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Writer's pictureBryan Alaspa

Horror Tales for the Thanksgiving Holiday and Beyond


A creepy ghoul over a turkey for horror at Thanksgiving

I wanted to create a list of horror novels and movies that would be perfect for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The problem is, I couldn't think of any. So, I 100% for this article asked ChatGPT to put together this list. So, my buddy AI compiled this list and I found it amusing what it pulled. Just letting you know, that beyond this into, this is 100% AI and there are many here I have not seen. Maybe we can all read and watch together! Here's what ChatGPT had to say:


Horror Movies:

  1. Blood Rage (1987)

    • Thanksgiving Horror Classic: A slasher film set during Thanksgiving, where a family dinner goes horribly wrong as an escaped killer targets unsuspecting victims.


  2. Thankskilling (2008)

    • Dark Comedy for Turkey Day: A low-budget horror-comedy about a homicidal turkey with a murderous streak. It’s ridiculous and fun for a Thanksgiving horror watch party.


  3. Krampus (2015)

    • Christmas Meets Horror: Based on the legend of Krampus, this film revolves around a dysfunctional family that gets terrorized by an ancient Christmas demon. Perfect for both holiday vibes and terrifying chills.


  4. Black Christmas (1974)

    • Holiday Slasher Classic: One of the earliest slasher films, Black Christmas is set during the festive season, with a sorority house stalked by a menacing killer.


  5. P2 (2007)

    • Tense Christmas Eve Thriller: This underrated psychological thriller takes place on Christmas Eve when a woman is trapped in a parking garage and hunted by a sadistic security guard.


  6. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

    • Christmas Slasher Vibes: A controversial film when it was released, this one features a young man traumatized by Christmas who becomes a deranged killer dressed as Santa Claus.

    • Note from me: The sequel to this one has the classic line "Garbage Day!" in it.


  7. The Lodge (2019)

    • Creepy Winter Isolation: A slow-burn psychological horror set around the Christmas holidays, where a family vacation to a remote winter lodge takes a terrifying turn.


  8. Better Watch Out (2016)

    • Holiday Twist on Home Invasion: This dark, twist-filled film initially feels like a standard Christmas home invasion movie but quickly turns into something more sinister.


  9. Dead End (2003)

    • Christmas Road Trip Gone Wrong: While driving to their family Christmas gathering, a family takes a detour that leads them down a nightmarish, supernatural path.


  10. A Christmas Horror Story (2015)

    • Holiday Anthology Horror: A collection of interwoven Christmas horror tales, from zombie elves to Krampus battles, that create a festive yet frightening viewing experience.


Horror Novels:

  1. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

    • Psychological Horror with Winter Chills: Though not directly holiday-related, this haunted house story set during the cold winter months gives you the perfect eerie atmosphere for the holiday season.


  2. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

    • Christmas Horror Epic: Hill’s novel revolves around a vampiric villain who kidnaps children and takes them to "Christmasland," a place where every day is Christmas and the horrors are endless.


  3. Snowblind by Christopher Golden

    • Chilling Winter Horror: This supernatural thriller set in a small town trapped by a deadly snowstorm offers a wintry setting perfect for holiday horror reading.


  4. Krampus: The Yule Lord by Brom

    • Dark Christmas Fantasy: This dark fantasy novel explores the legend of Krampus, bringing the demonic holiday figure to life with a blend of horror and mythology.


  5. The Twelve by Justin Cronin

    • Post-Apocalyptic Horror with Holiday Tension: This sequel to The Passage contains wintertime settings and apocalyptic tension that build up toward a Christmas climax.


  6. Horns by Joe Hill

    • Holiday-Themed Horror with a Twist: While Horns isn’t a traditional holiday novel, its supernatural themes and dark wit make it an unsettling read for the winter season.


  7. The Shining by Stephen King

    • Winter Terror in Isolation: King’s classic, set in the remote Overlook Hotel during a brutal winter, provides the perfect combination of isolation, snow, and creeping dread for holiday reading.


  8. Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge

    • Halloween-to-Holiday Crossover: This quick, brutal read begins around Halloween but carries an eerie small-town atmosphere that could bleed into the holiday season.


  9. Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

    • Ghostly Winter Tale: Set in a small town haunted by the past, this atmospheric novel is perfect for those looking to get lost in a snowy, creepy mystery during the holidays.


  10. Severed by Joshua Marsella

    • Thanksgiving Cannibal Horror: This novella is a perfect Thanksgiving read for horror fans. Set in a desolate location, it tells a disturbing tale involving cannibalism and survival.


This combination of films and novels captures the festive yet terrifying spirit of the holidays, making it a perfect list for a blog aimed at horror fiction fans.


Also, please pre-order my new novel Newcomers, at Amazon today!


Or visit my Amazon store and see all of my books, novels, novellas, short stories.

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