Christmas with a Twist: Ironically Festive Holiday Movies
Iconic Christmas movies that are blissfully bizarre and brimming with holiday spirit.
(Design by Madelyn Foulger | The Daily Utah Chronicle)
A skeleton dressed as Santa Claus, a family that forgets their child at home, an angry green monster and a human-sized elf. Sounds pretty ominous, right?
Not according to the film industry. These characters and their stories represent some of the most loved depictions of the Christmas season. From Jack Skellington and Kevin McCallister to the Grinch and Buddy the Elf, these unconventional stories have brought light and laughter to many homes during the holidays.
Home AlonePicture this: the smell of Christmas is in the air, light snow dusts the roof of your house and you wake to the promise of a family vacation. You open your bedroom door, ready to be met with the delights of the holidays, only to find that your family has left without you.
In Chris Columbus’ “Home Alone,” Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) finds himself in this exact situation. Irritated with his family at first, Kevin basks in the joys of having the house to himself. However, when his house becomes the target of a duo of burglars, he comes up with a laundry list of extravagant ways to ward them off.
Kevin’s family realizes his absence and spends the rest of the film doing everything they can to make it back to be with him on Christmas morning. What starts as a comedy starring a prodigy boobie-trap architect is layered with implications of love and the lengths that family will go to in order to be there for each other.
Directed by Jon Favreau, “Elf” has become one of the most recognizable Christmas films since its release in 2003. Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell) has to be the richest elf of all time as he brought in the 2004 ASCAP Award for Top Box Office Film, just one year after the film’s genesis.
“Elf” follows Buddy, a human who has been raised as an abominably sized elf. Buddy makes his way from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). After confirming that Hobbs is, in fact, his father, chaos ensues as the two navigate their new-found relationship.
Under the front of this child-like elf story are thematic elements that metaphorically depict the emergence into adulthood. As Buddy navigates his entry into the unknown city of New York, he demonstrates the uncertainty many teenagers feel as they enter adulthood. This feel-good coming-of-age film is a must-watch for the holiday season.
The Grinch“I am the Grinch that stole Christmas … and I’m sorry.” This line depicts the character arc of everyone’s favorite holiday green monster. Dr. Seuss created “The Grinch” as a (sort of scary) figure that watches over the land of Who-Ville in complete and utter disgust as they joyfully celebrate Christmas.
Due to his own lack of companionship, he has developed a severe disdain for the holiday. As the Whos are filled with seasonal happiness, the Grinch develops a plan to “steal” Christmas by dismantling the town’s decorations.
The overarching message in this film is exploring the meaning of Christmas, and no one says it better than Mr. Grinch himself. “Maybe Christmas … He thought … doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more,” he said.
If all of these sound a bit sappy for your taste, then Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” might be more your speed. Coming from Burton’s world of stop-motion animation, this film merges the ambiance of Halloween and Christmas to create a one-of-a-kind holiday experience.
Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, has only ever known all things spooky and scary. When he happens upon Christmas Town by mistake, he falls in love with the happiness and joy that fills it. He does everything in his power to bring the joy of Christmas to his town. However, in doing so, he causes mass chaos and confusion.
This film, directed by Henry Selick, reinvented the Christmas movie wheel by introducing a mix of genres that would not typically fit into the holiday spirit. Burton and Selick created this revolutionary film in 1993 and it reeks of Christmas feeling, however twisted it might be.
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About the Contributors
(she/her) Jordan Nicole Thornblad is a junior at the University of Utah and is majoring in communications with an emphasis in journalism. She enjoys reading anything and everything that she can get her hands on from classic literature to the most recently viral young adult novels. She spends her free time watching Criminal Minds, wandering the aisles of thrift stores and vintage markets and reminiscing on her years as a competitive figure skater by spending nights at local ice rinks. She finds joy in building outfits and expressing herself through personal style which is why she hopes to take her love of writing and the experience she gains while working on the Chrony and turn them into a career in fashion journalism.
(she/her) Madelyn started at the Chronicle in 2022 as a social media contributor and designer before becoming Social Media Manager in May 2023. She's double majoring in Film and Media Arts and English with minors in Honors Human Rights and Resources and British Studies. Madelyn enjoys various creative pursuits, including writing, illustration, design, film, and photography. When not being artistic she can be found reading or listening to music.
