Christmas

10 of the saddest Christmas songs to soundtrack your blues

We've made a list and checked it twice.

Official Grinch book sequel announced for September release

We know what happened when the Grinch stole Christmas, but on 5 September, one of Dr. Seuss’ most famous characters gets a sequel, with How The Grinch Lost Christmas! coming to shelves.

7 TV shows you might have missed in December 2022

Gary Oldman and David Tennant lead the pack in fantastic telly aired last month. Here are the TV shows you might have missed in December.

Happy Valley complements the festive season which is meant to be fearful

Happy Valley is one of the least cheerful places on Earth, but it's also great to watch at the turn of the year.

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Krampus

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. Released in 2015, Krampus has become a modern horror classic. 

London in the snow | Deep Focus

We might not get a white Christmas, but we got a white mid-December instead. In the latest of our Deep Focus series, where we look closely at a seemingly simple photograph, we compare London in the snow to Breugel's 1565 classic, The Hunters in the Snow.

Actually, Gremlins are the good guys

Gremlins is undoubtedly one of the biggest Christmas cult classics and as Rory Doherty argues here, they’re the good guys in the story. 

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Silent Night, Deadly Night

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. We’re looking at a controversial slasher classic, Silent Night, Deadly Night. 

The story of Christmas ghosts | Why does Britain love festive terror?

Why, at the cheeriest time of year, do we like to spook ourselves out of our skins? From Charles Dickens to M.R. James, we investigate a Christmas tradition like no other: ghosts.

14 Days of Christmas Horror | The Gingerbread Man

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. We salute the crappy, unwatchable and downright terrible films with The Gingerbread Man. 

An essay on farts and 7 other deleted scenes from Love Actually

From Sam being a gymnastics star to the cut lesbian lovers, Ada McVean looks at what could have been part Love Actually, a Christmas classic.

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Silent Night

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. We have more murderous Santas for you as we take a look at Silent Night. 

Christmas Traditions from Around the World to Combat the Holiday Blues

Ellie Sivins looks at the many Christmas traditions around the world in an attempt to save you from the Christmas blues.

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Rare Exports

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. Finnish horror-comedy Rare Exports offers us a devilish version of Santa Claus himself.

The Woman in Black | The British horror film that ruined Christmas

23 years before Hammer Studios turned The Woman in Black into a blockbuster, ITV aired a version so scary that it traumatised a generation.

The best worst gifts | A selection of Christmas presents for people you don't like

It’s the final week before Christmas, which means a last-ditch scramble for overpriced, underwhelming presents. But instead of rushing around to find lovely gifts for people who don’t deserve them, we’ve devised a passive aggressive list of items for people you don’t like.

Will Love Actually ever go out of date, actually?

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Richard Curtis' Christmas classic, Love Actually. Lara Olszowska interviews six first-time viewers to find out how well the film has aged.

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Anna and the Apocalypse

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. It’s all about hitting those high notes as we look at Anna and the Apocalypse. 

Why Kate McCallister is our hero | Home Alone from a mother’s perspective

Home Alone remains a steady Christmas classic, but for Rebekah Rainey, it’s now Kevin’s mum Kate McAllister who she identifies with.

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Inside

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. Be prepared to be disturbed as we delve into the New French Extremism with Inside.

14 Days of Christmas Horror | The Nightmare Before Christmas

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. Today, we’re arguing The Nightmare Before Christmas is, in fact, a Christmas film. 

14 Days of Christmas Horror | The Lodge

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. It’s getting increasingly cold outside so let’s look at the chilly thriller, The Lodge.

Seven alternative Christmas movies to keep Scrooge happy

Fancy an alternative Christmas movie that doesn't require Bruce Willis to take his socks off? For anyone in need of some seasonally-appropriate viewing without the sleigh bells on, here's seven alternative Christmas movies to keep you properly out of the festive spirit. 

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Better Watch Out

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. We get appropriately brutal with a festive slasher, Better Watch Out. 

Deadpool the Elf gets into the Christmas spirit | Deep Focus

Christmas is just around the corner, but one festive onlooker stood out from the rest. In the latest part of our Deep Focus series, we look closely at a seemingly simple photograph to deduce what’s really happening. 

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Gremlins

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. This time, we get cheeky with a classic 80’s film, Gremlins. 

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Black Christmas (2019)

We guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror. This time, we delve into the feminist horror of 2019’s Black Christmas. 

LadBaby, and the re-X-Factoring of the Christmas number one

The sad state of the Christmas music charts continues, with LadBaby's attempt at a fifth number one. But isn't enough enough now?

14 Days of Christmas Horror | Violent Night

This festive season, we guide you through 14 days of Christmas Horror and first up, Violent Night, starring David Harbour. 

Why Rambo, not Die Hard, is the ultimate Christmas movie

Forget Die Hard - Rambo is the real Christmas film. Death and rebirth, crucifixion and Santa hats, this is a nativity play with M16 rifles.