The holidays tend to be the busiest time of year, so maybe it’s hard to squeeze in as many holiday horror features as you’d like to during the month of December. Maybe you only have time for bite-sized morsels of yuletide terror. These horror shorts are the perfect solution. They’re great for quick bursts of terror that don’t take much time away from busy schedules.
From jump scares to nightmare-infused laughs, and even an emotional sucker punch, these five holiday-themed horror shorts will leave you feeling festive.
Treevenge
Is it even Christmas without revisiting this fun horror short from Jason Eisener (Hobo with a Shotgun)? After being hacked down, shipped far from home, and humiliated with decorations by humans, the trees have had enough. It’s a Christmas massacre in Treevenge.
Around the Christmas Tree
When you think of horror shorts, you probably think of quick but well-executed scares. No fuss, no intricate plots; just an atmospheric setup and a thrilling jump scare punchline. This holiday-themed horror short scratches that itch.
Zombie Musical
Before Anna and the Apocalypse, there was Zombie Musical, an award-winning short by Ryan McHenry. After the short’s release, McHenry spent years developing a feature-length version of the story with the help of writer Alan McDonald. McHenry never got to see his project come to fruition, though; he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2013, and in 2015 the disease claimed his life. His friends rallied and ensured his dream wouldn’t die with him, and thus Anna and the Apocalypse was completed and released into the world- it’s now on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. It’s a touching Christmas story both on screen and off, and Zombie Musical started it all.
White Christmas
Move over Krampus, it’s time to let other yuletide beasties have their day. This short is centered around the Perchta, a shapeshifting creature of Alpine folklore that slits the bellies of the naughty at Christmas or rewards the well behaved with a silver coin. Are the characters in this one naughty or nice? Either way, more Perchta please.
La Noria
If you watch only one holiday horror short this year, make it this one. From seasoned Pixar animator Carlos Baena comes a stunning short centered around grief. We’ve seen monsters as metaphors for grief before, but not like this. It’s gorgeous, haunting, and emotionally devastating. The holiday connection is minimal yet potent. If you ever wondered what it’d be like if Pixar tackled horror, this is a strong indicator. Seriously, watch this one.
