24 Days of LosMas- The Night Sitter (2018)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the last night I am posting the 2018 black comedy The Night Sitter.

The Night Sitter (2018)

Dir- Abiel Bruhn & John Rocco

Baby sitters in peril movies are a unique genre in horror going back to some of the earliest slashers, including "Halloween," "When a Stranger Calls," and, more recently, "Better Watch Out." 2018s "The Night Sitter" joins this collection by adding a bit of home invasion along with some paranormal plot twists. Elyse Dufour portrays Amber, an attractive young con artist looking to rob the home of a wealthy man by pretending to be an innocent babysitter. Unfortunately, the night does not go as planned due to the young boys she's watching unleashing the spirits of a trio of witches known as The Three Mothers leaving Amber and her burglar team trapped in the home with no escape. "The Night Sitter" is a unique take on the babysitter in peril trope and proves to be an effective black comedy with Ms. Dufour stepping up to protect not only herself but the young boy she befriends. The film is set during the Christmas holidays giving the film a colorful look that fans of Italian Giallo movies will appreciate. While not as well known as a movie like "The Babysitter" and "House of the Devil," "The Night Sitter" is a welcome entry into the babysitter genre as well as a great holiday horror-comedy.    

24 Days of LosMas- The Day of the Beast (1995)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the twenty-third night, I am posting the 1995 black comedy The Day of the Beast (1995).

The Day of the Beast (1995)

Dir- Alex de la Iglesia

A Priest who is an expert on Revelations believes he has decoded a message revealing that the antichrist will be born soon near the Christmas holiday. He then purses a life of sin to draw the devil closer so that he can save humanity from this dark fate. Along the way, he befriends a metal-loving satanist and a talk show host to help him in this quest. The Day of the Beast is a 1995 Spanish Black Comedy directed by Alex de la Iglesia and starring Alex Angulo as our unlikely hero Cura. The film is an excellent blend of traditional slapstick and buddy comedy styles that we rarely see these days. Mr. Angulo portrays the priest Cura as a delightful and naive scholar whose sinful tasks are funny and almost Forrest Gump-like. Despite being in Spanish, the movie does a great job fleshing out the main characters, especially Santiago Segura as his partner and bodyguard Jose Maria, making the two a most unlikely team. Armando De Razza also stands out as the sleazy talk show host Cavan who grows to believe the priest and offers his help when the priest and Jose Maria require it. The Day of the Beast has enjoyed some extra attention in recent years thanks to Shudder's Joe Bob Briggs featuring this movie on his Last Drive-In Show.  

24 Days of LosMas- Silent Night (2021)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the twenty-second night, I am posting the 2021 black comedy Silent Night (2021)

Silent Night (2021)

Dir- Camille Griffin

Holiday parties are often the best way to celebrate the season while also opening the doors for grievances and more significant concerns. The black comedy Silent Night focuses on a Christmas party involving friends and family coming together for a festive night of holiday cheer. The people are full of joy and good spirits, but as the night approaches, a dark secret comes to light as a worldwide catastrophe is revealed, and their fears come out as they debate the government's response and their inevitable fate. Silent Night is a 2021 black comedy directed by Camille Griffin and starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Roman Griffin Davis, Lily-Rose Depp, and Lucy Punch. The festive setting proves to be an elaborate facade created by the circle of friends to protect their children from the horrific events and to celebrate one last night together. The film's drastic change in tone is sudden and is done thanks to the talents of Ms. Knightley and young star Roman Griffin Davis effectively showing the despair a young boy faces. Silent Night is a bleak film and one of the darkest holiday movies of the season, but the film is an example of how the happiest season can also mask some of life's greatest fears. 

24 Days of LosMas- The Advent Calendar (2020)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the twentieth night, I am posting the 2020 thriller The Advent Calendar (2020)

The Advent Calendar (2020)

Dir- Patrick Ridremont

A former ballet dancer paralyzed in an accident receives an antique Advent Calendar from her best friend on her birthday. The daily treats that are unlocked seem innocent at first, but as the days unfold, she is given rewards that seem too good to be true, but they do come with a steep cost. The Advent Calendar is a French/Belgian movie directed by Patrick Ridremont and starring Eugenie Derouand as Eve. The Calendar presents Eve the chance to walk again, but she soon learns that sacrifices are needed to fulfill the Calendars' daily rewards. The struggle she faces adds to the story's tension as she has to decide if seeing the death of loved ones is worth getting her legs back. 

