Nightmare Christmas in 10 movies for real Grinch

There is a successful and handsome adult who lives in a house-sanctuary of holidays, convinced that Santa Claus exists. The plot of I believe in Santa Claus (one of Netflix’s new Christmas movies and already in the top ten in Italy) says a lot about where the madness of extreme celebrations can go. But this is by no means the exception, but the rule of any self-respecting Christmas movie. Mistletoe in spades, gingerbread cookies like there’s no tomorrow and many, many fir trees chosen after a selection worthy of a federal agency. In short, these stories from small to big screen they’re serious in a discount store of feelings and rites that risk boring someone.

To take a break from this sugary and sometimes cloying climate, there’s nothing better than one anti-Christmas movie marathon (some unintentionally). The ingredients are more or less the same but the spirit is steeped in cynicism, social satire and even pure violence. On the other hand, there are those who say that Die Hard both a Christmas movie and who watches ai Gremlins as a metaphor for a gift that definitely got out of hand.

Here, then, are ten antidotes to balance the excess of rhetoric and good feelings, in streaming or in theaters. And – surprisingly – one is an Italian title, The best days, anticipated at Professional cinema days in Sorrento promoted by ANEC.

1. A violent and silent night

David Harbor is very, very scary in Santa Claus version (at the cinema). He is drunk, disenchanted and vengeful. Fed up with the increasingly demanding children, their arrogant parents and the growing naughty list, he wants to drop everything and retire. Then the unthinkable happens, she finds herself embroiled in a kidnapping and theft and is unleashed in all his glorious fury. A holiday massacre (not to be missed).

2. The best days

Edoardo Leo and Massimiliano Bruno direct the episodes of The best days (from January 1st to the cinema), a bitter comedy about how the holidays punctually derail with respect to good intentions and in fact manage to bring out the worst in individuals and families. Snake relatives.

3. Christmas for rent

Ben Affleck wants at all costs a family for the holidays and in Christmas for rent (on NOW) borrows James Gandolfini’s for a fee. To fulfill this fantasy full of love, harmony and holiday songs risks driving everyone else crazy. Choreographing traditions, conveying feelings and forcing affections leads to sometimes exhilarating and sometimes exasperating results.

4. Christmas every day

The protagonist was born on December 25, a day he hates because no one actually celebrates him twice, indeed more and more often he acts as a helper for his family members who, in defiance of his birthday, boss him around. Christmas every day (on Netflix) is a curse that repeats itself daily, a perpetual nightmare in which every single morning he gets up and relives the day he so detested. It perfectly captures the irritation that comes from repeating obligatory rituals.

5. Bad Santa

With fake beard and red Santa hat, Billy Bob Thornton is irresistible, but for the wrong reasons. Santa Bastard (on Lionsgate+) is the apotheosis of politically incorrect because the protagonist Willie I don’t know is a thief who robs shopping malls at Christmas but swears, addicted to alcohol, nicotine and sex. In short, it embodies all the vices that one would like to hide under the carpet throughout the holiday season. A real tsunami of madness.

6. Bloody Christmas

Here it really goes further because the slasher/horror saga paints Santa Claus as a murderer. And in fact perhaps it has offended Italian sensibilities to such an extent that there is only one dubbing in our language: only the first of the six films was broadcast on TV. The protagonist Billy suffers traumas as a child which he then perpetuates as an adult. To trigger them is always the holiday season which transforms him into a ruthless killer. An absolute sculpture.

7. Snow in the heart

The snow in the heart (on Disney+) makes you cry… and a lot too. But she also has an innate ability to irritate, thanks to a series of characters who are at their worst during the holidays. Hysterical, pedantic, capricious and whining and they are all gathered at Christmas under one roof. In short, an explosive mix that weaves sentimental dramas with secret pains (the cast is stellar and includes Diane Keaton and Sarah Jessica Parker). It perfectly shows how tiring it is to love each other, especially during the holidays.

8. Ghost SOS

Bill Murray is the modern version of Scrooge: ruthless and unscrupulous, he got rich by exploiting others. His Francis embodies everything one tends to resent in a garment. With the addition of a fair amount of madness. In short, an irresistible villain who tries to save himself in a Dickensian way.

9.Christmas Evil

The red here is definitely blood. Another slasher movie for those who know that parties can turn into a massacre. It has become an eighties classic even if the story starts in 1947 and tells of a toy maker who, having discovered the truth about Santa Claus, becomes a ruthless killer. In this case the concept of the naughty list is followed a little too literally and in fact the protagonist Harry wears the Santa Claus costume and punishes to the end those who say he deserves it.

10. The Grinch

Jim Carrey version Grinch (on Netflix) brings the world-famous Dr. Seuss character to life in all his disturbing madness. Misanthropic and cynical, this greenish creature hates every single festive and joyful aspect and this makes him an outcast but also feared in the town of Chinonsò. Bad, indeed very bad, he lives in solitude on Monte Briciolaio. But peace does not last forever…

More stories from Vanity Fair that may interest you:

The 25 best Christmas movies ever

The Christmas movie you don’t expect: A violent and silent night

5 films to see at Christmas that make everyone agree (or almost)