The Mean One is a 2022 horror film that reimagines the Grinch as a murderous creature in a small mountain town, turning a familiar Christmas character into a slasher villain. The screech comes from that version of the character, and short clips from the film began circulating on soundboards and in horror edits after its release. It has stayed in use because the sound is instantly recognisable as a creature scream, even without the film context, making it a quick shorthand for menace, madness, or a twisted Christmas joke.