24 Days of LosMas- Santa Claws (1996)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the twentieth night, I am posting the 1996 slasher Santa Claws (1996)

Santa Claws (1996)

Dir- John Russo

A porn actress facing domestic problems at home finds help from her neighbor, not realizing he is an obsessive fan of her work. His devotion to her goes too far when he dons a Santa suit and uses a garden claw to eliminate her competition. Santa Claws stars prolific horror movie actress Debbie Rochon in a role that reflects the genuine fear many actresses face when fandom crosses over to obsession. The character of Raven Quinn, as portrayed by Ms. Rochon, is modeled on fellow horror actress Brinke Stevens giving her a depth rarely found in horror movies. Unfortunately, the rest of the film suffers from a poorly developed villain, low body count, and terrible weapon. Santa Claws is a good concept, and Ms. Rochon is great in her role, but the rest of the film is derivative and lacks creativity, which is ironic given that the director was one of the men who wrote and created Night of the Living Dead.     

24 Days of LosMas- Another Wolfcop (2017)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the nineteenth night, I am posting the 2017 werewolf horror-comedy Another Wolfcop (2017)

Another Wolfcop (2017)

Dir- Lowell Dean

Former alcoholic lawman and Lycanthrope Lou Garou returns to fight crime and annoy the local police chief. But, this time, a local entrepreneur is investing in the community with a new hockey stadium and brewery for his Chicken Milk beer. Wolfcop suspects the rich man is up to no good, and sure enough, a big showdown ensues involving robots, aliens, phallic overload, and a scythe-wielding wolfman. A sequel to the 2014 Candian werewolf comedy, "Another Wolfcop," amps up the vulgarity and outrageousness to eleven. Much of the same cast returns with some fun cameos and enough grossness to compare it to early Peter Jackson films.   

24 Days of LosMas- Last Stop on the Night Train (1975)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the eighteenth night, I am posting the 1975 Italian revenge movie Last Stop on the Night Train

Last Stop on the Night Train (1975)

Dir- Aldo Lado

One of the most influential and often copied movies was Ingmar Bergman's 1960 drama The Virgin Spring. Wes Craven's first movie, The Last House on the Left, was the first of many films that utilized the premise of a murdered innocent and the violent justice met on the criminals. Italian director Aldo Lado's revenge horror movie "L'ultimo treno della notte" improves on Craven's controversial film by setting the events on a train from Germany to Italy and having the violent assault on the young women occur in transit. The rest of the film follows the plot of Last House, only changing the ways the perpetrators are dealt with in the end. In 1975, Last Stop on the Night Train joined a collection of revenge films similar to Last House, and it was considered one of the better revenge movies of that era. Lado's film was released in several markets with titles such as Night Train Murders, The New House on The Left, Second House on The Left, Don't Ride on Late Night Trains, Late Night Trains, Last House Part II, and Xmas Massacre.   

24 Days of LosMas- 13 Slays Till X-Mas (2020)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the seventeenth night, I am posting the 2020 Christmas horror anthology 13 Slays Till X-Mas (2020)

13 Slays Till X-Mas (2020)

On Christmas Eve, five random men in a bar pass the time by sharing scary stories related to the holiday. Each one tries to one-up the other as 13 tales of terror are shown. 13 Slays Till X-Mas is a Christmas-themed horror anthology featuring the work of 13 directors. The segment highlights include Jed Brian's creepy Kringles the Christmas Clown and Drew Marvicks Santa Claws featuring his daughter's desire for a cellphone from Santa. A fun indie holiday horror collection that will not disappoint fans of scary Christmas tales.

24 Days of LosMas- Caesar & Otto's Deadly Xmas (2012)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the fifth night, I am posting the 2012 horror-comedy Caesar & Otto's Deadly Xmas (2012).

