All of these things make me think it might be my new personality. So, Shudder is a saint for finally allowing us to check it out this month. I hope this kid is as creepy as he sounds because I have waited so long to see this film.

You can watch Starve Acre on March 7th.

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As usual, Shudder is a horror lover’s best friend. Hope you enjoy these sick, weird, and new titles as much as I think I will this month. Happy Shudder Saturday (and Sunday) to all who partake! 

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