More Winter Horror for Cold Nights

February 17, 2021

Ghostkeeper

Ghostkeeper is, weirdly enough, not about ghosts. It's actually a wendigo tale, although just barely, as the wendigo itself is barely seen, and when he does make an appearance, appears to be just a regular man in goopy makeup. This 1986 movie is a strange creature itself, following three vacationers stranded at an unused inn in the mountains during a snow storm. For the most part, they're not a terribly likable group. Our male lead is a jerk who, once shit goes down, reveals himself to also only have a very tenuous grasp on sanity, and our heroine is only worth rooting for because she's not as abjectly horrible as her two companions. What ultimately makes the movie worth watching for winter horror movie fans is the beautiful snow covered location. Woods, mountains, and the isolated inn are all starkly beautiful in the winter light. I hesitate to completely recommend this one unless, like me, you find a good snowy setting to be enough enjoyment on its own, or if you, also like me, just really appreciate low budget 80's horror.

Trollhunter

Trollhunter couldn't be a more different film from Ghostkeeper, except that both feature beautiful scenery (although here there's only snow toward the end). This 2010 Norwegian fantasy/horror revolves around a trio of student filmmakers following a mysterious man who turns out to be the titular troll hunter, tasked with keeping Norway's secret troll population in line and and out of sight. Otto Jespersen steals every scene he's in as our world weary hero, although the real draw here (other than the amazing Norwegian vistas) are the trolls, who are amazingly realized and truly look like they stepped out of your favorite fairy tale.

Curtains

Our third film is Curtains. I recommend watching this winter slasher on Bluray, as other available versions look absolutely horrible and are so dark it's impossible to tell what's going on in half the scenes. And you'll want to be able to see so you can soak in the movie's snowy wintery goodness, which is one of this intriguing but frustrating gem's strongest points, along with a talented cast and the infamous hag mask the killer wears. Though behind the scenes problems are often reflected on screen, this is still a must watch for slasher fans.

Whiteout

More thriller than horror, this is still a Dark Castle production (and one of their better ones too). Featuring Kate Beckinsale as a U.S. Marshall facing the first recorded murder in Antarctica, this murder mystery has great performances and occasional slasher elements, as a masked killer terrorizes those who get in his way with a large ice pick. Strong performances across the board, especially from Tom Skerritt and star, Kate Beckinsale, make this a fun way to kill an hour and a half while cozied up safe inside on a cold winter's day.