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5 Winter horror films for holiday Grinches

By Adrienne Clark

SANKT JOHANN IM PONGAU, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 06: Men wearing horned, wooden masks and dressed as the Krampus creature prepare to participate in the annual Krampus parade on Saint Nicholas Day on December 6, 2017 in Sankt Johann im Pongau, Austria. Several hundred Krampus creatures from the region took part in this year's Sankt Johann parade. Krampus traditionally accompanies Saint Nicholas and angels in a house to house procession to reward children who have been good and warn those who have not, though in recent decades Krampus parades have become an intrinsic part of local folklore and take place throughout the end of November and into the first half of December in the alpine regions of Germany, Austria and Italy. Krampus usually wears large cowbells on his back that he rings by shaking his hips to ward off the evil spirits of winter. He also carries a switch made of branches or animal hair that he uses to whip bystanders. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
SANKT JOHANN IM PONGAU, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 06: Men wearing horned, wooden masks and dressed as the Krampus creature prepare to participate in the annual Krampus parade on Saint Nicholas Day on December 6, 2017 in Sankt Johann im Pongau, Austria. Several hundred Krampus creatures from the region took part in this year's Sankt Johann parade. Krampus traditionally accompanies Saint Nicholas and angels in a house to house procession to reward children who have been good and warn those who have not, though in recent decades Krampus parades have become an intrinsic part of local folklore and take place throughout the end of November and into the first half of December in the alpine regions of Germany, Austria and Italy. Krampus usually wears large cowbells on his back that he rings by shaking his hips to ward off the evil spirits of winter. He also carries a switch made of branches or animal hair that he uses to whip bystanders. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) /
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2. Ravenous

I don’t know about you, but all this winter horror talk has made me kind of hungry.

If you’re planning to throw on a flick to watch with dinner, Antonia Bird’s Ravenous is not the film to choose. In fact, treat this film similarly to swimming: no food or drink for 30 minutes before viewing.

“Why?” I can hear you ask. But you already know the answer.

Cannibals.

And not just any cannibals. Nineteenth-century cannibals. Let me explain.

When Captain John Boyd (Guy Pearce) is reassigned to the remote Fort Spencer during the Mexican American War, he finds himself in charge of a ragtag group of outcasts. Surly, drunk and drug-addled, this team can barely keep themselves in line, let alone defend the outpost from attack. Luckily there isn’t much in the way of action in this desolate area.

Enter Colqhoun.

Colqhoun (Robert Carlyle) was part of a wagon train that got lost for months in the harsh mountain terrain near the outpost. Blocked by snowdrifts and without food, the party was forced to feed on the flesh of their fallen members to survive. To add insult to injury, they wouldn’t have even been in this mess if it wasn’t for Colonel Ives, Colqhon tells them. Ives was the reason the wagon train got lost, and reading between the lines, the Colonel has become violent.

Boyd prepares a search party to find the lost travels, but before he can depart, one member of his crew reminds him of the myth of the Wendigo. Consuming human flesh may fill the belly, but it can curse the soul.

This is a film that is as cruel as it is clever. Director Antonia Bird misses no chance to highlight the horrors of war, the harshness of pioneer life, and the brutal ugliness of people pushed to their limits.

While the premise may seem straightforward enough, I can guarantee this winter horror film will make your jaw hit the floor at least once before this tale is done.

1. Pontypool

Nothing holds as much power as the spoken word.

When radio host Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie) and his crew learn that a savage riot has broken out in their hometown of Pontypool, Ontario, they’re concerned, but not overly so. Safe in the studio, they continue on with their night waiting to learn more about the unfolding events from their helicopter reporter, Ken (Rick Roberts).

Unfortunately, when they do hear back from Ken it’s not good news. The riot is getting worse, and more bloody. People are tearing each other apart. In fact, some people are tearing themselves apart. It’s not a pretty sight, and it only seems to be escalating.

Just when it looks like Ken might be in danger, a French transmission comes through the airwaves. The message warns “For your safety, please avoid contact with close family members and restrain from the following: all terms of endearment, talk with young children, and rhetorical discourse. “

As the situation becomes more dire, Grant and his crew must discover the truth of what’s happening in Pontypool before the danger inevitably makes its way to the station.

What really sets Pontypool apart is what you don’t see. Thanks to the story’s setting in a radio station, much of the action is conveyed through audio transmissions like the ones from Ken the helicopter reporter. In these sections of the film all you get to know about the horror taking place is what you hear and what you see on the radio employees’ faces.

The standout films in any subgenre are the ones that take tropes and turn them into something totally new. Based on the book Pontypool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess, the movie uses the framework of its traditional subgenre (you’ll have to watch to find out which one), but this winter horror keeps things fresh by weaving in surprising plot complications to tell a story that’s totally original.

Next. 10 best holiday horror films to watch FREE on Tubi. dark

So, no matter whether you’re a holiday hater or just burnt out on the ho ho hos, there’s still plenty of great horror films for you to enjoy when the weather turns cold.

I’m always looking for something new to send a chill up my spine. What are some of your favorite winter horror films?

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