“Spirit of the future I fear you more than any other specter I’ve seen.”

I consider the 1951 version of “A Christmas Carol” with Alastair Sim a horror movie. If “Die Hard” can be a Christmas movie than “A Christmas Carol” can be a horror movie. It’s dark, and foreboding, it’s got ghosts and rattling chains, and it happens in an old dark haunted house.

There are 4 major ghosts in the movie. The first is Marley. We first see his face on the door knocker before Scrooge even gets in the house. Jacob Marley who has been dead for 7 years. Then there are chains rattling, bells ringing and creepy music. When Marley finally does arrive he is wailing and dragging chains. The only light is from a flickering fire. He warns Scrooge of pending doom if he doesn’t change his ways. Before he leaves he throws open the window. There is a woman and a child sitting against a wall trying to stay warm. There are ghosts flying all around them.

The Christmas ghosts are next. First is the ghost of Christmas past. He walks through the door. He takes Scrooge by the hand and they go back in time. He shows Scrooge shadows of things that happened in the past. The death of his sister. Shadows of other ghosts.

The second ghost is the ghost of Christmas present. He may look jolly but underneath his robes are two sunken children that cling to him. He says they were created by man. “This boy is ignorance. This girl is want. Beware them both but most of all beware this boy.”

He no sooner leaves when the third ghost appears. The ghost of Christmas yet to come. He is no more than a black shroud, face covered. His hand is pointing. He never speaks. He shows Scrooge death is in the future for Tiny Tim. For him. Scrooge asks “Are these the shadows of things that must be. Or are they only shadows of things that might be?” He gets no answer. The ghost merely points. He leaves Scrooge wailing crumpled, and weeping on his own grave stone. Asking for mercy.

Find another haunted house movie that has all that.

"A Christmas Carol" was released in 1951 and was directed by Brian Desmond Hurst. It is a Christmas fantasy horror film. The movie is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 story. It is considered the most famous adaptation of the story on film. The narration at the beginning and ending of the story was done by Peter Bull. He also plays one of the businessmen that talk to Scrooge early in the film and then about him toward the end of the film.

The word 'humbug' is an old slang word from the 18th century. It actually means deceptive or false talk or behavior. Scrooge uses the word in reference to people who pretend to be charitable. In his eyes people who use the words Merry Christmas are out to deceive him and take advantage of him.

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