Bloody Christmas, directed by Steven C. Miller and written by Jayson Rothwell, arrives on Paramount+ on December 15, 2025. Starring Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, and Donal Logue, this horror filmfollows in the tradition of end-of-year slasher movies, where Santa Claus becomes a bloodthirsty threat. Loosely based on a classic 1980s horror film, the feature film revisits the codes of the genre in a modernized and stylized version.
The plot unfolds during the Christmas holidays, when a killer disguised as Santa Claus begins targeting the residents of a small American town. Guided by a Manichean logic, he slaughters those he considers "naughty" while rewarding those he deems "nice" with gifts. Faced with the incomprehensible, Sheriff Cooper and Deputy Aubrey Bradimore try to understand the killer's modus operandi in order to stop him before he claims more victims. The narrative mechanics thus exploit the tensions inherent in Christmas slasher films: a twisted festive atmosphere, graphic violence, and a police investigation under pressure.
With a running time of 94 minutes, the film is an effective format that prioritizes pace and mounting tension. Steven C. Miller, no stranger to action and horror productions, plays on a winter aesthetic saturated with light and contrast, transforming the city into a hunting ground. Malcolm McDowell plays a disillusioned authority figure, while Jaime King plays a deputy who is confronted with a situation where the line between folklore and real threat is blurred. This approach reinforces the film's roots in the codes of the contemporary horror thriller.
Bloody Christmas will be of particular interest to fans of seasonal slasher films, in the tradition of movies that exploit the contrast between festive symbols and extreme violence. The story exploits the conventions of the genre—masked killer, nighttime stalking, simplified moral issues—while offering a stylized setting where the snowy backdrop becomes a central element. Viewers familiar with twisted holiday films and atmospheric horror productions will recognize an effective variation on a cult classic.
Bloody Christmas
Film | 2025
Available on Paramount+ on December 15, 2025
Horror | Running time: 1h34
By Steven C. Miller | Starring Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, Donal Logue
Original title: Silent Night
Nationality: United States
Bloody Christmas offers a reinterpretation of the Christmas slasher genre through its edgy direction, winter setting, and tension that builds from the very first scenes. The film is part of a trend in horror that subverts familiar figures to create an unexpected threat, while maintaining a link to the tradition of American genre cinema.
To go further, check out the new Paramount+ releases for December, our guide to streaming releases on all platforms, and today's selection of What to Watch Today on Streaming.
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