Caesar & Otto's Deadly Xmas (2012)

Dir- Dave Campfield

Caesar and Otto take jobs as a store Santa and Elf but incur the wrath of another Santa. Their sibling rivalry distracts them from the murders being committed by said evil Santa, who targets their acquaintances in the hope of framing Caesar and Otto for the crimes. The fifth movie in Dave Campfield's Caesar and Otto series features Campfield and Paul Chomicki in goofy segments featuring an army of 80s horror personalities, including Felissa Rose, Lloyd Kaufman, Linnea Quigley, Debbie Rochon, Brinke Stevens, and Deron Miller as the Killer Claus. Deadly Xmas is a silly movie that plays loose on important details like plot, and narrative but the joy in this film is watching the absurd scenes play out in one of the goofiest Christmas horror comedies in recent years.  

24 Days of LosMas- The Elf (2017)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the fifteenth night, I am posting the 2017 killer doll horror movie The Elf.

The Elf (2017)

Dir- Justin Price

After inheriting an old toy store, a young man finds an elf sealed in a box that disappears shortly afterward. He drives home with his fiancé and is surprised to see the doll in their home as her family arrives for a holiday party. What follows next is fairly predictable but not done very well. The Elf is a 2017 movie written and directed by Justin Price; the film pretty much tries to follow the style of a Chucky or Puppetmaster movie but is slow, poorly written, and terribly made. One of the few movies that, after multiple viewing, left me wondering what exactly did I watch. Easily one of the worst holiday horror movies on this marathon. 

24 Days of LosMas- The Nights Before Christmas (2019)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the fourteenth night, I am posting the 2019 slasher The Nights Before Christmas.

The Nights Before Christmas (2019)

Dir- Paul Tanter

A sequel to the 2017 movie Once Upon a Time at Christmas picks up a year later as the killer Claus tracks down his estranged daughter, who escaped his clutches. Along the way, a team of FBI agents is trying to catch the murderous duo before Santa can finish his naughty hit list. Paul Tanter directs this sequel that returns Simon Phillips and Sayla de Goede as the killer couple while recasting most of the surviving cast from the first movie. The sequel is the usual slasher fare that only excels when Phillips and Goede are on screen as everyone else fails to stand out. Sayla de Goede certainly makes an impressive impression of Harley Quinn and is probably the best character in the series. Director Paul Tanter's effort pays off as both movies make a killer combo for the holiday season. 

24 Days of LosMas- Axemas 2: Blood Slay (2019)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the thirteenth night, I am posting the 2019 slasher short Axemas 2: Bood Slay.

Axemas 2: Blood Slay (2019)

Dir- John Ward

A year after Sarah's friends were murdered by a maniac dressed as Santa in a storage facility, she is trying to prove her innocence as well as dealing with nightmares from that night. While on a date, she learns that her suffering isn't over as she is kidnapped and faces off against another killer Claus. The sequel to John Wards 2017 horror short Axemas picks up where the last movie left off now featuring Drew Marvick as psychotic Santa-clad Uncle Kris. Ashley Campbell returns as Sarah proving herself to be a cunning and formidable final girl. Axemas 2 has fewer kills than the previous film while featuring Drew Marvick as one of the better killer Santa's in recent years. 

24 Days of LosMas- Mother Krampus (2017)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the twelfth night, I am posting the 2017 slasher Mother Krampus.

Mother Krampus (2017)

Dir James Klass

A series of child deaths in the early 1990s terrifies a small town that fears the dark spirit of Frau Perchta may have returned. An outcast woman is blamed for the murders and hung by angry parents seeking vengeance against this suspected witch. Twenty-five years later, children begin to disappear, and one woman decides to look into the legend, fearing that she and her child may be the next victim. Mother Krampus is a 2017 Christmas-themed horror movie directed by James Klass. The story draws from the German legend of Frau Perchta, a witch who would kidnap children during the 12 days of Christmas. The film was initially titled The Curse of Frau Perchta but was renamed Mother Krampus to tie it in with the numerous Krampus-related stories despite this movie having nothing to do with the Krampus legend. Certainly not the worst of the lot, Mother Krampus is an interesting concept, and Frau Perchta is a scary villain that deserves a better movie.  

