ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Are you feeling reluctant to take “Elf” off the shelf? Is your “Home Alone” tradition in need of renovation? Is your 34th viewing of “Miracle on 34th Street” just one time too many? Like Rudolph with his nose so bright, 828reviewsNOW is here to help.
Try these alternative Christmas movie selections, guaranteed to deliver all the Christmas cheer you crave without the stale peppermint taste you can’t stand. Happy holidays and happy viewing.
“BLACK CHRISTMAS” (1974, 98 min., directed by Bob Clark)
Perhaps the greatest slasher film ever made, Bob Clark’s 1974 holiday horror film is a delightfully feminist take on the sorority house massacre. Starring screen icons like Margot Kidder (Lois Lane in the Christopher Reeve “Superman” movies) and Olivia Hussey (Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 “Romeo and Juliet) and featuring killer sound design enhanced by a deranged performance from Nick Mancuso, “Black Christmas” is the perfect pick for those craving a spooky seasonal selection.
“GREMLINS” (1984, 106 min., directed by Joe Dante)
“Gremlins,” Joe Dante’s creature feature largely credited for necessitating the invention of the PG-13 rating, is a fantastic pick for families with kids who have outgrown Frosty the Snowman but aren’t ready for Krampus. “Gremlins” is a hoot from top to bottom. Be warned, though: anyone who encounters the cute, cuddly Gizmo will be wanting one for their own come Christmas morn.
“BATMAN RETURNS” (1992, 126 min., directed by Tim Burton)
“Really?” you might be asking. “Batman has a Christmas movie?” It’s true, reader. “Batman Returns,” Tim Burton’s follow-up to his 1989 pop culture megahit, is absolutely a Christmas movie. It is packed with snowy, gothic atmosphere and the spirit of giving, courtesy of Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito giving two of the strangest, campiest comic book villain performances of all time. Listen to the jingling Danny Elfman score just once and you’ll instantly itch to ditch your Christmas party for a life of fighting crime.
“TANGERINE” (2015, 87 min., directed by Sean Baker)
Before Sean Baker was a four-time Oscar winner for “Anora,” the director made one of the best Christmas comedies of the 21st century. “Tangerine” stars Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor as trans sex workers on a madcap Christmas Eve mission around Los Angeles. The indie film was shot on an iPhone 5s for $100,000, but its huge heart and larger-than-life characters have transcended its micro-budget trappings to become a certified Christmas classic.
“THE GREEN KNIGHT” (2021, 130 min., directed by David Lowery)
“Indulge me in this friendly Christmas game,” the titular Green Knight proclaims in David Lowery’s Arthurian holiday tale. Likewise, I recommend you indulge in this film this holiday season. From its beautiful costumes, wintry sets and stellar performances – including a winning star turn from Dev Patel and multiples roles by Alicia Vikander – “The Green Knight” is a terrific pick for a holiday viewing. Plus, it has a great moral. Take that, “It’s a Wonderful Life”!
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