Christmas celebrations take a bloody turn in Dark Christmas, a Finnish slasher that puts a murderous spin on influencer culture and holiday festivities. Instead of following the familiar formula of a masked killer targeting unsuspecting partygoers, the film introduces a Santa Claus whose murderous rampage begins after he becomes the subject of public humiliation. The premise combines traditional Christmas horror with a contemporary satire of social media obsession, where even a deadly situation becomes an opportunity to create viral content. With its first trailer now available, Dark Christmas is preparing to bring its twisted holiday nightmare to Finnish theaters this December.
Dark Christmas Trailer Introduces a Murderous Santa
The first international trailer for Dark Christmas (Musta Joulu) offers a look at the chaos awaiting guests at an exclusive Christmas celebration. Directed by Finnish filmmaker Keke Soikkeli, the slasher takes place at a secluded manor hosting a lavish holiday gala for social media influencers.
The story follows Katariina, an aspiring influencer who finally gets an opportunity to enter the glamorous online world she has always wanted to be part of. However, the evening takes a disturbing turn when the event’s scheduled Santa Claus cancels at the last minute.
An unexpected replacement is brought in, but the guests soon turn him into the subject of ridicule. After being publicly humiliated and filmed for entertainment, the mysterious man in the red suit responds with a violent killing spree.
As guests begin disappearing, the manor becomes a hunting ground. Katariina must find a way to survive while confronting troubling aspects of her own past. Meanwhile, the influencers seem unable to put their phones away, even as the situation becomes increasingly deadly.
Keke Soikkeli Brings Social Media Satire to Christmas Horror
Written and directed by Soikkeli, Dark Christmas uses the familiar image of Santa Claus to create a different kind of holiday slasher. The film’s central setup draws on the long tradition of Christmas-themed horror, but adds a modern element through its focus on influencer culture and the pursuit of online attention.
The guests’ obsession with documenting everything becomes part of the film’s horror. Even when faced with a genuine threat, they remain concerned with how events appear on their social media feeds.
The film also features a relatively contained setting, with the isolated manor providing an environment where the characters have limited opportunities to escape. Its combination of a holiday gathering, a mysterious killer, and an increasingly violent night places it firmly within the Christmas slasher tradition.
Dark Christmas Heads to Finnish Theaters This December
Dark Christmas has already secured selections at two international genre festivals: the Rojo Sangre International Fantastic Film Festival in Buenos Aires and Germany’s Obscura Film Festival.
International sales agency EuroObscura is handling the film’s international sales and will present it to potential distributors at the American Film Market in Los Angeles. The sales launch could help the Finnish production find theatrical and distribution opportunities in additional territories.
The film is scheduled to open in Finnish theaters on December 18, 2026. No North American theatrical release or wider international distribution dates have been announced.
With its killer Santa premise and a story built around the darker side of online celebrity culture, Dark Christmas offers another unconventional addition to this year’s holiday horror lineup. The newly released trailer gives audiences their first proper look at the film ahead of its Finnish theatrical debut.
