Krampus is Horrifying Christmas Fun

Krampus (2015)

It's December, which means that the holiday season is upon us. The Foxy Film Fan will mainly be reviewing movies with a holiday flair to their plot or setting for the rest of the month, until the end of the year brings about a time to reflect on this year's greatest movies and the long list of movies that I've watched over the past twelve months.

So often we associate the holiday season with Christmas cheer and stories of virgin birth, but once in a while a film like Krampus comes along to shatter that revelation and bring about something cold and grim. The plot has roots in old European folklore, which states that while Santa brings gifts to the good children of the world, Krampus bring terror and punishment to those who aren't quite so lucky. Our film revolves around a dysfunctional family which bears a striking resemblance to that of the Griswold family in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and the horror of Krampus paying them a visit.

While Krampus has a rather simple plot, it is beautifully executed. The introductory scene is the perfect image of American consumerist culture and the way that capitalism has impacted a holiday which has roots in generosity and kindness yet has been twisted into an ugly shadow of itself (not unlike the way Krampus is an ugly shadow of Saint Nicholas), as depicted in the slow motion imagery of shoppers fighting viciously over toys and potential gifts for their loved ones.

Where Krampus truly shines is in its creativity. The designs of the monsters and strange creatures which terrorize the family are original and fun in the way they combine traditional Christmas imagery with grotesque centipedes and perhaps the meanest angel you'll ever see in your life. My favorite part regarding the design and appearance of these horrendous creatures is the fact that it's all done using practical effects. Only a handful of the monstrosities in Krampus are computer generated, the rest are held up on thinly veiled wires, or actors cloaked in horrifying costumes. The film's interpretation of Krampus himself is beautiful in its repulsiveness as well, a large hulking monstrosity which intimidates equally due to his silence and his immense size.

Krampus serves as much more than a mere wild and fun horror movie with a Christmas theme, instead it harkens back to the old days of cautionary moral tales, in which this film seems to provide a twisted perspective of Christmas jingles about how children need to behave during the holiday season. Its darkness is often set aside for moments of comedic relief from the always grotesquely hilarious David Koechner. Typically a film of this nature would have to struggle with its tone, fighting against the desire to be either too lighthearted or too horrifying, but in the case of Krampus it has found a wonderful and unique balance between the two where it settles in as something which is simultaneously horrifying and heartwarming all at once.

I highly recommend Krampus, which has returned to select theaters for this holiday season or is otherwise available to rent or purchase in whatever format you please, it's a fantastic way to settle into the holiday spirit with some light horror and a profoundly dark sense of humor.