If you've stepped into a mall or turned on the TV in the past few days, then you know that we're (over)burdened with an endless stream of Christmas carols and holiday sales. In theory – December is a time of joy, but with so much daily manufactured joy that they try to force us to use in every possible way, we very quickly become cynical about the entire Christmas holiday experience. If you're one of those who needs an "antidote" to all the "jolly and merry" here and there, we've prepared a list of five anti-Christmas classics... for that little Grinch in us.
1. Gremlins, 1984
The mini monster created by Joe Dante in the eighties still lives on through nostalgia. The film, which has been forgotten as "Christmas", because it is unfriendly to the holidays itself, is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to calm down a little all the euphoria around Christmas. A subversive black comedy and the perfect "antidote".
2. Lethal Weapon, 1987
If you feel like your Christmas festivities could use some police action and bloodshed, then Lethal Weapon is the way to go. The action classic, which is not a Christmas movie, contains many dark and strange references to the holiday. A ridiculously fun action movie full of guns, car chases and no Christmas tearjerker and sentimentality. What more could you want?
3. Black Christmas, 1974
Writer and director Bob Clark, who also signed the film, among others A Christmas Story, on the other hand, recorded something much darker. The film, which is about girls who are terrorized by frightening phone calls and elaborate murders, is not only the first "slasher" film, but is said to have a big impact on Halloween.
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4. The Ref, 1994
Few films feature families as dysfunctional as The Ref, and there's no better time of year than Christmas for all the tensions to explode. A jewel thief played by Denis Leary takes some hostages during an attempted robbery, but unfortunately it's a couple played by Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis who absolutely hate each other. Things are also complicated by relatives who come for an (too) early Christmas dinner. The movie contains some of the funniest insults and dark humor you will ever hear.
5. Bad Santa, 2003
Directed by Terry Zwigoff and co-produced by the Coen brothers, the comedy starring Billy Bob Thorton as Santa Claus is a big dump where all the beloved aspects of the holiday are dumped and the laughs go down. Few Hollywood comedies are this dark.