24 Days of LosMas- Family Reunion (1989)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the eleventh night, I am posting the 1989 thriller Family Reunion

Family Reunion (1989)

Dir- Michael Hawes

A family traveling during the Christmas holiday takes a detour to a California ghost town called Sutterville and encounters a mysterious drifter with psychic powers. Soon after, they learn of a deadly massacre in Sutterville many years before and that they may be connected to a deadly cult there. Family Reunion is a late 80s thriller that lacks the body count and blood of the slasher movies that were popular in that error. Despite its satanic premise, the film is not as scary or intense as The Exorcist and The Omen; instead, it focuses on the cult leader using his psychic powers to hurt people and cause vehicles to drive on their own. Michael Hawes directed Family Reunion and co-wrote One Dark Night with Tom McLoughlin. 

24 Days of LosMas- Axemas (2017)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the tenth night, I am posting the 2017 slasher short Axemas.

Axemas (2017)

Dir- John Ward

After closing, three couples decide to hold a private party at a storage facility but discover that an intruder dressed as Santa is stalking them with an ax. Written and directed by John Ward, the film clocks in at 25 minutes to waste little time and get to the kills. Axemas is a competent and entertaining holiday slasher with a terrifying villain despite the formulaic plot. The kills are bloody, so if you are a fan of slashers, this film will deliver a decent body count just in time for the holidays.  

24 Days of LosMas- Letters to Satan Claus (2020)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the ninth night, I am posting the 2020 SyFy horror-comedy Letters to Satan Claus

Letters to Satan Claus (2020)

Dir- Emma Jean Sutherland

A young girl angry at her folks writes a letter to Santa, yet she misspells his name, and Satan answers the letter. Years later, the young woman must confront the tragic events that followed as she returns to her hometown during the holiday celebration. Letters to Satan Claus is a SyFy movie directed by Emma Jean Sutherland and starring Karen Knox as Holly. The movie is a parody of the syrupy Hallmark and Lifetime holiday movies following the usual tropes found in dozens of Christmas films. Yet, Holly's challenges are demonic as she sees her town fall victim to a series of tragic events that all tie back to the angry letter she wrote. As SyFy movies go, this was a fun attempt at making a holiday movie with a darkly humous twist. If you are a fan of such holiday movies, you will know the formula and will probably guess the ending, but this parody is a surprisingly fun and darkly funny holiday tale. 

24 Days of LosMas- The Gingerdead Man (2005)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the eighth night, I am posting the 2005 Charles Band horror-comedy The Gingerdead Man.

The Gingerdead Man (2005)

Dir- Charles Band

A crazed psycho killer is brought back to life after his execution in the form of a gingerbread man when his ashes are mixed with the spice mix. He then terrorizes the daughter of his last victims, hoping to add to his body count. Directed by Full Moon creator Charles Band, The Gingerdead Man casts Gary Busey as the killer cookie in this silly but strangely entertaining comedy horror movie. The studio best known for the Puppetmaster series of movies bakes up another franchise that may not please the critics. Indeed, it entertains fans who appreciate the Charles Band style of films. The film would spawn a series of sequels, crossover movies, and merchandise as it has become a cult classic since its release in 2005. 

24 Days of LosMas- Feeders 2: Slay Bells

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the seventh night, I am posting the 1998 low budget comedy Feeders 2: Slay Bells

Feeders 2: Slay Bells

Dir: Mark Polonia & John Polonia

A zero-budget film brought to you by the team responsible for Feeders and Sharkenstein. While the world enjoys the Christmas holiday, aliens decide to attack Earth and target Santa along the way. One family decides to fight back and help Santa ensure that Feeders 3 can happen. Feeders 2 is directed and written by the Polonia brothers, known for their homemade effects and paper mache aliens. While this film has a fan base that appreciates the Polonia brothers' can-do spirit, this sequel to the equally homemade Feeders feels more at home with the dozen or so Krampus knockoffs. I appreciate the effort to make an alien Christmas movie, but this movie is better enjoyed by watching the Riff Trax version, which makes it more fun to watch.

24 Days of LosMas- Red Christmas (2014)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the sixth night, I am posting the 2014 pseudo-documentary horror movie Red Christmas.

