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‘Tis the season to be gloomy

Sick of the hordes that gather around your telly to watch It's a Wonderful Life? Treat them to an anti-Christmas film festival, guaranteed to dampen holiday spirits and give kiddies nightmares.

Scarlet Street (Fritz Lang, 1945) Henpecked Sunday painter Edward G Robinson is made a sucker by noir slut Joan Bennett and her pimp, Dan Duryea. Dies a derelict but enjoys posthumous fame!

Los Olvidados (Luis Bunuel, 1950) Grim account of Mexican slum youth. Haunting superimposed image of mangy cur and lifeless body being tipped onto mile-high rubbish heap.

Sawdust & Tinsel (Ingmar Bergman, 1953) The most depressing circus film ever made. Enough said.

Rosemary's Baby (Roman Polanski, 1968) "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last / Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?" The Antichrist's manger is

george rafael picks films guaranteed to get you out of the Christmas spirit

New York's Dakota Building, Joseph and Mary are John Cassavetes and Mia Farrow.

Kes (Ken Loach, 1969) Lonely lad raises kestrel only to have its neck broken by vicious older brother. Makes you want to slash your wrists.

Salo (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1975) Get the fascist spirit with this setting of Sodom and Gomorrah (via Sade) in Mussolini's wartime Italy. All manner of polymorphous perversity, including coprophilia, on offer.

In a Year of 13 Moons (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1978) Harrowing last days of suicidal transsexual, with gratuitous slaughterhouse scenes. A real pick-me-up.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (Charles Seiller, 1984) Tormented orphan boy becomes axe-wielding Santa (left). My concession to seasonal sentiment.

Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001) Hooray for Hollywood...? Sulphurous, reeking of evil.

FIRST POSTED DECEMBER 21, 2006