Podcast Summary: “Stir a Little Murder Into Your Egg Nog With Our Favorite Holiday Ho-Ho-Horror Flicks”

Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Episode Date: December 24, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Featured Hosts: Amy Robach (“Amy Robot”) and TJ Holmes (“Rob”)

Episode Overview

In this festive episode, Amy Robach and TJ Holmes gleefully subvert the traditional holiday movie marathon by recommending their favorite Christmas-themed horror films. The hosts explore why audiences might crave a little fear with their holiday cheer and deliver an offbeat guide to spooky seasonal viewing—complete with critical insights, personal anecdotes, and memorable moments. The conversation is lively, tongue-in-cheek, and designed for listeners who want to shake up their Christmas movie routine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Holiday Horror?

• The hosts set the tone by challenging the notion that Christmas movies need to be all sweetness and sentimentality.
• Amy reflects: “We want something that... messes up that norm. That perfect holiday package. Right. Sometimes we know how Christmas movies are going to go.” [03:48]
• Rob adds that horror is a way to make real life look better: “If I watch Krampus, my life's looking pretty dang good.” [04:00]

2. Family Traditions (with a Twist)

• TJ shares a unique family tradition—watching a horror movie on Christmas day after festivities:
  • “By the way, we're doing it again this year. But on Christmas day, after we open our presents and eat our turkey, we all go to the movie theater to watch a horror movie.” [04:27]
• Last year was “Nosferatu,” this year, “Anaconda.”

3. Movie Recommendations Breakdown

A. There’s Something in the Barn (2023)

• Amy: “This was a cool movie we found out of nowhere, and it was one of our favorite little delights... I love when people just tell you what you’re going to get. Literally, there’s something in the barn.” [05:29]
• Rob: “It’s just a fun funny with just enough gore and creepiness that just makes it a delight.” [05:48]
• Plot: American family inherits a Norwegian cabin—chaos ensues thanks to a murderous barn gnome.
• Language: Starts in Norwegian, quickly switches to English—“Don’t worry, it’s an American family.” [05:40]
• Reception:
  • Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 81%, Audience 51%
  • Amy: “This is such a surprise of a movie. It was like you just get slapped by a movie…you don’t even know what just happened to you.” [07:56]
  • Audience seemed to expect more horror, less comedy.
• Availability: Streaming on AMC+ and Starz.

B. Better Watch Out (2017)

• Amy: (“Great, great title from 2017”) [09:08]—But with a warning: “Once we get to the synopsis here…do people need to be told ahead of time or are we ruining it by telling what the main plot there is?” [09:07]
• Plot: Teenage babysitter and her 12-year-old charge face off against ‘home invaders’—but nothing is as it seems.
• Rob’s advice: “If you already say, okay, there’s going to be something that is exceptionally improbable, and then just lean into the absurdity of it…just go into it saying, I will accept what they give me.” [10:45]
• Twist-heavy, “adorably sinister.”
• Notable Cast: Olivia DeJonge and Dacre Montgomery (Billy from Stranger Things).
• Reception:
  • Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 89%, Audience 63%
  • Amy: “It’s ridiculous as it was, but yeah, it’s…lunacy. But it was fun to watch.” [11:31]
  • Critics praised the “charismatic young cast.”

C. Krampus (2015)

• Well-known entry in the holiday horror canon.
• Amy: “I think everybody gets the idea. Everybody knows who Krampus is at this point.” [12:51]
• Plot: Dysfunctional family faces the wrath of Krampus, a demonic holiday figure from folklore.
• PG-13 rated—Amy expresses surprise as she brought kids to the original screening.
  • “I did bring children to this in 2015…Rated PG-13…it’s perfect in that sweet spot.” [13:02]
• Cast highlights: Toni Collette, Adam Scott, and a memorable comedic performance by the sports anchor from “Anchorman.”
• Reception:
  • Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 67%, Audience 52%
  • Box office: $42 million worldwide.
• Amy: “If you come into this movie with a serious attitude, you will miss out on the demented Christmas fun.” [15:42]
  • Expect a mix of scares and comedy, rather than pure horror.

D. Gremlins (1984)

• The debate: Is Gremlins a Christmas movie? Is it a horror movie?
• Amy: “Would you have, before this debate, put Gremlins in the realm of Christmas movie?” [20:09]
  • Rob: “No.”
  • Amy: “Before this, would you put it in the realm of horror movie?” [20:18]
  • Rob: “No.”
  • On rewatch: “It actually is a Christmas movie and it is a horror movie.” [20:25]
• Plot: A cute mogwai becomes a town-wide menace on Christmas Eve—blending horror, fantasy, and seasonal spirit.
• Favorite scene: The “blender” moment is seared into Rob’s childhood memories. [21:10]
• A “starter horror” for kids—mild scares but plenty of fun.
  • Amy: “Little Gizmo is so cute.” [23:49]
• Reception:
  • Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 86%, Audience 78%
  • Box office: $153 million domestically.
  • Critics: “Gremlins is a minor classic.” [23:30]
• Streaming: Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Amy: “Sometimes we know how Christmas movies are going to go...sometimes it can make us feel bad about our own lives. Whereas if I watch Krampus, my life’s looking pretty dang good.” [03:48–04:00]
• Rob: “If I had to guess, they might have wanted it to be scarier. They might have wanted it to be more frightening and less funny. That would be the only thing I could think…But it had enough of both.” [07:22]
• Amy (on Gremlins): “And folks, this is one you can have fun with. This is absolutely one you need to revisit...Even the evil is coming from such a small, funny toy like package that…you still think you could take them if you had to.” [20:45]
• Rob (on family horror tradition): “On Christmas day, after we open our presents and eat our turkey, we all go to the movie theater to watch a horror movie.” [04:27]
• Amy (on horror movie expectations): “If you go into this expecting the most terrorizing horror...you’re going to miss all the fun.” [Paraphrased, recurring theme]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------| | 02:48 | Show/topic intro—Why holiday horror? | | 04:26 | Family Christmas horror tradition | | 05:17 | “There’s Something in the Barn” review | | 09:08 | “Better Watch Out” review | | 12:51 | “Krampus” review | | 16:34 | Tease: One more “non-traditional” rec | | 19:26 | Return from ad; why these recommendations | | 20:09 | Is “Gremlins” a Christmas or horror movie? | | 20:45 | “Gremlins” review/nostalgia | | 23:30 | Gremlins box office, critical notes | | 23:57 | Final thoughts and holiday send off |

Tone and Style

The hosts keep things lighthearted, mischievous, and full of holiday spirit—the perfect way to sell horror for the holidays. Riffs on audience expectations, movie memories, and pop culture make listeners feel included, especially if they’re seeking something different for their seasonal movie line-up. There’s plenty of knowing laughter and self-awareness: these are holiday horror fans who love to share their joy.

Final Thoughts

Amy and TJ encourage listeners not to be afraid to break with tradition:

• Amy: “Don’t be scared. Don’t be...Don’t be scared to recommend a horror movie movie to mix things up at Christmas. Make this the new tradition.” [23:57]

So this holiday season, if you’re looking for a fun and freaky twist, their recommendations bring just the right amount of merry mayhem.