The Twelve Unconventional Movies of Christmas Challenge.
What's an unconventional Christmas movie? Well, first we need to define what constitutes a Christmas movie. For the purposes of this challenge, a Christmas movie is any movie that is set during Christmas, has the tonal or spiritual theme of Christmas, or is routinely watched by a large portion of the population over the Christmas holiday. Now, an unconventional Christmas movie is any movie that pisses off your friends and family when you refer to it as a Christmas movie. (See Die Hard)
Watch one 'unconventional Christmas movie' from all twelve categories listed below before Dec 26th.
Bonus points if a character says the title of the movie during the film.
1. Movies with at least one Santa
2. Christmas Horror
3. Features Monsters or Magical Creatures
4. Christmas Drama
5. Made for Television
6. Redemption Tale
7. Action Movie
8. Home for the Holidays
9. Contains the Word 'Christmas' in the Title
10. Animated
11. Adaptation, Remake, or Sequel
12. Featuring Crime or Mystery
Here are our picks:
1. Watch a movie featuring at least one Santa.
Willie: 'What is it with you anyway? Someone drop you on your fucking head?'
Kid: 'On my head?'
Willie: 'Well yeah, what are they going to drop you on someone else's head?'
Kid: 'How can they drop me onto my own head?'
Willie: 'No, not onto your..what?...Goddam it! Are you fucking with me?'
2. Watch a Christmas Horror Movie.
This anthology is the perfect stocking stuffer for genre fans who really enjoy watching Santa fight Krampus and little kids holding severed hands.
3. Watch a Christmas movie featuring monsters or magical creatures.
According to Wikipedia: Krampus is a horned "half-goat, half-demon", who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved. So, why do we even need a Santa?
4. Watch a Christmas drama.
It's Christmas time during the 'war to end all wars'.
Spoiler Alert!!!
This war didn't end any wars.
5. Watch a Christmas movie made for TV.
They talk Wookie for the first ten minutes of this movie. No subtitles. And it still wasn't the most confusing part.
6. Watch a Christmas movie with a redemption arc.
You can argue whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie all you like. We started off this list by defining what constitutes a 'Christmas movie'... a Christmas movie is any movie that is set during Christmas, has the tonal or spiritual theme of Christmas, or is routinely watched by a large portion of the population over the Christmas holiday...
Die Hard is 3 for 3. End of discussion.
7. Watch a Christmas action movie.
Need convincing this is a Christmas movie:
Shane Black wrote it.
It opens to 'Jingle Bell Rock'.
The first action scene has a dude shooting a shotgun while hiding in a bunch of Christmas trees.
8. Watch a Christmas movie set at home.
'Better Watch Out' was marketed as 'Home Alone' meets 'The Strangers'. It's more like 'Home Alone' meets the third act of 'Scream' after everyone leaves the party and its just Sydney and the killers, but how do you fit that on a poster?
9. Watch a movie with 'Christmas' in the title.
Anyone who remembers the terrifying 'you'll shoot your eye out' scenes from 'A Christmas Story' shouldn't be shocked to know that this Christmas slasher was directed by the same guy.
10. Watch an Animated Christmas movie
I'm not entirely convinced this is a Christmas movie. But 'Christmas' is in the title and Santa is one of the major plot points. So. Here we are.
11. Watch a Christmas movie that is either an adaptation, remake, or sequel.
More like Brunette Christmas. AMIRITE???
I'll just leave.
12. Watch a Christmas movie featuring crime or mystery.
This gem is a classic Noir-Christmas movie, written and directed by Shane Black, featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer. Merry Christmas.
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