Weird Christmas film trailers and movies to mull wine for

One of the strangest film trailers to hit the web recently has to be the one for a movie going by the Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. Hitting cinemas across the UK from December 3rd, this odd little flick from Finland tells a very different Santa story than audiences are used to.

The film sees Father Christmas himself dug up as part of an archaeological dig in a snowy mountain range. Soon, children start to go missing in the area and a group of hunters decide it's time to capture this evil Santa and hold him to ransom. In the meantime, St Nick's team of demonic elves are doing their best to free their master from the grip of his captors. One look at the film reviews that have emerged following screenings of Rare Exports: A Christmas tale will confirm, this is no festive family feature, so what should you be looking out for if you want something to entertain the kids?

Well, just at the moment, there isn’t very much in terms of festive cheer at your local cinema, but there are some Christmas movie classics available on DVD and Blu-ray that could be just the ticket. If its big laughs you're after, Elf is well worth 97 minutes of your time. Directed by Jon Favreau, the man behind the two recent Iron Man movies, the movie stars Will Ferrell as Buddy - an man who has been raised as one of Santa's elves and decides to go out into the big wide world to find his real father and rekindle their lost relationship. Packed with hilarious moments, this is a film that should definitely put a little Christmas cheer in your belly.

If, on the other hand, you fancy something slightly more traditional, there are countless versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to choose from. For younger children The Muppets Christmas Carol is a cheerful take on the story featuring some of Jim Henson's most recognisable characters. If, however, you think your little ones are ready for something a little closer to the original, last year's animated adaptation directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring the vocal talent of Jim Carrey may be the better option. Finally, if your kids are ok with slightly more adult humour and can cope with a pretty creepy 'Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come', then the 1988 festive classic Scrooged is an absolute must see.

Of course, there is no end of alternatives for older movie lovers that you can rely on every year to enjoy. But whether it ends up being Bruce Willis in Die Hard or Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life, be sure to trade in your cola and popcorn for some mulled wine and mince pies.