Despite the religious connotations of the holiday, few Christmas horror movies have stirred up much controversy — but a Santa Claus horror movie proved there are exceptions to every rule.

these movies serve as an antidote to the polished, commercialized Kris Kringle we’re so often sold. Santa is bizarre, and these films revel in that fact. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians ...

One was a Christmas horror movie about a killer Santa Claus. “Even though the screenplay was unprofessional, there was an idea embedded in it — a psycho dressed in a Santa Claus suit — I ...

On the upside, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians doesn’t even run an hour and 10 minutes (depending which version you watch), so those who need their movies to look pretty don’t have to suffer ...