For the Love of Christmas Movies

I don’t really have a point for this column, other than to gush about my favorites.  Sure, there are classics like Earnest Saves Christmas,  Muppets Christmas Carol, The Santa Clause and Jingle All the Way that will always touch my soul.   Yet there are two films that are, to me, the quintessential in Christmas films.

The first, is Gremlins.  Cue up that iconic theme song and let’s watch as little reptilian rodents eat through the Holiday spirit.  How could you not love, at the very least like, this film?  You had flashing gremlins, you had Snow White loving gremlins, you even had gremlins that hung out at the local YMCA.  This film was chalk filled with exciting creatures.

While the sequel has the best gags, like the gremlin that grows wings and flies through the wall; leaving the Batman symbol, this film really embraced the Christmas spirit.  We can’t forget about Gizmo though.  That little cute ball of fluff was everything for everyone.  He was the true Christmas wish for every kids in the 80’s.

I doubt anyone would even remotely challenge me on Gremlins being a Christmas film.  Sure, it’s a horror comedy first and foremost, but it’s absolutely set during the Christmas holiday with so much of the film including Christmas imagery.  It’s a slam dunk.  The next film however, is not going to be so hard to convince you on.

So, what if I told you that a film came out on Christmas Day, in 1998?  Would that make it a Christmas film?  I argue yes.  Because what’s more Christmas-y than being born on Christmas?  I’m not saying this film is the Savior of science fiction-horror flicks; but it did start a lot of careers…

That film is none-other than the cult classic The Faculty.

The film features Robert Patrick, Usher, Clea Duval, Famke Janssen, Selma Hayek, Jon Stewart, Elijah Wood, Josh Harnett, Jordana Brewster…and a partridge in a pear tree…

The film features a star studded, A-List level talent, in high school, against the backdrop of an alien invasion lead by the T-1000 itself.  The film mixes high school football, peer pressure, identity issues, and more.  It’s a coming of age, horror high school masterpiece.

But it’s set during football season in Ohio, which is from August-November at the latest.  So it’s definitely not set during Christmas.   Though what is the truest mark of a Christmas film?  Being set during Christmas, or being debuted on Christmas?

Now that’s a debate.  Much like the seasons though, all good things must come to an end, and thus, so does this quick little blurb about my two favorite Christmas flicks.  Now I bid you a Merry Christmas, and venture off to watch The Community Christmas episodes.