It’s that season again, holiday gift guides everywhere, Christmas parties every weekend, and the never-ending list of resolutions for the new year. It seems like the only time we get a breather is during that weird week after Christmas and before New Year’s.
No one exactly knows what the perfect thing to do during that week is, most of us are in this limbo state where we’re looking for something to do to pass the time. So for this round of CLAVEL Picks, we decided to gather a bunch of holiday-ish films, if you’re just looking for something different to do.
First up, we have this horror classic Black Christmas (1974), and we know it’s still centered around Christmas but with its slasher-thriller story, it’ll definitely get your mind off the holiday season.
On the topic of scares, we’d recommend Shake, Rattle, and Roll 8 (2006). Hear us out on this one, we picked this out because the entire series is nostalgic for us Filipinos. A classic that’s perfect to rewatch with friends, family, and whoever you’re spending the holidays with.
Continuing on that nostalgic feel, Tim Burton’s Batman Returns (1992) , is the next stop on this list. Straying away from the other solid Batman reiterations, we suggested this specific one, particularly for its weirdly holiday vibe. From its set design and costumes, it’s definitely in the lines of something you’d watch with your family on Christmas Eve.
Now if you’re looking for something to lift your spirits up, Crying Ladies (2003), is the film for you. It stars Sharon Cuneta, Angel Aquino, and Hilda Koronel as these paid mourners during a Chinese funeral. Not a classic holiday film, but it has all the makings of one, from karaoke scenes to typical Pinoy handaans.
In the same lane, we have Seven Sundays (2017), a story about a family attempting to reconcile their differences before their father’s death. It’s funny, heartwarming, and tear jerking, everything you want in a holiday film.
Let’s be real, everyone has their own feelings about the holidays, it’s not all so merry and bright, and we have films for this exact mood as well.
Wong Kar-Wai is known for his longing and atmospheric films, and 2046 (2004) fits that bill, a sequel to his notable film, In The Mood For Love (2000). 2046 is set around main character Chow as he navigates life after marriage, set in a science fiction universe where people can re-enter their memories.
In that same vein of complicated romance, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread (2017), is a must-watch. The film revolves around a 1950s dressmaker, content with his career and living his life as a bachelor, who then meets a young woman that changes his ways.
Aside from Christmas dinners and reunions, the holidays are also a reminder that another year has passed by. Others have certain anxieties about time passing, and social media is no help either, with everyone posting their wins. With that, we’d recommend Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022), a great watch reminding us that uncertainty is not so bad.
Topping off this list with two different kinds of comedies: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) and In Bruges (2008). These two are set around the holidays, the former has thriller elements, centering around a murder gone wrong, while the latter revolved around the story of two hit men. Both are lighthearted and thrilling at the same time, a great watch during that weird limbo week during the holidays.
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