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Krampus (2015) - Michael Dougherty


It's that magical time of the year. The time of giving and loving. The time of getting together with your loved ones. A time for bloodshed and mayhem. So it's as good a time as any to cozy up to the fire for Krampus. A horror movie with that certain holly and poinsettia theme. Warm, fuzzy and scary.

A family gets together for Christmas and obviously it doesn't go well. They hate each other. During an explosive family dinner our lead Max loses all faith in Santa Claus and Christmas. He immediately tears up his Letter to Santa. A move that he soon regrets. This act summons the frightening Krampus. 

This movie explores the Krampus tale with superb embellishment. They actually have a really amazing narrated flashback sequence that acts as the origin story. This flashback was stylized in claymation and it was really neat. Krampus is really terrifying, The horror sequences are actually horrific and scary. This is definitely an easy movie to fall in love with as a horror movie fan. 

A great mix of comedy and horror. The beginning of the film is so cozy. It feels like a call back to John Hughes' Home Alone or something like Christmas Vacation. The cast is amazing. Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Conchata Ferrell and Emjay Anthony all make some great characters. Especially Emjay. He does an awesome job as Max our lead. 

This movie is incredible. With Trick or Treat for Halloween and now Krampus for Christmas, this is awesome. The effects are tremendous. The art direction is right up my alley. If you want a movie that is going to make you laugh and smile and scream. This is it. Very few horror movies that come out these days are successful at what they set out to accomplish. This one knocks it out of the park. 

Director: Michael Dougherty
Producers: Alex Garcia, Jon Jashni, Michael Dougherty and Thomas Tull
Writers: Todd Casey, Michael Dougherty and Zach Shields
Starring: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman and Emjay Anthony
Studio: Legendary Pictures and Zam Pictures
Release Date: November 30, 2015 (Los Angeles premiere)
Country: United States
Did ya know: The film was originally to release on November 25 but was pushed back to December 4 to coincide with the Krampusnacht, a traditional Austrian festival held on December 5 that celebrates the Krampus coming to punish naughty children.The Krampus's final design was distilled from various postcards and illustrations of the creature over the years.Max's mom alludes to "the noodle incident" that estranged the family from a neighboring one. The noodle incident was often referred to but never explained in the Calvin & Hobbes cartoon strip, and Krampus also leaves it unexplained.






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