Entertainment

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Netflix all the way: Festive movies to watch over the holidays

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By Amber Hodson

Once the Christmas dinner has been eaten and the After Eight’s have being passed around, you might be in the mood to snuggle up under a nice warm blanket this festive season to watch a movie or two. Thing is, TV can be pretty dismal at this time of year and unless you’re lucky and manage to find something to your liking you may just be stuck watching comedy acts from yesteryear (not that they’re bad). Have no fear, for Netflix is here! There are plenty of festive movies to get you into the Christmas spirit and here are a few of my personal favourites to get your started!

Scrooged – “If you TOUCH ME AGAlN, I’ll rip your goddamned wings off! Okay?”

This is a modern and comedic take on the Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol“. Frank Cross, played by legend Bill Murray, is a cold hearted TV executive that only has money on his mind and this in the past has caused him to lose touch with his family and the love of his life. It’s now Christmas Eve and Frank is visited by three ghosts, each of them trying to convince him to change his ways.

This is a classic Christmas film and Bill Murray is a barrel of laughs – Scrooged is a film I watch each and every Christmas Eve without fail.

Home Alone – “Keep the change, you filthy animal!”

Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister is left home alone as his family forgets his existence as they take off for a Christmas vacation. He settles in fine until two burglars attempt to break into the house, but these boneheads are messing with the wrong kid! Kevin tangles the pair up in several booby traps – all whilst his frantic parents and siblings are trying their hardest to get back home.

This is a great family movie and one which should get the kids in a mischievous and festive mood.

The Santa Clause – “Seeing isn’t believing. Believing is seeing.”

Scott Calvin accidentally kills Santa as he and his son investigate the noise on the roof of their home. After doing so his is magically transported to the North Pole and is told that he must take the place of Santa or else the world wont get their presents on Christmas Eve. Scott thinks this is all a dream but over several months starts to gain weight which he can’t lose and grows an unexplainable white beard. Will Christmas be saved?

If you’re in the mood for more of Santa’s antics you can also watch the other movies in the series, unfortunately they’re not available on Netflix right now.

Black Christmas (1974) – “If this movie doesn’t make your skin crawl, it’s on too tight.”

We all know that some film lovers enjoy the horror genre so much that they like to give themselves a scary treat – even at Christmas time! This film isn’t for the faint hearted.

It’s time for Christmas break, and the sorority sisters make plans for the holiday, but the strange anonymous phone calls are beginning to put them on edge. When Clare disappears, they contact the police, who don’t express much concern but after a 13 year old girl is found dead in the local park they start to take notice. Is it too late?

Those are my picks, do you have other Netflix festive favourites? Leave a comment below and spread the Christmas joy!

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aAh!

aAh! Magazine is Manchester Metropolitan University's arts and culture magazine.

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