Joy to the world, the holiday season is here! As the winter air ushers in a time of Christmas movies, music and more, there is a shift in the spirit of holiday entertainment.
In the past, Christmas movies have always been a specific genre and type of film. Recently, directors have started exploring outside of that box, creating horror and action movies with a Christmas touch. Movies such as “Violent Night,” “Terrifier 3” and “Krampus” have shifted the stereotypical Christmas movies into a modern twist.
The director of “Terrifer 3,” Damien Leone, says that he always wanted to do a Christmas-horror subgenre movie.
“Art the Clown ruins Christmas. To me, there’s nothing creepier and cozier than a manic dressed as Santa Claus,” Leone tells ABC Audio.
Even the traditional Christmas romantic comedy, or “rom-com,” has undergone significant change in recent years. The growth of streaming services has resulted in more movies coming out every year. These new movies are becoming less serious and more lighthearted than the original Christmas romcoms. Netflix, for example, has become a staple in Christmas movies over the last few years. With the “A Christmas Prince” and “The Princess Switch” trilogies, Netflix has established its own little Christmas cinematic universe.
New Christmas movies take themselves less seriously, allowing for the production of humorous films like “Hot Frosty,” “Our Little Secret” and “The Merry Gentlemen.”
From attractive snowmen to Santa’s own Secret Service, the next generation of Christmas films offers viewers original and fresh entertainment.
Along with films, Christmas music has explored the love genre with a holiday twist.
Trinity High School Junior Gianna Stiehler says, “I love Christmas music! It makes me feel so nostalgic and really puts me in the Christmas spirit!”
The song “Last Christmas” by Wham! was one of the first songs to portray both love and Christmas. The band Bleachers’ new Christmas song “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call” brings the aspect of heartbreak and the holiday season all into one song. Frontman Jack Antonoff is an award-winning singer and songwriter, famously writing songs for pop stars such as Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter. The lyrics in the new single express the sorrow that can come around the holiday season.
Antonoff’s song has the same energy of Conan Gray’s “Holidays.” This song also talks about going through loneliness during the winter months while still adding in the holiday twist that makes the song belong in this time of year.
The Christmas season is comprised of a wide variety of festive elements that leave people worldwide anxiously awaiting the holiday each year. The movies and music are some of the most popular parts of the season.
“After Thanksgiving, I love all kinds of Christmas movies and music!” says Trinity High School teacher Mrs. Sirianni.
This evolution of Christmas media reflects the changes in the Christmas spirit across generations!
