Five Non-Traditional Holiday Films
Home For the Holidays, Black Christmas, Die Hard, Scrooged and More
Dec 9, 2007
1. Home For the Holidays (1995)
This very un-traditional holiday tale is probably closer to the mark of the holidays most of us know. An honest look at a diverse and dysfunctional family, we follow Claudia (Holly Hunter) back home to her parents (Anne Bancroft and Charles Durning), her A-type sister Joanne (Cynthia Stevenson) and gay brother Tommy (Robert Downey Jr), the latter of whom supposedly won’t be there for the festivities, much to Claudia’s remorse. After an emotionally draining off-the-cuff call to Tommy, he surprises her not only by showing up but by bringing a surprise guest (Dylan McDermott). The whole film is full of painful but true moments, cutting dialogue and (sadly) genuine emotions. It embraces realism (except for the empty American Airlines flight at the end leaving from Chicago the day after Thanksgiving) and still finds a positive spin.
2. Black Christmas (1974)
Especially for anyone tired of the usual films that inspire holiday cheer, this holiday film inspires a little fear. The original horror film featuring a psychotic killer calling from inside the house, the film features Margot Kidder and Olivia Hussey as two of the home’s residents continually hounded by obscene phone calls at Christmas time. Before long the bodies start turning up, all amidst pretty Christmas lights and snow. This one has some geuinely creepy moments. Needless to say, what 2006 version?
3. Die Hard (1988)
A true Christmas classic, few are unaware that the horrors at the Nakatomi Building in LA when New York City cop John McClane comes to work out domestic issues with his wife Holly. Very bad European terrorists have taken the building hostage and McClane is forced to fly solo and fend for his life, aided only by the one LA cop who believes him. This holiday action film is full of humorous dialogue, tight action, sultry bad men (notably Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber) and Paul Gleason doing his perfect sleaze bag. It presents a very tongue-in-cheek nod to the Christmas season, complete with tunes.
4. Scrooged (1988)
This updated take on A Christmas Carol has Bill Murray as the soulless television producer Frank Cross who’s forced to reevaluate his life: his views, his choices, his past and his future. It’s a modern take on the tale laced with black humor; it’s hysterical and touching. A great cast (including Carol Kane, Karen Allen, David Johansen) make for great stand out supporting characters.
5. Peter’s Friends (1992)
This is an extremely sentimental look at the best friends that time forgot. Full of 80s hit tunes and an Anglophile’s dream cast (Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry), the script was penned by Rita Rudner and husband Martin Bergmann. It presents a boisterous look at the attempts of one man (Fry) to reunite his friends after ten years in an attempt to have a New Years party—perhaps motivated by his personal reasons, revealed only at the end. The characters’ past histories together only complicate their current relationships, and a few unresolved issues rise to the surface. The character interactions and a fine musical performance (“The Way You Look Tonight”) truly make up for some of the trite dialogue. For sweet New Years sentiment with an 80s flair, look no further. (Sadly, look for it only on VHS, there has yet to be a Region 1 DVD release).
