Everyone likes to have a good time on Saint Patty’s Day whether they are Irish or not. Some people choose to drink green beer and eat milk chocolate coins while others choose to watch mythical monsters murder innocent teenagers. If you are the latter, you have come to the right place because we have compiled a list of Saint Patrick’s Day Horror movies just for you. Of course, the Leprechaun movies made the list, but that is just the beginning.
Leprechaun 1 – 6
You can’t talk about St. Patrick’s Day Horror movies without talking about the Leprechaun franchise. These Warwick Davis movies are equal parts horror and comedy. To me, the two features that stand out about these films is their ridiculous quest to own the title of gratuitous nudity and the fact that they go out of their way to not be linear in any capacity. Every Leprechaun installment is its own movie with Warwick Davis tying it all together. These six movies are plenty to keep you busy for an entire day, but there are even more St. Patty’s horror films on the list.
Leprechaun: Origins
Leprechaun: Origins is separate from the rest of the Leprechaun movies because it does not fit in the franchise. It is painfully obvious that this was a stand-alone movie that they did not think would make it on its own, so they tied it into a franchise with a recognizable name. I think I would have liked this movie more if they wouldn’t have tried to ride the Leprechaun movies’ coattails. The film itself is about small creatures (leprechauns) who are bound by mystical stones in an area in Ireland. The leprechauns leave the townsfolk alone as long as they are fed, usually by unassuming tourists. Though it may not be a great Leprechaun movie, I would say Origins is decidedly more Irish than the Warwick Davis films.
Rawhead Rex
Rawhead Rex may be an abomination, but it is the perfect fit for a St. Patty’s horror marathon. The movie is based on a short story by the infamous Clive Barker who openly hated the film adaptation. An unwitting farmer accidentally releases Rawhead Rex, a massive demon with nothing but killing on the mind. One man is fighting against time and the disbelief of townsfolk as he tries to stop the demon from killing anyone else. The film quality is paltry, the Rawhead costume is laughable, and the plot is a little hard to follow. All in all this movie seems like it could use a good MST3K treatment, which may be a pretty fun thing to do after a few of those green beers.
Maniac Cop
Although Maniac Cop is the only one on the list that is not explicitly Irish, it may be the most St. Patrick’s Day horror movie featured. The movie itself is about a zombie police officer who comes back from the dead to exact revenge on those who got him killed. Not exactly, a movie for the day of green, right? Wrong! The movie takes place over St. Patrick’s Day with a St. Patty’s Day parade being a prominent scene in the movie.
Red Clover
Red Clover is your classic direct to video creature feature. It surprisingly stars Billy Zane, though his star is not as bright as it used to be. When a girl finds a red clover in the woods, she accidentally releases an ancient beast (leprechaun) that is out to kill her and anyone she has ever known. With the help of her dad (Zane) and grandpa, she is tasked with returning the creature to its resting place and saving the town, maybe even the world, from its wrath. It is a pretty straight forward horror flick with so-so acting and a Swiss cheese plot, but it won’t seem too bad once you’ve filled up on St. Patty’s libations.
Even the luck of the Irish won’t save you from the movies on this list. When it comes to horror, your St. Patrick’s Day cup runneth over with movies to watch. Grab your four-leaf clover tight and hope you can sleep St. Patty’s Day night.