Five horror movies to bring bad tidings this winter

With the Christmas season upon us, these five horror movies explore the opposite of good tidings. They are filled with the creeping dread that can only be found when horror explores are deepest fears and exploits our connection with faith. All of the films listed do deal with religious overtones, but I think they're perfect if you prefer Creepmas to Christmas!

Rosemary's Baby (1968) - Newlyweds, Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, move into the Bramford, an exclusive apartment building in New York with a haunted past. The movie is a chilling exploration of bodily autonomy not only in a marriage, but in society. Rosemary was chosen to become the mother of all evil and from the moment she becomes pregnant, she loses her identity, she's gaslit, and treated as an object. There's a cold heat at the center of the film as we follow Rosemary to full term and see her baby born sometime during the Christmas season. Hark, the antichrist is here! Rosemary's Baby is a classic and must-see for any horror enthusiasts with an incredible performance by Mia Farrow!

Available on Prime

The First Omen (2024) - Set in the 1970s, The First Omen follows Sister Margaret Daino as she travels to Italy to take her vows and join an orphanage as one of their nuns. The movie plays out like a fever dream, the body horror is stark and shocking, and Nell Tiger Free's performance channels Isabelle Adjani in Possession to a T. Another example of bodily autonomy being stripped away, every choice Margaret makes is an illusion. She's pushed and pulled and led by the hand by the Catholic church to do their bidding. Giving birth to Damien, the antichrist. The movie ends on a cold, wintery mountain with Margaret taking some of that autonomy back. Directed by Arkasha Stevenson, this film both serves as a prequel to 1976's The Omen while revitalizing the entire franchise.

Available on Hulu

Immaculate (2024) - Invited to a convent in Italy, Sister Cecilia travels to the country to take her vows and instead finds a nightmare waiting for her. A virgin, she becomes pregnant, and is lauded as a miracle. What lies at the center of the film is a conspiracy to bring the second coming of Christ, by any means necessary. With similar themes, this movie and The First Omen make the perfect double feature in my opinion. While The First Omen is overall a stronger film, Immaculate is more brutal in its violence. By the end of Immaculate, Sydney Sweeney's character is no longer innocent, she's cold and almost feral from her ordeal.

Available on Hulu

Deliver Us (2023) - Set in a cold, Russian convent, Sister Yulia finds herself mysteriously and immaculately pregnant with twins, one destined to be the Messiah and the other, the antichrist. There's a creeping dread and fervor throughout as Sister Yulia begins to experience the stigmata, the pains of Christ before his crucifixion, as if pregnancy wasn't scary enough. While some of the Catholic church have been sent to investigate and protect her, others hunt her all the way to Estonia. The bleak, cold atmosphere make for a perfect winter watch.

Available on Hulu

The Seventh Sign (1988) - Starring a young Demi Moore (The Substance) as Abby Quinn, this movie is a bit different from the others on this list, but I think it pairs well with the theme. The apocalypse has come and Abby, heavily pregnant, is set to have her child on February 29th, a leap year date. While horrors are happening all over the world, there's some interesting past life/reincarnation plot points and an ending that's a bit bittersweet, but a lot gentler.

Available on Tubi

Here are five movies to watch this winter that will bring you bad tidings, while we, here, at the Horror Lounge wish you nothing but good ones! Happy Holidays!