It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle On 34th Street, the millionth showing of The Snowman... yes it's Christmas again! Seasonal films are a predictable feature of the winter schedules, but - the truth is - as good as those festive classica are, sometimes you want something brasher, subversive, cynical or anarchic to kick the festive holiday out of its cosy snugness...
So, here is my Top 10 Alternative Christmas Movies -- films you don't necessarily associate with Christmas or have a different slant on the usual cloying seasonal cheer...
10. LETHAL WEAPON, 1987Dir: Richard Donner Stars: Mel Gibson & Danny Glover
You don't really think of Lethal Weapon as being a Christmas movie, but screenwriter Shane Black's tale of a veteran detective (Glover) being partnered with a reckless cop with a death wish (Gibson) takes place over the festive period. It's also worth checking out Black's other seasonal actioners -- The Long Kiss Goodnight and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.
9. BLACK CHRISTMAS, 1974Dir: Bob Clark Stars: Olivia Hussey & Keir Dullea
This early gem from the slasher genre takes place over Christmas, with a sorority house terrorized by a serial-killer. It's not very feel-good and the genre reached self-parody ten years ago (Scream), but this is still an effective slice of old-school festive frights. A disapppointing remake was released this month.
8. TRADING PLACES, 1983Dir: John Landis Stars: Eddie Murphy & Dan Aykroyd
A modern remake of The Prince And The Pauper, with a wily street con man and a snobbish investor swapping lives thanks to two callous millionaires. The comedy takes place over Christmas, in New York, so there's plenty of seasonal atmosphere and morality between the gags and Jamie Lee Curtis' breasts.
7. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, 1993Dir: Henry Selick Stars: Chris Sarandon & Catherine O'Hara (voices)
Jack Skellington, the King Of Halloweentown, discovers Chrismas Town, but doesn't understand the concept. This cult smash, from the fertile imagination of Tim Burton, is given life through Henry Selick's wonderful animation and proves to be a memorable fusion of the spooky and festive. Catch the re-released 3-D version in cinemas, if you can
6. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, 1990Dir: Tim Burton Stars: Johnny Depp & Winona Ryder
Burton's signature movie about a robot teen created by a reclusive inventor, cursed with scissors for hands, who is taken in by a suburban family. Chunks of the film isn't particularly festive, but by the time the snow falls and Danny Elfman's gothic music stirrs into action, Burton's fairytale is the perfect yuletide companion...
5. DIE HARD, 1988Dir: John McTiernan Stars: Bruce Willis & Alan Rickman
It may not sound festive, but this classic actioner about terrorists in a high-rise building being thwarted by a vest-wearing cop, is somehow given an extra boost by its Christmas setting. Check out the airport-based sequel Die Hard 2 for more festive anti-terrorism... and, altogether now: "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...
4. HOME ALONE, 1990Dir: Christopher Columbus Stars: Macauley Culkin & Joe Pesci
Every child's dream/nightmare combines in this festive comedy about a young boy accidentally left home alone over Christmas, unaware that his house is a target for two inept burglars. Cue traps. Lots of traps. Smalltown USA is always a great setting for Christmas movies, particularly after a winter wonderland makeover, and the festivities are all here, but with a Tom & Jerry sense of violence. Catch the sequel for more, but with the festive backdrop of New York City.
3. GREMLINS, 1984Dir: Joe Dante Stars: Zach Galligan & Phoebe Cates
The teen favourite about a boy who is given a cute creature called a "Mogwai", only for it to spawn hundreds of meddlesome gremlins. Dante's anarchic movie is a B-movie taking place in cosy Americana (the town is a clear homage the Capra classic It's A Wonderful Life). A subversive slice of monster thrills that benefits immensely from the seasonal setting.
2. BAD SANTA, 2003Dir: Terry Zwigoff Stars: Billy Bob Thornton
The most cynical Christmas movie ever made? Definitely. In Bad Santa, Billy Bob Thornton plays a conman who poses as Santa Clause in order to rob department stores. This is certainly adults-only stuff and the ideal tonic for anyone feeling overloaded by too much festive goodness. The twisted dark side of Christmas, with bad attitude to spare...
1. SCROOGED, 1988Dir: Richard Donner Stars: Bill Murray & Karen Allen
Bill Murray takes centre stage in this modern remake of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, playing an unlikeable TV exec who is visited by three ghosts over the Christmas period, all trying to make him change his "bah, humbug" viewpoint. The classic tale is twisted into crueller areas, but never loses its sense of morality. This is a fun update, if a little crass in places, blessed with fine performances and a heart-warming finale...
