Upcoming Grinch-themed horror The Mean One gets a spooky new poster. Based on the Dr. Suess children's story, the horror parody puts a creepy spin on the Christmas classic, sending the green-skinned grump on a seasonal killing spree. The movie will see the Grinch terrorize a small town, and in particular one Cindy You-Know-Who, 20 years after Cindy watched the creature murder her parents. The Mean One will also see Terrifier's David Howard Thornton play a new screen villain, with the Art the Clown actor starring as the titular evil Grinch.

Revealed by Coming Soon, the first poster for The Mean One gives viewers another look at the seasonal terror in all his glory. Wielding a knife complete with the reflection of a screaming Cindy, the red eyes of the Grinch look over the poster menacingly. It also confirms The Mean One will receive a theatrical release on December 9th, despite previously being listed as a free-to-stream movie. The Mean One's poster is rounded out by the movie's pun-heavy tag, with the new take on the Grinch ready to get 'Slashing Through The Snow'. Check out the poster below.

Related: Jim Carrey vs. Benedict Cumberbatch: Who Is A Better Grinch?

The Mean One Poster

Why Christmas Horror Movies Work So Well

The Mean One

While Christmas, for most, is a time of cheer and joy, the idea of festive horror isn't new. Directors have been mashing up genres for decades, with the combination of Christmas and frights really taking off throughout the '70s and '80s, with the likes of Silent Night, Deadly Night and Black Christmas bringing the concept to the forefront of cinema. More recently, Christmas horror has become less of an amalgamation of genres and more of a genre all its own, with reboots of movies now considered classics and new entries making their way to the cinema each year. This year, alongside The Mean One, the upcoming David Harbour-led Violent Night becomes the latest entry to mix bloodthirsty thrills with seasonal jubilations.

But while still considered a taboo concept for some, ghost stories have been featured across Christmas tradition for centuries. Even classic stories, like A Christmas Carol, have featured ghosts and ghouls galore, so it's easy to understand why the idea of combining the two very different genres has become as popular as it has. With seasonal horrors acting as the perfect pallet cleanser to the typical Christmas movie fare, festive films with a splash of horror give an alternative option for movie fans wanting a festive treat without being tied to traditional trends.

And although scary Christmas movies have become almost universally loved, the recent trend of turning children's classics into horror is still a concept many movie fans haven't quite warmed to. The Mean One will join the likes of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and the recently announced Bambi horror movie in the list of films to combine beloved characters with a spooky flair. With The Mean One's release around the corner, there's not long to go to see if the concept of turning children's classics on their heads can prove as popular as Christmas horrors have become.

Next: How 1974's Black Christmas Changed The Slasher Genre

Source: Coming Soon