Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- campy
- grotesque
- halloween movie night
- christmas horror marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the anthology glossy and entertaining in concept, but unevenly executed, with its overlapping segments producing a disjointed experience.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film intercuts separate Christmas-season stories involving a homicide investigation, a disturbed child, Krampus, and Santa battling zombie elves.
Krampus, the Xmas demon, stalks a family during a winter holiday, while Santa and zombie elves turn the North Pole into a violent horror setting.
The homicide investigation, forest-trip family story, Krampus pursuit, and North Pole battle are presented as overlapping narrative threads.
Snowy forests, Christmas trees, winter wonderlands, Santa Claus, and elves are juxtaposed with stalking, supernatural danger, and zombie violence.
Films like A Christmas Horror Story, and why
Trick 'r Treat
overlapping horror anthology segments linked by a holiday setting and darkly playful tone
Tales of Halloween
seasonal horror anthology with supernatural folklore, macabre humor, and interwoven narratives
Krampus
christmas-themed supernatural horror centered on a folkloric holiday monster
Creepshow
ensemble horror anthology combining grotesque set pieces with an irreverent genre sensibility
Movie Details
- Directors
- Steven Hoban, Grant Harvey, Brett Sullivan
- Release Date
- 2015-07-20
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (381)
Cast
- William Shatner
- George Buza
- Rob Archer
- Zoé De Grand Maison
- Alex Ozerov-Meyer
- Shannon Kook
- Amy Forsyth
- Jeff Clarke
- Michelle Nolden
- Oluniké Adeliyi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is A Christmas Horror Story about?
- A darkly comic Christmas horror anthology turns holiday folklore, snowy family traditions, and Santa’s workshop into interconnected nightmares.
- What is A Christmas Horror Story like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Christmas Horror Story as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is A Christmas Horror Story violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in A Christmas Horror Story as graphic.
- What did critics think of A Christmas Horror Story?
- Critics generally found the anthology glossy and entertaining in concept, but unevenly executed, with its overlapping segments producing a disjointed experience.
- Which films are like A Christmas Horror Story?
- Films with a similar feel include Trick 'r Treat, Tales of Halloween, Krampus, and Creepshow.
- How long is A Christmas Horror Story?
- A Christmas Horror Story runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Christmas Horror Story?
- In United States, A Christmas Horror Story streams on Philo.