Red Christmas (2014)

Dir- Steve Rudzinski

Red Christmas is a pseudo-documentary-style film, not to be confused for the 2016 Craig Anderson film of the same name. Steve Rudzinski's 2014 horror film features Tara, a serial killer who kills men exclusively. She records her exploits, knowing that there will be a record of her exploits if she is ever caught. This Christmas season, she targets a possible victim at the mall showing how easy it is to lure any man home where she has sinister intent and a desire to please herself as she gets a sick thrill from her exploits. As the movie unfolds, Tara is unaware of another party watching her work, and what follows will add some unexpected twists. Red Christmas makes use of found footage, and Rudzinski skillfully makes the film more documentary style like Man Bites Dog or August Underground. Actress Amie Wrenn does an adequate job in her role, but some scenes drag on despite the movie's one-hour length. Thankfully Ms. Wrenn is engaging on camera and has great charisma despite her unmistakable psychotic personality.  

24 Days of LosMas- Follow (2015)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the fifth night, I am posting the 2015 psychological horror movie Follow.

Follow (2015)

Dir- Owen Egerton

A young artist opens an early Christmas gift from his girlfriend and suddenly blacks out. When he awakens, his life is thrown in turmoil as a series of tragic events unfold as he tries to determine if the circumstances are genuine or in his mind. Follow is a 2015 psychological thriller directed by Owen Egerton and starring Noah Segan, Haley Lu Richardson, and Olivia Grace Applegate. Follow is a movie that shows how a single event can change the course of your life and send a person on a path of desperation. Although most of the events occur in a single location suggesting this movie may have started as a short movie, the scenes that unfold and the random visits do work well for the story, and Noah Segan does an excellent job as Quinn. Set in Texas, Follow does not feature the wintery look in most Christmas movies, but any native Texan will feel right at home. 

24 Days of LosMas- Hosts (2020)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the fourth night, I am posting the 2020 sci-fi horror movie Hosts.

Hosts (2020)

Dir- Adam Leader & Richard Oakes 

A close encounter on Christmas Eve results in a young couple being taken over by unknown entities who then attend a neighbors family dinner where they hold the family hostage inflicting a series of cruel acts. Hosts is a 2020 English horror film directed by Adam Leader and Richard Oakes, who based it on a story they both created. The movie makes excellent use of practical effects and gets quite violent in some of the screen kills; the cast of unknown actors lends to the terror as the viewer waits to see what happens next. The film's name may be confused with the similarly titled 2019 screen life film Host, but even if you watch this in error, you as the viewer will not be disappointed by this holiday horror movie. 

24 Days of LosMas- Red Snow (2021)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the third night, I am posting the 2021 vampire dark comedy Red Snow. 

Red Snow (2021)

Sean Nichols Lynch

Alone in a Lake Tahoe Cabin, a struggling writer (Dennice Cisneros) with a fixation on vampires finds inspiration when she rescues an injured bat that turns out to be a vampire (Nico Bellamy). Hoping to learn more about vampire culture, she offers him a place to hide out, but her curiosity may put her in danger from a vampire hunter and the vampires he is chasing. Red Snow is a holiday-themed black comedy directed by Sean Nichols Lynch, known for the 2015 drama Prep School. Dennice Cisneros shines in the starring role of Olivia, a vampire romantic who dreams of success as a writer and jumps at the chance to interview a real vampire. Nico Bellamy costars as Lucas, the injured vampire who agrees to help Olivia while suppressing his urge to feed on her. Vernon Wells also appears as a mysterious detective looking to capture Lucas. At 80 minutes, Red Snow does not wear out its welcome, and the delightful pairing of Olivia and Lucas makes for quite an odd couple. With recent vampire movies trying to stand out among the pack, it is refreshing to see a vampire comedy that isn't a derivative parody of Twilight or Dracula. Instead, Red Snow will appeal to fans of vampire movies looking for films along the lines of Fright Night and Dark Shadows, offering a bit of dark humor and some mildly gory bloodsucking.    

24 Days of LosMas- Treevenge (2008)

I will be posting Christmas-themed horror films over the next 24 days of LosMas; for the second night, it's the 2008 horror-comedy short Treevenge.

Treevenge (2008)

Dir- Jason Eisener

Treevenge is a Christmas horror short that features a community of evergreen trees attacked, kidnapped, and sold into bondage who then exact revenge on their holiday captors. Treevenge is a black comedy directed by Jason Eisner, best known for writing and directing Hobo With a Shotgun. Despite the fairytale-like premise, the film is very violent, with people of all ages brutally murdered by the vengeance-fueled firs. Nevertheless, Treevenge is a wickedly fun movie with enough dark humor to make every Christmas tree shopper consider switching to artificial evergreens.