Holy Terrors: Jewish Horror Ic-n of the Month
🕎 CHANUKAH EDITION 🕎
Holy Terrors is a monthly column highlighting the Jewish talent behind some of our favorite horror films.
🩸
8 Creepy Nights of Jamie Lee: A Genre Challenge
Since it’s somehow almost Chanukah again, I thought I’d introduce a new ritual to go alongside the more traditional candles, latkes, gifts, and prayer songs of the holiday. My mother and I, being the passionate genre buffs we are, often already integrate at least one horror element into our family’s observance most years (which I’m sure would thrill our former rabbis). Now, however, I’d like us to shoot for eight horror elements, or more specifically, one scary feature for each night of the festival of lights. So, I now present to you a night-by-night genre challenge dedicated to one of the most prolific Jewish horror ic-ns around: the legendary scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis. Any and all are welcome to participate, but the challenge must begin strictly after sundown each night...or earlier if you are sleepy. Chag sameach!
🕯️ Night 1: PROM NIGHT (1980)
Prom Night is a classic slasher brimming with bloody, silly fun. Charmingly aged and delightfully hazy, this aesthetically pleasing horror film revolves around a group of high school students who are being actively pursued by a vengeful masked murderer. Because they steep many elements of Chanukah itself in light-heartedness and joy, I can’t imagine a better Jamie Lee horror film that captures such a delightful essence. It’s currently free to stream on a plethora of services.
🕯️🕯️ Night 2: HALLOWEEN II (1981)
The second night of Chanukah calls for a scary sequel, so the first sequel of Curtis’ beloved Halloween franchise comes instantly to mind. Considered a fan favorite for many genre buffs—certainly enough to constitute Spirit Halloween’s adorable Halloween II mugs last month—the film continues Laurie Strode’s story as she is once again hunted by the merciless and still very-alive Michael Myers. Given the recent release of Halloween Kills, it’s extra exciting now to revisit the foundational films that made Laurie’s character who she is today. The full film seems to be currently available for free on Vimeo.
🕯️🕯️🕯️ Night 3: TERROR TRAIN (1980)
I have to admit, I partially chose Terror Train because my father loves trains. I also decided on this cheesy slasher, though, because of its fitting New Year’s Eve timeframe. With Chanukah sandwiched in between Halloween, Christmas, and New Year, Terror Train is the perfect embodiment of the alluringly bitter chill that comes along with the year-end seasons and holidays. You can find this film for free on YouTube!
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️ Night 4: THE FOG (1980)
Cerebral, murky, and mysterious, The Fog is a waterlogged slow-burn that’ll deliver some much-needed calm from the ongoing excitement of the holiday. For those like myself living in especially stormy or overcast areas, this film is an ESPECIALLY atmospheric dream. If you’re subscribed to Amazon Prime Video, you’ll have access to this film.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️ Night 5: ROAD GAMES (1981)
Last Chanukah, I was given a made-for-TV movie that nobody likes but me, called Blacktop (2000), which stars Meat Loaf and Kristin Davis. Blacktop is a wild road-bound thriller about an evil trucker and his crush-turned-captive. While Road Games is dissimilar in many ways to this ridiculous TV movie, it shares some of the same gripping elements, namely intense car chases and intense pacing that hook your eyes to the screen. Currently, Road Games isn’t available to stream for free, so you might have to rent it.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️ Night 6: COMING SOON (1982)
This genre documentary was directed by John Landis and features a baby-faced Jamie Lee as the narrator. Darling as hell, this one is as sweet as chocolate gelt. For me, horror films feel like family, and this documentary feels so safe and warm and right, kind of like Chanukah itself. Additionally, it falls just under an hour if you’re full-length feature’d out and need a movie break. Coming Soon is available for free on YouTube.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️ Night 7: MOTHER’S BOYS (1993)
Mother’s Boys is much more of a thriller than a horror film, but it’s delightfully horrifying in its own right. Fans of The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992) or even Mommie Dearest (1981) might appreciate this one as well, and its ‘family’ theme goes eerily well with Chanukah shenanigans. Dailymotion currently has the full film streaming for free.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️ Night 8: SCREAM QUEENS (2015-2016)
The end of Chanukah is always a bit painful for me, so to hang on to the celebration as long as possible, we’re shifting gears from film to television with Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, and Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens. This will be a new one for me, and from what I’ve heard, many of those who’ve seen it either absolutely love it or vehemently hate it, so I’m eager to see what all the fuss is about. Check this one out on Hulu.
For me, Chanukah has always been an incredibly special time of year, and while I no longer identify as religious in most ways, I still embrace Chanukah as one of my favorite holidays. It allows me to connect with my culture in ways that feel right while building special new traditions that strengthen my own spiritual autonomy. Horror is a huge part of my identity, and I love the portals it’s opened up for me in almost every aspect of my life. For those who celebrate any of the winter holidays, I hope you find yourself embracing all the things you love the most this season. For those who don’t, have a wonderful and joyous winter!
Happy watching!