The winter months are often an active time for horror fans, whether getting in some Christmas-themed terrors or settling down with a favorite comfort film to help idle the hours away. Many of us find ourselves in this kind of repetition. While months like October offer their joys, especially with the embrace of month-long challenges leading up to Halloween, most people’s horror-filled hearts will always belong to winter.
There are many reasons why December to February sees people reveling more in the genre. We are here to get on our winter boots, grab our shovels, and head out into the frozen, stark unknown to understand better what makes those months so appealing for horror movie fans.
Isolation Inspires Horror
For those who have not experienced extreme cold, it can be hard to relate to the sensation of temperatures dropping below -25°F. Your face stings, breathing hurts, and you can find your commute to work in the morning as dark as night, with an ordinarily bustling city reduced down to those who have no choice but to leave their homes for work or chores.
Weekend activities, though still doable, are more cumbersome as you have to get on all your gear, and too often the choice to stay inside becomes all the more appealing than in the summer months when you don’t have to plan around the weather.
Make no mistake, winter can be one of the most beautiful seasons, and part of the appeal for horror fans can be as simple as the striking aesthetic of red blood on clear white snow, but there is a sinister side to it that has inspired many a filmmaker and writer. Moreover, even though many have not experienced such temperatures, they can understand the concept when presented on screen.
In a sense, it can be a subject of fascination for those blessed by the sun year round, and a cathartic release for those often stuck inside and slowing down their lives at the whims of the weather. So often in films, being trapped by a storm is made all the worse when that storm is snow rather than rain, and leaves behind impassable roads and temperatures too cold for walking anywhere — leaving you stuck in a situation that might be nightmarish or horrific.
A prime example of winter-themed isolation is the John Carpenter classic film The Thing, which presents a barren white landscape that few can envision. In the movie, the cold is almost as threatening as the creature hunting down the inhabitants of the small Alaskan outpost. For every action they perform, they must consider the weather. Imagine The Thing in a summer villa: while this would work out well for the alien itself, the loss of feeling trapped by the weather would result in a much less effective film.
There are two different stories in horror: internal and external. In external horror films, the evil comes from the outside, the other tribe, this thing in the darkness that we don’t understand. Internal is the human heart. (John Carpenter)
Ultimately, winter is a season that forces many of us to focus more inward; if summer is your extrovert bubbly friend, winter is the quiet, nerdy friend who is content to share some tea and talk about a book or watch a movie. Tying these ideas together, John Carpenter said it best when reflecting on internal versus external horror. Winter sparks our internal fears, as we tend to withdraw and hunker down while we wait for the season to pass.
Great Horror Films Taking Place During the Winter
Besides the previously mentioned The Thing, many horror classics and cult films take place during the season: The Shining, The Brood, Misery, Pontypool, and Cold Prey, to name a few. One might be tempted to point out that more horror classics take place in the other seasons, but the identity of these films is never tied as closely to the horror elements as seen in films taking place during the winter.
These movies cement our perspective of the season at its most unforgiving, adding an element to the already horrifying scenarios presented to the characters in front of them. Unsurprisingly, many filmmakers have chosen to highlight the season, and those elements resonated deeply with their audiences.
The classics are also best revisited during winter for those dealing with cold weather, as their cold and unforgiving landscapes mimic the temperature outside one’s door. Yet another side to the season, specifically in December, further drives home the fact that winter is the best season for horror.
A Little Bit of Joy with Your Bah! Humbug
People generally watch more movies during Christmas, as the genre of holiday-themed romances, family-friendly comedies, and dramas dominate the theater and streaming in equal, if not greater, measure than their horror counterparts. For those who love horror, though, there is an undeniable slight revolt against the season in embracing more dark and terror-filled cinema during the bright holiday.
This is highlighted by the sheer number of holiday-themed horror films versus ones that take place on Halloween — a trend that continues to be capitalized on. Many of these holiday films are considered classics in the genre; from the original Black Christmas in 1974 to 2022’s Violent Night, there is no shortage of yuletide-themed scares to be found.
This time is also ideal for indie filmmakers, and many streaming service fans will see an inevitable flood of Christmas-themed horror releases. Often, they fall into the so-bad-its-good category, but these features still get that boost from those staying inside to watch as many movies as possible.
Some people only watch Christmas-themed horror during December. Even smaller productions like The Mean One, parodying The Grinch, get a little extra attention because of its festive ties. Or you can indulge in one of the many anti-Santa Krampus-centered films, with A Horror Christmas Story being a great example of indie horror that slays during the month.
When looking at holiday-themed horror, you could watch a movie every day in the winter and still not make it through the massive catalog of films inspired by Christmas.
Winter is the Best Season for Horror
While we all love Halloween as the season when most of us flaunt our horror knowledge, winter gives more time in its dark three months to indulge in a cheesy holiday horror, a personal favorite, or movies with blood-drenched snow. Regardless of your reasons for reveling in more terrifying content, it is hard not to say that winter is the ideal season for horror.
Winter is also an excellent time for new discoveries. It does not all have to be Christmas or cold-themed, as you can always find something great on streaming services or dig deep into the horror classics of a different era of cinema. Celebrate the season how you want!
To help you appreciate being warm and indoors, here is a video of the best winter-themed horror movies of all time:
